Peter says to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Like newborn babes, "desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). Stay "Rooted and built up in him" (Colossians 2:7), abide in the Vine (John 15:5), and remember that "God gave the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Spiritual growth is slow, ordinary, and God-powered. These twelve King James passages describe growing in grace through the Word, staying rooted in Christ, and maturing over time. This is not a fresh-start page (see new beginning) or a thought-life page (see renewing the mind); it is about long, steady growth, like a tree planted by the water. For the character that growth produces, see fruit of the Spirit.
Grow in grace and in the Word
1. 2 Peter 3:18
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."
Peter's final instruction is a growth command: grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus. Growth is relational, knowing Him more, not merely knowing more facts.
2. 1 Peter 2:2
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"
Babies crave milk and grow. Hunger for Scripture is both a sign of spiritual life and the means of growth.
3. Ephesians 4:15
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"
Growth happens in community: speaking the truth in love, we grow up into Christ in every area. Maturity looks like Jesus.
4. Colossians 2:6-7
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."
Rooted, built up, established: three pictures of stability. You grow in Christ the same way you began, by faith, abounding with thanksgiving.
Rooted and fruitful
5. John 15:5
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
Fruit is the result of abiding, not straining. Apart from the Vine we can do nothing; connected to Him, fruit comes.
6. Psalms 1:3
"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
The person who delights in God's Word is like a tree planted by rivers, bearing fruit "in his season." Growth has seasons; the roots keep drinking.
7. Jeremiah 17:7-8
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."
Roots reaching toward the river keep leaves green even in drought. Deep roots are grown in calm seasons for the hard ones.
8. Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"
God started the work and He will finish it. Spiritual growth is ultimately His project in you.
Going on to maturity
9. 2 Peter 1:5-8
"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Peter's growth ladder: faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity. Add them with diligence, and you will be neither barren nor unfruitful.
10. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."
We plant and water; God gives the increase. Use the means of grace faithfully and trust Him with the growth rate.
11. Hebrews 6:1
"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,"
Don't stay at the basics forever: "let us go on unto perfection," that is, maturity. Growth means moving from milk to solid food.
12. 2 Corinthians 3:18
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Beholding the glory of the Lord, we are changed "from glory to glory." Transformation is gradual and Spirit-wrought as we keep looking at Christ.
A short prayer
Lord, I want to grow. Give me a hunger for Your Word, roots that go deep in Christ, and patience with the slow work of grace. Keep me abiding in You, and finish the good work You began in me. Change me from glory to glory by Your Spirit. In Jesus' name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
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Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about spiritual growth?
Believers are commanded to "grow in grace" (2 Peter 3:18) through the Word (1 Peter 2:2), rooted in Christ (Colossians 2:6-7), and moving on to maturity (Hebrews 6:1). God Himself gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:7).
How do Christians grow spiritually?
Through Scripture (1 Peter 2:2), prayer, abiding in Christ (John 15:5), fellowship that speaks the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and diligence in godly character (2 Peter 1:5-8), all empowered by God.
Why does spiritual growth feel so slow?
Scripture uses farming and tree pictures for a reason (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:7-8). Growth is mostly hidden, happens in seasons, and is measured over years. God promises to finish what He started (Philippians 1:6).
What are signs of spiritual growth?
Growing love for God and people, hunger for the Word, more of the fruit of the Spirit, quicker repentance, and steadiness in trials.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about the fruit of the Spirit · Bible verses about renewing the mind · Bible verses about new beginnings · Bible verses about discipline · Bible verses about running the race
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