GROWING GOD’s WAY III
II Peter 3:18
Grow in Grace
Over the last few weeks we have focused on growing God's way.
It is not a natural nor easy way to grow.
Your flesh and mine would rather grow in our own timing and fashion.
However God has a much better and fuller plan for your life if you will surrender your will and grow His way.
Two weeks ago we saw that God is not just interested in us increasing our religious experience but is rather interested in us Flourishing.
We are to Flourish like the Palm and the Cedar trees.
When our lives take on the characteristics of the Cedar and the Palm we will be faithful in church and constant in our faith, with no wavering in whatever climate or circumstance we are in, because we have a greater interest in reflecting the faithfulness and the righteousness of God than the furtherance of our own agenda.
Last week we saw that before we can grow God's way we must first remove the obstacles that have come into our way.
We saw what can happen if a Christian is determined to leave these obstacles in place.
We end up scarred and disfigured and ill equipped to reflect the nature of God to the world.
Then, we must cultivate a desire for the Word of God.
This morning we will conclude the series with the challenge of our text:
READ TEXT
PRAY
The Epistles of Peter are extremely helpful to us, who, like the Christians of the 1st century church, need to be encouraged and equipped to simply grow in grace.
It is the simplicity of this command that stands out in this passage.
Peter had a knack for simplicity.
He didn't write much, nor did He assert himself nearly as much as the Apostle Paul did in the 1st century church.
It is quite clear that he considered himself to be nothing more than another man in the church and one of 12 to whom God had given Apostolic authority.
He even makes note of the deeper writings of Paul in the verses previous to our text, pointing out that some had taken Paul's words out of context and had twisted them to their own ends.
He encourages the reader to not be led away by the error of the wicked and fall from the steadfastness of a firm and constant faith.
Peter ends his second of only two letters that he penned to the church in general with this simple command.
GROW IN GRACE
Since it is in grace we must grow, let us focus on that word, grace, and see what it might mean to grow therein.
First, we notice that it is translated from the Greek word "karis" which is as near an identical word in usage and meaning as you will find in two languages.
Karis means an unmerited goodness, a gift, a benefit, a joy, a pleasure, but specifically one undeserved and thereby overwhelming in its goodness.
Our English word, "grace," is a perfect translation of God's intended thought as He uses this word throughout the New Testament.
The following are some of the definitions pulled from a dictionary of the English language:
MERRIAM-WEBSTER - unmerited divine assistance given humans, a virtue coming from God, an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency, a pleasing appearance or effect
I recently read one man's explanation of Grace and modified it to fit what we see reflected in the Bible:
When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day's pay for his time, that is a wage.
When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize.
When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award.
But when a person is not capable of or willing to earn a wage, has lost the race and thereby won no prize, and has done nothing to deserve a reward - yet receives such a gift anyway - that is grace.
I would challenge you this morning to analyze the level of grace in your life.
Are you growing in the among of grace you exhibit in your life?
Do your words minister grace to the hearers as commanded in
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the
If you were to die today, would there be evidence of grace that you bestowed upon others as there was when Tabitha/Dorcus passed away in
Ac 9:39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
I am not asking if you give people what they deserve or what they are due.
I am asking if you are growing in grace.
I am not asking if you put up with people.
I am asking if you show them grace by your words and your actions.
It is high time that Christians began to see the need for showing grace in their day to day lives.
Let us look to our text for motivation and instruction on this.
Every Christian must grow in grace:
1.) Because of the judgment of the lost is coming. II Peter 3:11-12
> They will receive judgment on that day
> Today, they will be won by grace
> This is not an absence of truth Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
2.) Because of the reward of the saints is coming. II Peter 3:13-14
> We will receive grace on that day
> Today we must show grace to others
> This is only fitting when we focus on eternity
3.) Because of the great grace that has been shown us. II Peter 3:15
> Were it not for God's longsuffering we would not be saved.
> Jesus showed us grace so that we might share that same grace with others.
Mt 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
The practical instruction for growing in grace is simple:
1.) Learn of Jesus
2.) Meet Jesus
3.) Know Jesus
Ac 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Are you growing in grace?
II Peter 3:18
Grow in Grace
Over the last few weeks we have focused on growing God's way.
It is not a natural nor easy way to grow.
Your flesh and mine would rather grow in our own timing and fashion.
However God has a much better and fuller plan for your life if you will surrender your will and grow His way.
Two weeks ago we saw that God is not just interested in us increasing our religious experience but is rather interested in us Flourishing.
We are to Flourish like the Palm and the Cedar trees.
When our lives take on the characteristics of the Cedar and the Palm we will be faithful in church and constant in our faith, with no wavering in whatever climate or circumstance we are in, because we have a greater interest in reflecting the faithfulness and the righteousness of God than the furtherance of our own agenda.
Last week we saw that before we can grow God's way we must first remove the obstacles that have come into our way.
We saw what can happen if a Christian is determined to leave these obstacles in place.
We end up scarred and disfigured and ill equipped to reflect the nature of God to the world.
Then, we must cultivate a desire for the Word of God.
This morning we will conclude the series with the challenge of our text:
READ TEXT
PRAY
The Epistles of Peter are extremely helpful to us, who, like the Christians of the 1st century church, need to be encouraged and equipped to simply grow in grace.
It is the simplicity of this command that stands out in this passage.
Peter had a knack for simplicity.
He didn't write much, nor did He assert himself nearly as much as the Apostle Paul did in the 1st century church.
It is quite clear that he considered himself to be nothing more than another man in the church and one of 12 to whom God had given Apostolic authority.
He even makes note of the deeper writings of Paul in the verses previous to our text, pointing out that some had taken Paul's words out of context and had twisted them to their own ends.
He encourages the reader to not be led away by the error of the wicked and fall from the steadfastness of a firm and constant faith.
Peter ends his second of only two letters that he penned to the church in general with this simple command.
GROW IN GRACE
Since it is in grace we must grow, let us focus on that word, grace, and see what it might mean to grow therein.
First, we notice that it is translated from the Greek word "karis" which is as near an identical word in usage and meaning as you will find in two languages.
Karis means an unmerited goodness, a gift, a benefit, a joy, a pleasure, but specifically one undeserved and thereby overwhelming in its goodness.
Our English word, "grace," is a perfect translation of God's intended thought as He uses this word throughout the New Testament.
The following are some of the definitions pulled from a dictionary of the English language:
MERRIAM-WEBSTER - unmerited divine assistance given humans, a virtue coming from God, an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency, a pleasing appearance or effect
I recently read one man's explanation of Grace and modified it to fit what we see reflected in the Bible:
When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day's pay for his time, that is a wage.
When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize.
When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award.
But when a person is not capable of or willing to earn a wage, has lost the race and thereby won no prize, and has done nothing to deserve a reward - yet receives such a gift anyway - that is grace.
I would challenge you this morning to analyze the level of grace in your life.
Are you growing in the among of grace you exhibit in your life?
Do your words minister grace to the hearers as commanded in
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the
If you were to die today, would there be evidence of grace that you bestowed upon others as there was when Tabitha/Dorcus passed away in
Ac 9:39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
I am not asking if you give people what they deserve or what they are due.
I am asking if you are growing in grace.
I am not asking if you put up with people.
I am asking if you show them grace by your words and your actions.
It is high time that Christians began to see the need for showing grace in their day to day lives.
Let us look to our text for motivation and instruction on this.
Every Christian must grow in grace:
1.) Because of the judgment of the lost is coming. II Peter 3:11-12
> They will receive judgment on that day
> Today, they will be won by grace
> This is not an absence of truth Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
2.) Because of the reward of the saints is coming. II Peter 3:13-14
> We will receive grace on that day
> Today we must show grace to others
> This is only fitting when we focus on eternity
3.) Because of the great grace that has been shown us. II Peter 3:15
> Were it not for God's longsuffering we would not be saved.
> Jesus showed us grace so that we might share that same grace with others.
Mt 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
The practical instruction for growing in grace is simple:
1.) Learn of Jesus
2.) Meet Jesus
3.) Know Jesus
Ac 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Are you growing in grace?
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