KEEP GROWING IN THE GRACE

          The last recorded words of the apostle Peter include this challenging exhortation (2Pet.3:18):  Keep on growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.  Amen.  We all can acquiesce (agree without dissent) that we are to grow in knowledge.  Our quest to cultivate a deeper understanding God’s Word and the teachings of Christ is a never-ending, life-long endeavor.  None of us will ever reach the point where we can rightly say, “I have now studied the Bible enough and I have no more to learn.”.

          But how do we grow in grace?  Is not the grace of God (as given through Christ Jesus) already complete and full in everyway?  If we just think of grace in this vein we might conclude that there’s no need to grow grace because it is already as abundant as it needs to be.  After all, who can improve on the grace of God?  But there is another aspect of grace that, like knowledge, requires a diligent pursuit that spans a lifetime.  This is what we might call HORIZONTAL GRACE (as distinguished from VERTICAL GRACE).  This horizontal grace is that which we offer others in the way that we speak to them and treat them.  It would even encompass our thought world - - words yet unspoken that are harbored deep in our heart. 

          The apostle Paul elaborates on the exhortation of Peter with three specific admonitions of his own.  He writes, let your speech always be with grace (Col.4:6).  This is surely one element in the arena of Christian discipleship that necessitates ongoing growth.  Paul also pens these words:  Be

kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ has forgiven you (Eph.4:32).  If you want to know if you‘re growing in grace, ask yourself, “How good am I at forgiving others?”.  Paul also attaches grace to the act of giving monetary gifts.  In another letter he urges:  Just as you excel in everything - - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness in your love for us - - see that you also excel in this grace of giving (2Cor.8:7/NIV).  Grace to you was a common greeting among the early saints (e.g., Rom.1:7; 1Cor.1:3; 2Cor.1:2; Gal.1:3; Eph.1:2; Philp.1:2; Col.1:2; 1Thess.1:1, etc.).  How wonderful it would be if we could spark a revival of such a Christ-like salutation.  What a difference it could make!!

                                                     Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ