Growing In Grace Is The Work Of Authentic Biblical Christians

I have been crucified with Christ;

it is no longer I who live,

but Christ lives in me; and the

life which I now live in the flesh

I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself

for me.

Galatians 2:20

For to me, to live is Christ,

and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21

     As I bring this series on growth in grace to a finality, I must communicate to you an absolutely essential means for spiritual growth in grace.  This means is regular and habitual communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. I am not speaking of just spouting Scriptures, or writing Scripture for others to see, and while this is good it is not what I am speaking for it is personal growth, what is inside of you that determines who you are and whose you are; therefore, you and I must communicate with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I am not speaking of communication with Jesus Christ in reference to the Lord's Supper, while this is a form of communication it is not what is being spoken of for I am speaking of personal growth in grace and a personal communication with Jesus Christ. So, what do I mean? What is meant is developing a daily habit of communication between you and the Savior Jesus Christ and this communication is carried on by faith, prayer, and meditation. The question for those desiring to please God and our Savior Jesus Christ is: are you and I developing this habit?  I am afraid that many know little of this habit and many just rely on one means; i.e., reading the Bible, and trying to live a Christian life, but do not have a personal association with Jesus Christ.  It is possible to union with Jesus Christ and yet to have little communication with Him.

     All saints in Jesus Christ are taught in Scripture that they are to have communication, or communion with Jesus Christ. it is getting close to Him, laying hold on Him with confidence, a faith that is made more intense and sure each and every time with spend time with Jesus Christ. This is intentional, that is, to build a habit of communication with Jesus Christ and not just be content with knowledge of Him, having orthodox knowledge without this private communication.  Yes, it is true that we are not justified by works, and that justification is a gift of God received by us in faith and our trust is in Jesus Christ and His promises. When are in close communication with Jesus Christ we will come to Him with every need, to talk with Him about every difficulty, to consult with Him, and by the power of the Holy Spirit Who will lead and guide us and by the power of the Scriptures whereby God communicates directly to us and not by some outward sounding voice, as some believe, God leads us by what He has revealed and the Holy Spirit will guide us to Scriptures that will give us the needed help. We lean on God, the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to aid us to live the live that God desires of all His chosen children. The person that lives this way will grow in grace.

     Awakes, God is awake: "Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber not sleep.  The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your right hand" (Psalm 121:4-5).  Don't stand still and be apathetic, lazy, having intentions without action. Don't just wish and hope, rather seek Jesus Christ that you may live and grow in grace. Go forward! March on! Cast aside idle talk that it is foolish to be extreme or have gone to far.  We are afar from those who believe we are stupid for following a Savior we cannot see, and touch, and they may be right if our faith is exercised outside of Scripture but they have no grounds if we are exercising our faith according to Scripture. Every Christian is on their path to grow in grace, in some form or other, at some level or other and we cannot judge their hearts, we can judge their demonstration of their faith, but we must mind our business of growing in grace and this is a requirement of our Savior when He spoke to Peter about John: "Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, 'But Lord, what about this man?' Jesus said to him, 'If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?  You follow me" (John 21:21-22). 

     Let us now grow in grace, use the means available to you, put into practice daily those things that will give you the ability to grow in grace.  Will this take away the things of this world that are burdensome, horrible at times, bringing sorrows upon us?  No! Even our Savior underwent these problems of sin that brought upon Him persecution, sorrows, and even death on a cross: "For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Hebrews 2:10). 

     Remember, all this is to teach us lessons and not to see these things as strange, rather let us say to ourselves; This also is for my profit, that I may be a partaker of God's holiness.  This is the love of God sent to you.  Grow in grace.

For we have become partakers

    Of Christ if we hold the 

beginning of our confidence

   steadfast to the end. 

                                             Hebrews 3:14

Spend time with God: Today

Richard L. Crumb