Sometimes we as Christians only think about our salvation in terms of the past. For example, someone might say, “I am so glad I was saved in 2005!” However, today in 2015, they may not have much to be presently thankful for. Certainly, we should never forgot our testimonies and always remember that everything changed the day we were saved.

At the same time, we are called to “grow up” and “mature” in Christianity (1 Peter 1:22). Today’s sermon is aimed at helping us “grow in God’s grace” because we when do we will have so much to be thankful for as we daily participate in Jesus’ divine nature (2 Corinthians 5:21)!

SERIES TEXT

Ephesians 2:8-10, “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

GRACE DEFINED

GRACE is God’s undeserved favor, love, help and enablement made available through Jesus Christ and given to believers by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Because of God’s grace, we can experience his mercy, forgiveness and the power to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. (Fire Study Bible).

SERMON TEXT

2 Peter 3:17-18, “17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

2 Peter 1:3-11, “3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

HOW TO GROW IN GRACE ACCORDING TO PETER

  1. ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S POWER because you already have everything you need to live a godly life, v. 3.
  2. BELIEVE AND CONFESS GOD’S PROMISES over your life so you can fully participate in the divine nature and escape your flesh’s evil desires, v. 4.
  3. ADD TO YOUR FAITH these qualities, vs. 5-7:
    1. Goodness
    2. Knowledge
    3. Self-Control
    4. Perseverance
    5. Godliness
    6. Mutual Affection
    7. Love
  4. INCREASE IN THE QUALITIES OF FAITH so you don’t forget you have been forgiven, vs. 8-9!
  5. MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO CONFIRM YOUR CALLING so you don’t stumble, but have riches in heaven, v. 10.

Grow in grace because you were saved to live a faith-filled-God-kind-of-life, participating in Jesus’ divine nature, escaping the world’s corruption caused by the flesh’s evil desires, and looking forward to a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!