Lifehacks: Practical Tips For Godly HabitsSampl

How to Grow in Grace
Habit: Faithfulness

It is a law of nature that where there is no growth, there is no life. That principle applies as much to our spiritual lives as it does to plants and children. The way we grow in our spiritual formation is to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). But what does that mean? If grace is entirely God’s gift to us, how can we take the initiative to “grow in grace”?

As the nineteenth-century theologian Archibald Alexander explains, “Just so far as any soul increases in spiritual knowledge, in the same degree it grows in grace.”* To grow in grace requires that we be diligent in the acquisition of spiritual knowledge, both experiential and intellectual, that allows us to grow in wisdom — knowledge of our spiritual state, knowledge of God’s Word and knowledge of Christ.

In his essay “Growth in Grace,” Alexander offers several suggestions for how to grow in grace:

1. Recognize that it will take sustained effort — “As growth in grace is gradual, and the progress from day to day imperceptible, we should aim to do something in this work every day. We should die daily unto sin and live unto righteousness.”

2. Do the work, but rely on the Holy Spirit — Our progress in spiritual formation requires that we “do the work” by diligently practicing spiritual disciplines. But even as we add our human efforts toward sanctification, we should realize that any progress is the work of the Holy Spirit. A good rule of thumb is to “use the means as vigorously as if you were to be saved by your own efforts, and yet trust as entirely to the grace of God as if you made use of no means whatsoever.”

3. Study Scripture for spiritual benefit rather than for curiosity and controversy — “Avoid curious and abstruse speculations respecting things unrevealed and do not indulge a spirit of controversy.”* Our efforts in studying Scripture should lead us to become more like Jesus, not toward becoming better theological debaters or curators of obscure speculation.

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY: Growing in grace requires acquiring the spiritual knowledge that leads us to become more obedient to Christ.

* Archibald Alexander, “Growth in Grace,” accessed August 16, 2014, http://www.the-highway.com/growth_Alexander.html