A call to spiritual growth (3)
2Pet. 3:15-18;
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Again, Peter shows us that there will be two kinds of people – those who are steadfast and those falling away from steadfastness. The steadfast believer is the one who is growing spiritually. More so, growth in grace will be in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, the believer who is growing is the one who is stable in his knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
Age is natural but growth isn’t. The believer must be deliberate about his spiritual growth. Peter says we ought to desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow therein (1Pet. 2:2). To desire means there will be a longing on the part of the believer.
Sometimes, spiritual growth means relearning the same things over and over again.
Once again, see Paul’s desire for his disciples;
Col. 1:9-11;
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
He prays that they will be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. This is Paul’s prayer of spiritual growth for his disciples.
The word ‘understanding’ is the Greek word ‘Sunesis’, meaning a mental putting together. Some folks don’t have this. There is actually a spiritual putting of things together. Thus, spiritual growth looks like being filled with spiritual understanding.
Paul goes ahead to explain the ‘spiritual understanding’ as walking worthy of the Lord. ‘Worthy’ is the Greek word ‘axios’ meaning ‘what’s befitting’ – used for conduct. Paul shows us that spiritual growth can be in your walk – the way you conduct yourself. He also explains spiritual understanding as being fruitful in every good work. In other words, spiritual growth will look like fruitfulness.
The word ‘good’ is the Greek word ‘agathos’ – something that is intrinsically good in itself.
Being fruitful brings to mind the sermon of Jesus in John 15:1-8;
In verse 2, the word ‘takes away’ is actually the Greek word ‘airo’ meaning to raise or lift up. The will of God is that the believer bears much fruit.
What would the fruitfulness be in?
The word fruitful is the Greek word ‘Karpophoreo’ meaning to yield. Used in the parable of the sower (Mk. 4:20; Lk. 8:15).
Also used in Col. 1:6;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Fruitfulness is ascribed to salvation. A man can be fruitful in the natural and barren spiritually. Natural fruitfulness isn’t a proof of spiritual growth. Fruitfulness is in the good work.
Paul used same ‘good work’ earlier in Ephesians 2:8-10;
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. The believer is created for good works.
What are the good works?
2Cor. 5:17-18;
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Upon salvation, every believer is given the ministry of reconciliation. Good works is that ministry of reconciliation.
1Cor. 3:13;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Cor. 9:1;
9 Am I am not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
Paul calls the church his work. The good work is the ministry of Jesus.
1Cor. 15:58;
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1Cor. 16:10;
10 Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
2Cor. 9:8;
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Eph. 4:11-12;
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Other references include (Phil. 2:30; 1Tim. 3:1; 1Tim. 5:5; 6:18; Tit. 1:16; Tit. 2:7; it. 2:14; Tit. 3:14;)
Unfruitfulness will be to not maintain good works. Thus, spiritual growth will look like fruitfulness in the work of ministry. Fruitfulness in ministry is not in cars, exquisite buildings, account balance or material things but in people, men saved and growing in the knowledge of the same.
The believer has been called to do this good work. If he is doing the work already, he ought to keep up the work. The Christian who is growing spiritually is the one who is bearing fruits. Thus, ask yourself: am I fruitful? Am I changing lives? How many people are serving God because I preached to them?
Be more deliberate about raising men and bearing fruits.
Daily Bible Reading Plan:
Gen. 12-15
TEACHING OF THE WEEK
https://www.ghcmedia.org/how-to-have-a-fruitful-year/