Eight Insights About Spiritual Growth | 2 Peter 3:18

God has a plan for you.  He created you to glorify Him, love Him, and serve Him.  But when you first become a Christian, you are not very good at these things.  That's why the Bible commands us to grow.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.”  2 Peter 3:18 

This verse tells us there are two ways God wants us to grow.  (1) Grow in grace.  In other words, grow in the qualities that are empowered by God's grace.  In times past, the Christian virtues have been called graces because they are  empowered by the grace of God (2 Pt 1:3).  The graces include virtues like the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).  So, to grow in grace means to grow in Christlikeness.  (2) Grow in the knowledge of Christ.  This is a command to grow in biblical understanding, and in your intimacy with Christ.

From this verse we can learn eight insights about spiritual growth.

One:  Growth requires life.  Dead things cannot grow; only living things grow.  To obey the command to grow you must be spiritually alive.  You must be saved.  You have to personally accept Jesus Christ by faith as your Lord and Savior.

Two:  Growth is a sign of life.  Living things naturally grow.  If you can look back over the past few years and see growth, then that is a sign that you are saved.  If you have a desire to grow, then that in itself is a sign of salvation.

Three:  A lack of growth is a sign of death.  If you don't see any growth over the past year, or if you don't desire to grow, then that is a sign of spiritual death.  You may not be saved.

Four:  Growth is a command.  It is something we must intentionally pursue.  If you are not trying to grow, then you are living in sin.  

Five:  Growth is our responsibility.  If growth is a command, then that means we have a role to play in our spiritual growth.  It is active, not passive.  If someone is growing, it is because they are doing the things that are necessary for growth.  If they are not growing, then they are neglecting to do the things that are necessary for growth.

Six:  Growth is progressive and gradual.  By its very nature, growth is gradual and progressive.  Think of a tree, which grows gradually over a long period of time.  There are no shortcuts to growth.  You can't attend a conference, or read a book and reach maturity.  It takes time.

Seven: You are either growing or declining.  2 Peter 3:18 starts with the word "But."  In other words, we are commanded to grow in contrast to something else; instead of something else.  Instead of what?  The preceding verse tells us to "be on guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position.  But grow...."  So, we have two options.  Either grow, or fall away.  In fact, this passage says that the solution to backsliding is to focus on growing.  The spiritual life is like a steep mountain you.  You are either ascending or descending.  It is a race.  You are either winning or losing.  

Eight: Growth is possible.  If God commands us to grow, then that means it is possible.  This should be encouraging.  Whatever your besetting sin, you can change.  You can grow.