Growth in grace

(J.C. Ryle, "Growth in Grace" 1879)

"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" 2 Peter 3:18

When I speak of growth in grace, I only mean an increase in the degree, size, strength, vigor and power--of the graces which the Holy Spirit plants in a believer's heart. I hold that every one of those graces admits of growth, progress and increase. I hold that repentance, faith, hope, love, humility, zeal, courage and the like--may be . . .
little--or great,
strong--or weak,
vigorous--or feeble, and
may vary greatly in the same person at different periods of his life.

When I speak of a man growing in grace, I mean simply that . . .
his sense of sin is becoming deeper,
his faith is becoming stronger,
his hope is becoming brighter,
his love is becoming more extensive,
his spiritual-mindedness is becoming more marked,
he feels more of the power of godliness in his own heart--and he manifests more of it in his life.

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We have published J.C. Ryle's insightful article on the Book of Revelation, "The Reading Which is Blessed".
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When I speak of a man growing in grace, I mean simply that . . .
his sense of sin is becoming deeper,
....

his spiritual-mindedness is becoming more marked,
he feels more of the power of godliness in his own heart--and he manifests more of it in his life.

Thanks a lot for sharing this, this is exactly God has been dealing with me these days. To set my mind on the needs of Spirit as explained in Romans 8.

Regarding "sense of Sin becoming deeper", this is true Gospel. But sadly there are so many posters here who will not agree with it as they are deceived by false teaching and are spreading this virus everywhere. The true mark of nearing God is deeper conviction of Sin.

sree, quote that scripture "looking unto sin the author and finisher of my incompetance" or is it looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.looking unto Jesus is the salution...unto sin is the problem.if you could do anything about your sin,Jesus would not have had to go to the cross.when isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up ;he saw himself for who he was and fell to the ground and cried out woe is me.the emphasis must be on the Lord.if this is a lie ,then i am going to continue in it.

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