Christian Growth
(a study outline)
- What is Growth : increasing conformity to the character of God as revealed in Christ
(Col 3.1, Eph 4.22f, Heb 1.3, Jn 14.7-10)
- Why is this an Issue?
- God's desire for our robustness (Eph 4.14-15)
- Our desire for us! (Gal 5.22-23; Is 32.17)
- The importance of freedom
(I Pt 2.2; Rom 8.21; 2 Cor 3.17 with Gal 5.24; Gal 5.13; I Cor 6.12)
- The goal of history (Rom 8.29)
- Commanded to grow (2 Pet 3.18)
- We actually have to resist God to not grow! (Philp. 1.6; 2.12)
- Theology: value in the universe/plenitude
- Failure: Corinthian babies (I Cor 3.1-4)
- Failure: Hebrews babies (Heb 5:11-14)
- Failure: "detached" believers (2 Pet 1.5-9)
- What is the overall model of Growth in the NT? (Rom 7.14-25; Jas 1)
- old nature never gets better
- we are captive before salvation
- new spirit (with Holy Spirit inside) now breaks the link
- flesh' seduces through old habits/thinking patterns and uses deceit
- Rom 7.11
- Eph 4.22
- Tit 3.3
- Heb 3.13
- Jas 1
- new nature leads, teaches
- this produces a life-long struggle/battle between the two (Gal 5.17)
- the new "agent" responds to both and becomes more like the nature it listens to
(Proverb 13.2 and 22.24-25)
- growth comes from strengthening the new agent to say yes/no (the spiral--Rom 8.12ff)
- Means of Growth
- Exposure to the person of Christ (2 Cor 3.12-18)
- in prayer (through Spirit's feedback)
- in Word
- in providence
- in other believers
- results = renewal/transformation (Rom 12.2; Eph 4.22f; Col 3.10)
- 'hardening' it into a habit
- the six weeks issue (therapy)
- experience/constant use (Heb 5.14)
- discipline (Gal 5.23)
- train yourself (Heb 5.14; I Tim 4.7)
- suffering (Jas 1.2-4)
- ever-varying circumstances (always stretching us)
Results - at Reaping
- external fruit (2 Pet 1.8)
- internal fruit (the sanctification spiral-Rom 8)
- greater glory (new body issue)
- clarity of vision (Rom 12.2; Heb 5.14)
What are some areas of growth?
- Faith (2 Cor 10.15; 2 Th 1.3)
- Grace (2 Pet 3.18)
- Knowledge (2 Pet 3.18; Col 1.10)
- love (Phlp 1.9; I Ths 3.12; 2 Ths 1.3)
- deliverance (I Pet 2.2)
- all things (Eph 4.14-15)
Implications for our Response/Attitudes
- patience
- thankfulness
- struggle/action
- 'looking for His face...'
- realism (I Cor 10:13)
- optimism (Phil 1)
The Christian ThinkTank...[https://www.Christianthinktank.com]
(Reference Abbreviations)