“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” (II Peter 3:18).
True grace is progressive, of a spreading and growing nature. Grace is like light. First, there is daybreak. Then, it shines brighter to its full extension. Grace is also imparted to the believer. “ For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)
Grace is the “kindness and love of God, our Savior, toward man. Therefore, it is set in contrast to the law, under which God demands righteousness from man.
Under grace, he gives righteousness to man. “But now the righteousness of God is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference.” ( Romans 3:21,22). The righteousness of God is neither the attribute of God nor the changed character of the believer, but Christ himself.
Christ met the full demand of the law in our place on the cross. And by the act of God called imputation, Christ was made unto us righteousness. “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Cor. 1:30).
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3:5).
A Christian grows in the degree of grace. He goes from strength to strength, from one degree of grace to another. From faith to faith, a saint’s love of God matures.
A true believer changes perception of self as grace abounds in his life. He is humbled by this transformation and sees himself as less.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30).
It is to grow less in one’s own eyes. It is to grow out of conceit with oneself. A person may swell with knowledge yet may have no spiritual growth.