Christian Growth

[oworm]

Just as in our physical and mental life there is a necessity to grow and become mature, so it is the same with our spiritual life! There is no such thing as spiritual stagnation in the Christian life! We are either moving forward or backwards!

When we were babies our mothers fed us as we required, for the benefit of our growth. If we had been neglected in this most basic of areas we would quickly deteriorate and die. If you don’t feed a child it does not stagnate and cease growing for lack of food, it deteriorates and gradually begins to waste away and eventually dies. Obviously the same would be true for any animal or vegetable which lacks the necessary sustenance which is vital to life. Even a piece of fruit which has been plucked from its tree, because it has been separated from its source of sustenance, it is slowly on a downward spiral to destruction. If left long enough it will rot and eventually reduce in size, dehydrate and fall as molded green dust.

This same principle applies to the Christian who is not growing in knowledge of God!!

No matter how a person becomes a Christian, whether a Damascus road experience as in the case of the Apostle Paul, or having been brought up in a Christian home and come through Sunday school, eventually becoming an active member in ministry, we all need to GROW!!



So why do we need to grow spiritually? Isn’t it enough that we are Christians saved by grace? What is the purpose of growth? What is the means of growth?

If we look back to Genesis chapter one we find the words:



“God created man in his own image.” Gen 1: 27



Before Adam fell into sin he was perfect. He reflected the moral image and character of God and had perfect unity with God. He had full access to Gods presence.

When Adam fell into sin by choosing to disobey God he lost the ability to access Gods presence and found himself alienated from him. That was why Adam hid. Also, when he fell, Adam lost something of Gods image in him. The image of God in him became marred and corrupted and brought about his spiritual “death” it was this death that brought about the need for redemption and reconciliation.



As we know, we are born sinners and in need of redemption. In Christ we are redeemed and brought into a right relationship with God but it doesn’t stop there! God is not in the business of merely saving us and leaving it at that! Like any earthly parent who desires that their child grow into maturity, God desires that we grow up spiritually and become mature and complete. The writer to the Hebrews said:



“ Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,” (Heb 6:1)



We need to grow spiritually in order that the image of God is restored in us. The purpose of this growth is that we be made ready for heaven.

Paul tells us that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20)

We are not of this world!



1PE 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.



1PE 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect, strangers in the world,



By the implications of those two verses it is evident that we are not of this world!!



If then we are “not of this world” and citizens of another world it is imperative surely that we become aware of the character traits of a citizen of that kingdom!



Are we growing or shrinking, there is no middle ground!?

 

[heartnsoul]

Amen! May we continue to walk with God, know him, love him and keep His Spirit alive in us. Our relationship with God takes time. It may take a couple of falls and getting back up again before we finally learn to walk right. It's no different than a baby who is learning how to walk. As we learn and grow in Christ, we will trust in Him more and hopefully the falls will be less as we gain wisdom and spiritual maturity. May our spiritual journey lead us to peace, happiness and an abundant life here on earth as well as Heaven.

 

[somasoma77]

Christianity is a journey towards unity and a new way of living. I am glad you are drawing on the invisible forces of unity and can feel the oneness and see that responsibility, decision-making and optimism all flow together in one universal consciousness, where God is an obvious reality. One benefits tremendously physically, mentally and spiritually, when a deep awareness of unity is established because the habit of being positive is acquired, and God is no longer a closed concept, but an infinite vast always present consciousness. I am glad you see one God beyond the myriad forms so you are not tricked into thinking that there are more than one God. My God is better than your god insinuates that there is more than one God. This statement is false and a misuse of belief.
An interesting web site can be viewed at:
http://www.geocities.com/trinitypublishing2004/

 

[ydouxist]

Christianity is a journey towards unity and a new way of living. I am glad you are drawing on the invisible forces of unity and can feel the oneness and see that responsibility, decision-making and optimism all flow together in one universal consciousness, where God is an obvious reality. One benefits tremendously physically, mentally and spiritually, when a deep awareness of unity is established because the habit of being positive is acquired, and God is no longer a closed concept, but an infinite vast always present consciousness. I am glad you see one God beyond the myriad forms so you are not tricked into thinking that there are more than one God. My God is better than your god insinuates that there is more than one God. This statement is false and a misuse of belief.
An interesting web site can be viewed at:
http://www.geocities.com/trinitypublishing2004/

 

[oworm]

My sentiments exactly!

 

[nhzname]

My sentiments exactly!

Amen, I thought it was just my mistunderstanding.

 

[JesseRaymondBassett]

Amen!

 

[LegomasterJC]

Amen indeed.

 

[His]

 

[Evie]

Just as in our physical and mental life there is a necessity to grow and become mature, so it is the same with our spiritual life! There is no such thing as spiritual stagnation in the Christian life! We are either moving forward or backwards!

When we were babies our mothers fed us as we required, for the benefit of our growth. If we had been neglected in this most basic of areas we would quickly deteriorate and die. If you don’t feed a child it does not stagnate and cease growing for lack of food, it deteriorates and gradually begins to waste away and eventually dies. Obviously the same would be true for any animal or vegetable which lacks the necessary sustenance which is vital to life. Even a piece of fruit which has been plucked from its tree, because it has been separated from its source of sustenance, it is slowly on a downward spiral to destruction. If left long enough it will rot and eventually reduce in size, dehydrate and fall as molded green dust.

This same principle applies to the Christian who is not growing in knowledge of God!!

No matter how a person becomes a Christian, whether a Damascus road experience as in the case of the Apostle Paul, or having been brought up in a Christian home and come through Sunday school, eventually becoming an active member in ministry, we all need to GROW!!



So why do we need to grow spiritually? Isn’t it enough that we are Christians saved by grace? What is the purpose of growth? What is the means of growth?

If we look back to Genesis chapter one we find the words:



“God created man in his own image.” Gen 1: 27



Before Adam fell into sin he was perfect. He reflected the moral image and character of God and had perfect unity with God. He had full access to Gods presence.

When Adam fell into sin by choosing to disobey God he lost the ability to access Gods presence and found himself alienated from him. That was why Adam hid. Also, when he fell, Adam lost something of Gods image in him. The image of God in him became marred and corrupted and brought about his spiritual “death” it was this death that brought about the need for redemption and reconciliation.



As we know, we are born sinners and in need of redemption. In Christ we are redeemed and brought into a right relationship with God but it doesn’t stop there! God is not in the business of merely saving us and leaving it at that! Like any earthly parent who desires that their child grow into maturity, God desires that we grow up spiritually and become mature and complete. The writer to the Hebrews said:



“ Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,” (Heb 6:1)



We need to grow spiritually in order that the image of God is restored in us. The purpose of this growth is that we be made ready for heaven.

Paul tells us that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20)

We are not of this world!



1PE 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.



1PE 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect, strangers in the world,



By the implications of those two verses it is evident that we are not of this world!!



If then we are “not of this world” and citizens of another world it is imperative surely that we become aware of the character traits of a citizen of that kingdom!



Are we growing or shrinking, there is no middle ground!?

yep! what she said.

 

[Peter]

Hmmmm.

 

[IntimateFriend]

Great post! It is sad that many Christians today are not growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Many became so enamored by the things of this world that they've lost their vision and passion for Christ. The lost are perishing while the Church is sleeping...God have mercy on us! Thank God that He is raising an Army that knows the significance of the blood of Christ and have a testimony of God's power working in their lives and they don't love their lives even to the point of death (Rev.12:11).