Growth in Grace - 2 Peter 1:1-12

by David Woods

If we plant a tree, it begins to grow; if we set a post, it begins to decay. There was an old farmer who, in the prayer meetings of his church in describing his Christian experience, always said: "Well, I'm not making much progress, but I'm established."

One spring when the farmer was setting out some logs, his wagon sank in the mud in a soft place in the road, and he could not get out.

As he sat on top of the logs viewing the situation, a neighbor who had never accepted the principle of the old farmer's religious experience came along and greeted him: "Well, Brother Jones, I see you are not making much progress, but you're established." (Source Unknown)

The main point of our scripture is this:

Big Idea: God expects the Christian to grow spiritually.

1. The Reason Why We Can Grow Spiritually, vv. 1-4.

The writer of the "Working with the Word" section of our lesson notes three reasons in verses three and four why we can grow spiritually.

First, God has given us everything we need to live a life of godliness.

Read 2 Peter 1:3

Imagine for a moment that Jesus were to appear to a Christian who living, spiritually, very lackadaisically. Jesus reminds this person that He has given him/her everything he/she needs to live a godly life. Then Jesus asks, "Why are you failing to grow spiritually?"

Discussion: What are some of the excuses a failing Christian would give for his lack of spiritual growth?

Discussion: What is the real reason that a Christian fails to grow spiritually?

Discussion: What are some of those "all things" that God has given us to enable us to live a godly life?
(The Bible, the indwelling Holy Spirit, spiritual strength and power, our Christian family, etc.)

Secondly, the writer of "Working With the Word" notes that the reason why we can grow spiritually is in part due to the fact that God has made great and precious promises to us.

Read 2 Peter 1:4

Let us read some of God's promises to us.

Read Isaiah 40:31, Luke 9:23-26, John 5:24, John 12:26, Romans 5:3-5, Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 4:13

These are just a few of hundreds and thousands of promises God has given us in His Word!

The third reason why we can grow spiritually found in our text is that God has made it possible for us to be partakers of the divine nature.

Read 2 Peter 1:4

Discussion: What does it mean to be a partaker of the divine nature? What does it not mean?
(Through God's saving and sanctifying grace, we can be made pure of all sin - committed and inherited. The Holy Spirit dwells within us, teaching us how to live as God would live, were He in our place. This verse is not saying that we become gods.)

2. The Responsibility We Have to Grow Spiritually, vv. 5-7.

In these verses we have a progression of spiritual qualities we are to grow as Christians. Let us define these characteristics:

Diligence - a zeal for God.
Virtue - moral excellence and power
Temperance - self-control
Patience - endurance
Godliness - a God-likeness
Kindness - love for the brothers
Charity - self-sacrificing love

Exercise: I would like you to list these qualities on a piece of paper or maybe in a blank space in your lesson. Write the numbers 1 through 5 next to each spiritual characteristic. Then, I would like you to grade yourself as to how well you practice each of these characteristics - 1 being "needs lots of growth", 2 - "needs more growth", 3 - "average", 4 - "good growth", 5 - "excellent growth"

3. The Reward We Will Receive for Growing Spiritually, vv. 8-12.

Discussion: I see several rewards promised in these verses for the Christian who strives to grow spiritually. Some are listed positively; others are listed negatively.
(You will be fruitful spiritually, v. 8; You will be spiritually perceptive, v. 9; You will maintain your spiritual awarenes, v. 9; You will be victorious, v. 10; You will be accepted into Heaven, v. 11)

Discussion: I would like us to make an acrostic of the word "growth" of ways that we can grow spiritually - ways that we can add to ourselves those spiritual qualities in verses five through seven.
(Suggested:
G - ive to God's work
R - ead the Bible
O - bey God's Word
W - itness to unbelievers
T - ake time to pray
H - elp those in need)

Discussion: I hope in the acrostic we developed above that your mindset toward how we grow spiritually has been challenged. How does the Christian grow spiritually?

The famous poet H. W. Longfellow was once asked how he managed a long and a happy life.

Pointing to an apple tree, the writer remarked: "The secret of the apple tree is that it grows a little new wood each year. That's what I try to do."

No matter what age you are, it is important to continue to grow spiritually each day, each month, each year. (Source Unknown)

Prayer: As we have studied this scripture, has God shown you an area in your life in which you need to grow spiritually? If so, I urge you to commit to grow in that area as we pray.