Religious Growth
John MacLeod. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. Almost every created thing seems to have within it the principle of growth. The tree grows from a seed. The bird, fish, beast of field, all come to maturity by growth. The human body grows from feeblest infancy into the strength of manhood. And mind grows as well as matter. The reasoning faculty, the imagination, the memory, expand and strengthen. So, too, the moral and spiritual affections of the soul. Hence religion, which consists of love to God and man, may grow also. I. GRACE, in its strict sense, is the free favour of God to the unworthy. The grace of God toward men produces piety; grace is the cause, piety the effect. 1. To grow in grace is to grow in virtue, faith, meekness, gentleness, patience, a spirit of forgiveness, usefulness. 2. In this growth of all right principles there will be going on at the same time in the soul the weakening and decay of all wrong principles. II. We may overlook too much THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGIOUS GROWTH. We may be in danger of feeling that when one is introduced into the kingdom by conversion and the joining of the Church, the great work is done. Not so our Saviour. How much He laboured to train His disciples. III. Having life by union with the Saviour, we grow in grace BY USING THE MEANS OF GRACE. There is a law of spiritual growth just as fixed as the law of natural growth. The means of grace, suited to advance us in the Divine life, are daily provided, not only in the house of God, but in every engagement of the world. Every human being you meet may offer you a means of grace, for there is a Christian feeling to be cherished toward all, and a Christian way of treating all. IV. That we may grow in grace, we need to USE THE MEANS OF GRACE IN THEIR DUE PROPORTION. Meditation is good, but where it becomes exclusive it is evil. So outward activity, in labouring for the salvation of men, is of the highest importance; but let this absorb the Christian, and the most fruitful piety will wither and die. V. Nor are we to despise OUTWARD FORMS AND SYMBOLS AS HELPS IN RELIGIOUS GROWTH. It may be asked, What matters the form if I have the spirit? But will you have the spirit as fully without the aid of the form? We are not purely spiritual beings; we are body as well as spirit. And there is an action of the body that harmonises with and helps the spirit. Nor can devotion prosper well without set seasons; we need the aid of habit to assist in the formation of spiritual character. VI. He who will grow in grace must be READY TO SUFFER. The natural life in us dies not without some species of internal agony. For one Christian God has one form of trial; for another, another form. VII. GROWTH DEMANDS EARNESTNESS. No one grows who does not mean to grow. VIII. GROWTH DEMANDS EXERCISE. As fast as we learn duty, we must apply it. "To him that hath shall be given." Every act of faith increases the principle of faith; as every battle Washington fought for his country only increased his patriotism. (John MacLeod.) Parallel Verses KJV: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. WEB: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.