Christian Growth
Once we become a Christian, we are like new born babes in Christ. He works to train us by His Word, His Spirit and by all manner of assignments and experiences. We will look back someday and understand the reasons for the paths on which He has led us.
1. What new life begins when ‘We yield to Christ?
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23.
The Christian’s life is not a modification of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether.
2. How does Paul distinguish between the old and the new life of the child of God?
“But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.”
Romans 8: 9.
“Seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man,
which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him.” Colossians 3: 9, 10.
3. By what is the new life of the babe in Christ nourished?
“As newborn, babes, desire the sincere milk- of the Word, that you may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:2.
4. What change of spiritual dietary becomes possible as growth proceeds?
“For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5: 13, 14.
Where Christ has given spiritual life, He will provide food for the support and nourishment of it unto life eternal, for He will never forsake us, nor will He neglect the work of His own hands..
5. In what other way does Jesus describe our spiritual food?
“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses -gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.” “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.” John 6: 32, 50.
6. How pleasant should the child of God find this bread from heaven?
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” Jeremiah 15: 16.
7. Nourished by the Word what progress should he make from, day to day?
“They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appears before God.” Psalm 84:7.
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith.” Colossians 2: 6, 7.
8. How does Paul describe the maturing of his own Christian experience?
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, ... but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” 1 Corinthians 13: 11.
9. What complaint, however, has he to make concerning certain of his converts?
“For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” Hebrews 5:12
“I have fed you with milk, and not with meat. For hitherto you were not able to bear
it, neither yet now are you able.” 1 Corinthians 3: 2.
10. What urgent advice does he give to such?
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.” Hebrews 6: 1.
Consider this : There is nothing so hostile to growth as this tendency to look backward to what one has been rather than forward to what one may be.
11. In what two aspects should growth be particularly manifest?
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3: 18.
Daily study of the Word of Life means daily growth.
12. How does Peter describe this Christian growth?
“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.” 2 Peter 1: 5-7.
13. To what standard of maturity may we aspire?
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a Perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4: 13.
“But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1: 4.
A character formed according to the divine likeness is the one treasure that we can take from this world to the next.... How important, then, is the development of character in this life! How exciting to know that our God takes such a personal interest in our spiritual growth.
1. What new life begins when ‘We yield to Christ?
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23.
The Christian’s life is not a modification of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether.
2. How does Paul distinguish between the old and the new life of the child of God?
“But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.”
Romans 8: 9.
“Seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man,
which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him.” Colossians 3: 9, 10.
3. By what is the new life of the babe in Christ nourished?
“As newborn, babes, desire the sincere milk- of the Word, that you may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:2.
4. What change of spiritual dietary becomes possible as growth proceeds?
“For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5: 13, 14.
Where Christ has given spiritual life, He will provide food for the support and nourishment of it unto life eternal, for He will never forsake us, nor will He neglect the work of His own hands..
5. In what other way does Jesus describe our spiritual food?
“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses -gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.” “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.” John 6: 32, 50.
6. How pleasant should the child of God find this bread from heaven?
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” Jeremiah 15: 16.
7. Nourished by the Word what progress should he make from, day to day?
“They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appears before God.” Psalm 84:7.
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith.” Colossians 2: 6, 7.
8. How does Paul describe the maturing of his own Christian experience?
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, ... but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” 1 Corinthians 13: 11.
9. What complaint, however, has he to make concerning certain of his converts?
“For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” Hebrews 5:12
“I have fed you with milk, and not with meat. For hitherto you were not able to bear
it, neither yet now are you able.” 1 Corinthians 3: 2.
10. What urgent advice does he give to such?
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.” Hebrews 6: 1.
Consider this : There is nothing so hostile to growth as this tendency to look backward to what one has been rather than forward to what one may be.
11. In what two aspects should growth be particularly manifest?
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3: 18.
Daily study of the Word of Life means daily growth.
12. How does Peter describe this Christian growth?
“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.” 2 Peter 1: 5-7.
13. To what standard of maturity may we aspire?
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a Perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4: 13.
“But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1: 4.
A character formed according to the divine likeness is the one treasure that we can take from this world to the next.... How important, then, is the development of character in this life! How exciting to know that our God takes such a personal interest in our spiritual growth.
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Tuesday, May 31, 2005
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