There is nothing more important to learn about Christian growth than this: Growing in grace means becoming like Christ.
Interpretation
Growing in grace involves developing characteristics similar to those of Christ.
The quote emphasizes that the essence of Christian growth is centered on grace, which is defined as unmerited favor from God. To grow in grace is to transform oneself by embodying the virtues and qualities that Jesus Christ exemplified, leading to a deeper spiritual maturity and understanding of one's faith.
In practice
A pastor might use this quote to emphasize the importance of spiritual maturity in a sermon.
We [should not] make the mistake of thinking that marriage will provide the ultimate satisfaction for which we all hunger. To assume so would be to be guilty of blasphemy. Only God satisfies the hungry heart. Marriage is but one of the channels He uses to enable us to taste how deeply satisfying His thirst-quenching grace can be.
It is God who gives us the spirit of worship (Psalm 133:3), and it is what we know of God that produces this spirit of worship. We might say that worship is simply theology, doctrine, what we think about God, going into top gear! Instead of merely thinking about Him, we tell Him, in prayer and praise and song, how great and glorious we believe Him to be!
Failure to deal with the presence of sin can often be traced back to spiritual amnesia β forgetting our new, true, real identity. As a believer, I am someone who has been delivered from the dominion of sin and who therefore is free and motivated to fight against the remnants of sin in my heart. You must know, rest in, think through, and act upon your new identity β you are in Christ
When the New Testament speaks about the fullness of grace which we find in Christ, it does not mean only forgiveness, pardon and justification. Christ has done much more for us. He died for us, but he also lived for us. Now he has sent his own Spirit to us so that we might draw on his strength. He grew in grace, and when we draw on his power we shall likewise grow in grace.
The fear of the Lord tends to take away all other fears... This is the secret of Christian courage and boldness.
When you look at the Cross, what do you see? You see Godβs awesome faithfulness. Nothing β not even the instinct to spare His own Son β will turn him back from keeping His word.
None of us feels the true love of God till we realize how wicked we are. But you can't teach people that - they have to learn by experience.
It is the burning lava of the soul that has a furnace within--a very volcano of grief and sorrow-it is that burning lava of prayer that finds its way to God. No prayer ever reaches God's heart which does not come from our hearts.
By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us - set us right with him, make us fit for him - we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand - out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
Let us ask the Lord for this grace: that our hearts become free and filled with light, so that we can rejoice as children of God.
The characteristic of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that Christ is formed in me.
If our gospel does not free the individual up for a unique life of spiritual adventure in living with God daily, we simply have not entered fully into the good news that Jesus brought.
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