The following excerpts from chapter 6 of J C Ryle’s book, Holiness, are about growth in grace. These excerpts lack most of the comparisons, contrasts, and transitions Ryle used. I plucked highlights from the chapter that he used to make his point; my purposes were to introduce readers to this book and to clarify that growth in grace is expected by God.
If you are interested and want more, I highly recommend the book. [See links at end of post.]
Growth
Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)
The subject of the text above is one that I dare not leave out of this book about holiness. It is a topic that should be deeply interesting to every true Christian. It naturally raises questions: Do we grow in grace? Do we make progress in our Christianity? I do not expect these questions to be of interest to a mere formal Christian. The one who has nothing more than a kind of Sunday morning religion, whose Christianity is like his Sunday clothes – put on once a week and then laid aside – cannot, of course, be expected to care about growing in grace. He knows nothing about such matters. They are foolishness unto him (1 Corinthians 2:14). However, to everyone who is earnest and sincere about his soul and who hungers and thirsts after spiritual life, the questions ought to come home with searching power: Do we make progress in our Christian lives? Do we grow?
These questions are always useful, but especially so at certain times. A Saturday night, a communion Sunday, a birthday, the end of a year – all these are seasons that should cause us to think and make us look within. Time is flying quickly. Life is quickly fleeing away. The hour is daily drawing nearer when the reality of our Christianity will be tested and it will be seen whether we have built on the rock or on the sand (Matthew 7:24-27). Certainly it is wise for us to examine ourselves from time to time and take account of our souls. Are we progressing in spiritual things? Are we growing in holiness?
In considering this subject, there are three things that I want to bring forward and establish:
- The reality of Christian growth. There is such a thing as growth in grace. [This post]
- The characteristics of Christian growth. There are characteristics by which growth in grace can be known.
- The method of Christian growth. There are methods that must be used by those who desire to grow in grace.
The reality of Christian growth
… When I speak of growth in grace, I do not for a moment mean that a believer’s portion in Christ can grow. I do not mean that he can grow in safety, acceptance with God, or security. I do not mean that he can ever be more justified, more pardoned, more forgiven, or more at peace with God than he is at the first moment he believes. I strongly believe that the justification of a believer is a finished, perfect, and complete work, and that the weakest saint, though he may not know and feel it, is as completely justified as the strongest. I strongly believe that our election, calling, and standing in Christ are not gradual and do not increase or decrease.
… When I speak of growth in grace, I only mean growth in the degree, size, strength, vigor, and power of the graces that the Holy Spirit plants in a believer’s heart. I contend that every one of those graces can grow, progress, and increase. I believe that repentance, faith, hope, love, humility, zeal, courage, and the like can be little or great, strong or weak, and may vary greatly in the same person at different periods of his life. When I speak of someone growing in grace, I simply mean that his sense of sin is becoming deeper, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, his love more extensive, and his spiritual-mindedness more evident. He feels more of the power of godliness in his own heart. He manifests more of it in his life. He is going on from strength to strength, from faith to faith, and from grace to grace….
… One main base on which I build this doctrine of growth in grace is the plain language of Scripture. If words in the Bible mean anything, there is such a thing as growth, and believers ought to be exhorted to grow. What does Paul say? Your faith grows exceedingly (2 Thessalonians 1:3). We beseech you, brethren, that ye continue to grow (1 Thessalonians 4:10). Growing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10). Having hope of the increase of your faith (2 Corinthians 10:15)….
… What does Peter say? Desire the rational milk of the word that ye may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2). Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)….
… The other base, however, on which I build the doctrine of growth in grace is the base of fact and experience. I ask any honest reader of the New Testament whether or not he can see degrees of grace in the New Testament saints whose histories are recorded….
… I ask him whether or not the Scripture distinctly recognizes this in the language it uses, when it speaks of “weak” faith and “strong” faith, and of Christians as newborn babes, little children, young men, and fathers (1 Peter 2:2; 1 John 2:12-14). I ask him, above all, whether or not his own observation of believers does not bring him to the same conclusion.
… Growth in grace is the best evidence of spiritual health and prosperity. In a child or a flower or a tree, we are all aware that when there is no growth, there is something wrong. Healthy life in an animal or plant will always show itself by progress and increase. It is the same with our souls. If they are progressing and doing well, they will grow.
Growth in grace is one way to be happy in our Christianity. God has wisely linked together our comfort and our increase in holiness. He has graciously made it in our interest to press on and aim high in our Christianity. There is a vast difference between the amount of sensible enjoyment that one believer has in his Christianity compared to another. You can be sure that ordinarily the person who feels the most joy and peace in believing (Romans 15:13) and has the clearest witness of the Spirit in his heart is the person who grows.
… Growth in grace pleases God. It might seem to be a wonderful thing, no doubt, that anything done by such creatures as we are can give pleasure to the Most High God, but it is so. The Scripture speaks of walking so as to please God (1 Thessalonians 4:1). The Scripture says there are sacrifices with which God is well pleased (Hebrews 13:16).
… What does our Lord Himself say? I AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. In this is my Father glorified, in that ye bear much fruit; and in this manner ye shall be my disciples (John 15:1, 8). The Lord takes pleasure in all His people, but especially in those who grow.
Growth in grace is not only possible, but is something for which believers are accountable. To tell an unconverted person, dead in sins, to grow in grace, would doubtless be absurd. To tell a believer, who is awakened and alive to God, to grow, is only calling him to a plain scriptural duty. He has a new set of standards within him, and it is a solemn duty not to quench it. Neglect of growth robs him of privileges, grieves the Spirit….
Ryle, J. C.. Holiness [Annotated, Updated]: For the Will of God Is Your Sanctification – Hebrews 6:1 . Aneko Press. Kindle Edition.
At the following link the kindle version is free and the audiobook is $7.99 [there are several versions, abridged and unabridged, the following link is the one I am quoting from]:
Table of Contents [of Ryle’s book, Holiness]: Foreword, Introduction, Sin, Sanctification, Holiness, The Fight, The Cost, Growth, Assurance, Moses – An Example, Lot – A Beacon, A Woman To Be Remembered, Christ’s Greatest Trophy, The Ruler of the Waves, The Church That Christ Builds, Visible Churches Warned, Lovest Thou Me?, Without Christ, Thirst Relieved, Unsearchable Riches, Needs of the Times, Christ Is All.