Holiness: Growth – Part 1

“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. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 1. The Reality of Growth in Grace a. There is such a thing as growth in grace. b. The definition of “Growing in Grace” i. This is not growth in justification. ii. Growth in repentance, faith, hope, love, humility, zeal, courage, and the like. c. How do we know this? i. The plain language of Scripture. 2 Th 1:3, 1 Th 4:10, Col 1:10, 2 Co 10:15, 1 Th 3:12, Eph 4:15, Phi 1:9, 1 Th 4:1, 1 Pe 2:2, 2 Pe 3:18. ii. Fact and experience. This is a secondary argument but still useful. “What true Christian would not confess that there is as much difference between the degree of his own faith and knowledge when he was first converted, and his present attainments, as there is between a sapling and a full-grown tree?”