Nutrients for Growth in Godliness

Originally published in July/August 2016, Volume 56, Issue 4 of the Fellowship Focus 

By Harvey E. Schultz

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 NIV 

As a teenager in high school, I memorized over 100 verses, most of which stick with me today (Why can’t my mind do the same today?). The verse above is one of those memorized long ago.  

​For many years, I thought that I understood quite clearly what it meant. However, only recently have I come to grasp the true meaning and implications of those words penned by Peter so long ago. Peter was urging believers not to remain static in their lives, but to grow spiritually. Spiritual dangers abounded. They would need to be strong in order to resist these dangers. So in one simple sentence, he describes how spiritual growth can be an ongoing reality in their lives: “… grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” These are the spiritual nutrients we must draw upon to grow. 

D. Edmund Hiebert comments that the command to grow is an appeal to our wills. While spiritual growth is not produced by an assertion of our wills, believers must will to see the removal of the hindrances to growth and actively foster the conditions which promote growth (Bibliotheca Sacra, Vol. 141, p. 338). 

To that end, the Apostle Peter sets in front of his readers two imperatives for growth:  

1. Grow in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ  
2. Grow in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Let’s take the first imperative. What does it mean to “grow in the grace”? Our Lord’s grace enables us to grow. Growth is not the product of disciplined human efforts sustained over a period of time. Rather, growth takes place just like salvation becomes a reality in our lives. We recognize our need. We realize we cannot save ourselves. We reach out by faith to Christ. We draw upon his grace by trusting him to save us, and he does just that. And that’s exactly how we can grow in grace. We recognize our need for spiritual strength to do what Jesus asks us to do. We learn to draw upon his grace by trusting him to give us his strength for growth. Through his Spirit living in us, Jesus communicates his strength to us, and we are enabled to grow.  

Secondly, Peter says: “Grow in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The two statements are intimately linked. Get to know him better. Peter is speaking of experiential knowledge, not merely head knowledge. How will that stimulate growth? The better I know Jesus, the more I will understand what he is really like, and the more I will realize just how trustworthy he really is. I will realize more clearly that I can depend on Jesus to communicate his life to me. That, in turn, will motivate me to trust him more and more for the inner power I need to grow.  

Peter’s growth “formula” is really quite simple. 
​Desire growth. Recognize that your strength is inadequate. Draw on Jesus’ strength and power. No, you don’t deserve it. But he will give it to you anyway. It is grace. To that end, get to know Jesus better and better. Learn how trustworthy he is. The more you understand that, the more you will practice leaning on Jesus for his power for your growth. “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 

No doubt, many of us have practiced this for years. Understanding the dynamics revealed in this verse should accelerate our growth.