Jul 9

Written by: PastorJohn
7/9/2009 10:20 AM

I’ve been finding J.C. Ryle’s Holiness  to be particularly helpful and surprisingly readable for a book over 130 years old. In chapter 6 (entitled “Growth”), he makes the case that Christians are expected to grow in grace and become mature (Colossians 1:10; 2 Peter 3:18). In fact, if there is no growth, we need to seriously question our salvation. (Matthew 7:13-27) To help us in this examination, Ryle then outlines  the following six essential signs of spiritual growth:

1. Increased Humility: The man whose soul is “growing” feels his own sinfulness and unworthiness more every year…The brighter and clearer is his light, the more he sees of the shortcomings and infirmities of his own heart. When first converted, he would tell you he saw but little of them compared to what he sees now.
2. Increased Faith and Love toward our Lord Jesus Christ: The man whose soul is “growing” finds more in Christ to rest upon every year, and rejoices more that he has such a Savior. No doubt he saw much in him when first he believed. His faith laid hold on the atonement of Christ and gave him hope. But as he grows in grace, he sees a thousand things in Christ of which at first he never dreamed. His love and power – his heart and his intentions – his offices as Substitute, Intercessor, Priest, Advocate, Physician, Shepherd and Friend, unfold themselves to a growing soul in an unspeakable manner. In short, he discovers a suitableness in Christ to the wants of his soul, of which the half was not known to him.
3. Increased Holiness of Life and Conversation: The man whose soul is “growing” gets more dominion over sin, the world, and the devil every year. He becomes more careful about his temper, his words, and his actions. He strives more to be conformed to the image of Christ in all things, and to follow him as his example, as well as to trust in him as his Savior. He is not content with old attainments and former grace…On earth he thirsts and longs to have a will more entirely in unison with God’s will. In heaven the chief thing that he looks for, next to the presence of Christ, is complete separation from all sin.
4. Increased Spirituality of Taste and Mind: The man whose soul is “growing” takes more interest in spiritual things every year. He does not neglect his duty in the world. He discharges faithfully, diligently, and conscientiously every relation of life, whether at home or abroad. But the things he loves best are spiritual things. The ways, and fashions, and amusements, and recreations of the world have a continually decreasing place in his heart. He does not condemn them as downright sinful, nor say that those who have anything to do with them are going to hell. He only feels that they have a constantly diminishing hold on his own affections, and gradually seem smaller and more trifling in his eyes. Spiritual companions, spiritual occupations, spiritual conversation, appear of ever-increasing value to him.
5. Increase of Charity: The man whose soul is “growing” is more full of love every year – of love to all men, but especially of love toward the brethren. His love will show itself actively in a growing disposition to do kindnesses, to take trouble for others, to be good-natured to everybody, to be generous, sympathizing, thoughtful, tenderhearted, and considerate. It will show itself passively in a growing disposition to be meek and patient toward all men, to put up with provocation and not stand upon rights, to bear and forbear much rather than quarrel. A growing soul will try to put the best construction on other people’s conduct, and to believe all things and hope all things, even to the end. There is no surer mark of backsliding and falling off in grace than an increasing disposition to find fault, pick holes, and see weak points in others.
6. Increased Zeal and Diligence in Trying to Do Good to Souls: The man who is really “growing” will take greater interest in the salvation of sinners every year. Missions at home and abroad, efforts to increase religious light and diminish religious darkness – all these things will every year have a greater place in his attention. He will not become “weary in well-doing” because he does not see every effort succeed. He will not care less for the progress of Christ’s cause on earth as he grows older, though he will learn to expect less. He will just work on, whatever the result may be – giving, praying, preaching, speaking, visiting, according to his position – and count his work its own reward. One of the surest marks of spiritual decline is a decreased interest about the souls of others and the growth of Christ’s kingdom.

So, how have you been growing? Are there particular areas that need attention? Tomorrow, we'll consider Ryle's prescription for our shrinking souls.

 

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