Grow in Grace
Grow in faith, love, humility, and knowledge of Jesus to increase in happiness and be blessed.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the necessity of growing in all aspects of grace, particularly in faith, love, and humility. He encourages believers to deepen their faith in God's promises, expand their love in practical ways, and cultivate humility by recognizing their own limitations. Spurgeon highlights the importance of knowing Jesus more intimately, asserting that true knowledge of Christ leads to eternal life and greater happiness. He warns that a lack of desire to know Christ better indicates a lack of genuine love for Him. Ultimately, he calls for a continuous pursuit of a closer relationship with Jesus, as this is essential for spiritual growth.
Text
"Grow in grace"--not in one grace only, but in all grace. Grow in that root-grace, faith. Believe the promises more firmly than you have done. Let faith increase in fulness, constancy, simplicity. Grow also in love. Ask that your love may become extended, more intense, more practical, influencing every thought, word, and deed. Grow likewise in humility. Seek to lie very low, and know more of your own nothingness. As you grow downward in humility, seek also to grow upward--having nearer approaches to God in prayer and more intimate fellowship with Jesus.
May God the Holy Spirit enable you to "grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour." He who grows not in the knowledge of Jesus, refuses to be blessed. To know Him is "life eternal," and to advance in the knowledge of Him is to increase in happiness. He who does not long to know more of Christ, knows nothing of Him yet. Whoever hath sipped this wine will thirst for more, for although Christ doth satisfy, yet it is such a satisfaction, that the appetite is not cloyed, but whetted.
If you know the love of Jesus--as the hart panteth for the water-brooks, so will you pant after deeper draughts of His love. If you do not desire to know Him better, then you love Him not, for love always cries, "Nearer, nearer." Absence from Christ is hell; but the presence of Jesus is heaven. Rest not then content without an increasing acquaintance with Jesus. Seek to know more of Him in His divine nature, in His human relationship, in His finished work, in His death, in His resurrection, in His present glorious intercession, and in His future royal advent. Abide hard by the Cross, and search the mystery of His wounds. An increase of love to Jesus, and a more perfect apprehension of His love to us is one of the best tests of growth in grace.
Sermon Outline
- I. Grow in Faith
- A. Believe the promises more firmly
- B. Increase in simplicity
- C. Cultivate constancy
- II. Grow in Love
- A. Seek to love more intensely
- B. Make love practical in thought, word, and deed
- III. Grow in Humility
- A. Recognize your own nothingness
- B. Seek to know God more intimately
- IV. Grow in Knowledge
- A. Seek to know Jesus more deeply
- B. Desire a deeper acquaintance with Christ
- C. Abide by the Cross and search the mystery of His wounds
Key Quotes
“He who grows not in the knowledge of Jesus, refuses to be blessed.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“To know Him is 'life eternal,' and to advance in the knowledge of Him is to increase in happiness.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“An increase of love to Jesus, and a more perfect apprehension of His love to us is one of the best tests of growth in grace.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- Seek to believe the promises more firmly and cultivate constancy in your faith.
- Make love practical in thought, word, and deed to demonstrate your love for Jesus.
- Abide by the Cross and search the mystery of His wounds to deepen your acquaintance with Christ.