Are We Growing As Christians?

GOLDEN TEXT: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” —II Peter 3:18

I CORINTHIANS 3:1-3; EPHESIANS 4:11-16; II PETER 1:5-8; 3:18

PAUL informs us that one of the evidences of the lack of Christian growth is the desire to be attached to human leaders. It is but natural for the young believer to lean upon those most instrumental in bringing him the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God [as it shines] in the face of Jesus Christ.” (II Cor. 4:6) To begin with, his faith is not quite able to lay hold fully upon the things which are “unseen,” so he leans for support upon the arm of flesh.

If perchance there is in a community, or in a church, more than one who has been blessed by the Lord as the channel through which the truth reaches others, and if any unchristian spirit of rivalry exists, then factions are sure to develop. It was so in the church at Corinth. ‘Nor is this always the fault of the leaders or teachers; although a true under shepherd of the flock will be quick and firm, as Paul was, in speaking out against this evidence of carnality.

This manifestation of carnality is sometimes very subtle. Paul speaks of those who were saying, “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Paul.” That these claims should represent a spirit of carnality is quite understandable. But Paul also labels as carnal the claim being made by some in Corinth who were saying, “I [am] of Christ.” (ch. 1:12) What does he mean by this?

It is quite possible that in the Corinthian church there was what one writer has labeled a “spiritual aristocracy,” who, noting the tendency of some to attach themselves to one or another of the teachers who had served them, assumed an attitude of superiority and said, “Well, we won’t follow human leaders; we’ll follow only Christ.” This, of course, in itself would be quite proper; but if the claim were made with any thought of being more “spiritual” or more “mature” than the others, it could easily reflect a spirit of pride which would be just as carnal, and just as wrong in the sight of the Lord as the immature claims of the others.

From Paul’s lesson in Ephesians 4:11-16 we learn that human instrumentalities are used by the Lord for the building up of the church. In his letter to the Corinthians he was not condemning the service of teachers in the church, but rather, the wrong attitude of the church toward teachers. The apostles, of course, are the inspired servants of the church; but in addition to these, the Lord throughout the age has provided pastors, teachers, and evangelists, and these also are essential to the spiritual welfare of the Lord’s people.

One of the evidences of spiritual pride and of carnality is the attitude sometimes taken that no help outside of the Bible is needed. This is a wrong viewpoint, for the Lord provided for additional help; the help, that is, of uninspired servants such as pastors, teachers, and evangelists. These are among the gifts of God, and we cannot get along well as Christians if we ignore or set aside any of his “gifts.”

The Apostle Peter’s lesson on Christian growth properly begins with the 4th verse of the first chapter of his second epistle. Our Golden Text speaks of growing in grace and in knowledge. It was God’s grace that enabled us to have a knowledge of these “exceeding great and precious promises” which enable us to become “partakers of the divine nature.” When our faith lays hold upon these promises we have a foundation upon which to build true Christian character.

Peter describes this building, or growth, as adding to our faith virtue, and to virtue, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, patience, and to patience, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly-kindness, and to brotherly-kindness, love. Peter adds that if these things be in us and abound, we will neither be barren (or idle) or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

These Christian graces which properly grow out of our knowledge of the truth will not permit us to be idle. If, for example, love is dominating our lives, we will be impelled to use time and strength in the service of the Lord. Thus the fruitage of the Holy Spirit in our lives will be not only those graces which should adorn every Christian character, but also our self-sacrificing efforts to bless others with the joys of the truth.

Such a disciplined, unselfish Christian character is in pleasing contrast to the immaturity which concerns itself unduly with the carnal issue of human leadership. To know why the Lord gave us the truth, and to be using it unselfishly for the blessing of others, is one of the best evidences of healthy growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.

QUESTIONS

What illustration did Paul use of immaturity in Christian development?

What is the Christian’s proper attitude toward teachers in the church?

What is one of the principal evidences of proper Christian growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord?

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