In order for us to be mature believers, there must be growth. In today’s Bible study, we are looking at the various areas the Word of God exhorts us to grow in.
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.
1 peter 2:2
To grow up in salvation, we will need spiritual milk. Spiritual milk is foundational truths meant to grow us in God. An example is faith, the grace of God, repentance, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal judgment.
We begin with foundational truths and then grow up into more mature doctrine. Paul calls it spiritual meat. In the same way, an infant cannot be able to digest solid foods until they have grown enough, we also cannot feed on meat if we haven’t fed on milk first.
It’s very important that we build our spiritual foundation on spiritual milk first.
When we have our spiritual foundation in place, we can now go on into spiritual maturity.
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on into maturity. Hebrews 6:1
Those who are spiritually mature can now be able to train and grow others. If we haven’t grown up from foundational Spiritual truths we are unskilled in teaching others.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature…Hebrews 5: 11-14
We grow in grace
But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of god and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2
Growing in grace is directly connected to our growth in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ. They cannot be separated. As we grow in God, we increase in grace.
Growing in grace makes us steadfast and shields us from being carried away by error.
Peter says, you, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with error of lawless people and lose your own stability…But grow in grace 2 Peter 3:17
We are trained in godliness and righteousness as we grow in grace.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:11-12
We grow in knowledge and wisdom.
This is the essence of our faith, to know Him more and more.
I do not cease to give thanks to you, remembering you in my prayers; [ I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [ that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him[ for we know the father through the son] Ephesians 1:17 AMP
Paul’s prayer for them was that God would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation to be able to know God intimately. Of all the things he could have prayed for this is the only thing He asked for them. If they could grow in the knowledge of Him, they would be completely furnished with everything they needed in life. We grow in intimacy with God, as we grow in our knowledge of Him.
For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [ specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all Spiritual wisdom[ with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [ of spiritual things], Colossians 1:9
We grow in the knowledge of His will. God gives us wisdom and understanding of spiritual things so we can be able to know His will. As we know Him more and more, we become acquainted with His plans and purposes for our lives. We cannot know His will apart from knowing Him.
Our utmost goal should be to grow in the knowledge of Him; to know Him more intimately. For Paul, it was a priceless privilege. It should be our greatest desire as believers too.
But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him-a joy unequaled]. Philippians 3:8 AMP
We grow in faith.
We ought to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3
Their faith was growing abundantly… Paul says it is a reason to give thanks to God. It was his joy to see them increasing in faith. It’s God’s joy to see His children becoming established in faith.
Having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught and overflowing in gratitude. Colossians 2:7 AMP
We grow in faith as we continually become deeply rooted and built up in Him. We are established in faith as we continue to live in Him.
We become grounded and steadfast as we continue in our faith.
[And He will do this] if you continue in the faith, well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel that you have heard. Colossians 1:23 AMP
The whole body grows into the full stature of Christ as we individually grow and are established in faith.
[ and he did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for the service, to build up the body of Christ[ the church]; until we all reach oneness of faith and in the knowledge of the son of God, [ growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching the measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:12-13
Paul is speaking of the gifts of the Holy Spirit given for the equipping of the saints to achieve fullness of faith and fullness in the knowledge of Him. Until we all attain the full stature of Christ.
We grow in love
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [ deeply] rooted and [ securely] grounded in love be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints( God’s people) the width, and length, and depth of His love [ fully experiencing that amazing endless love]; and [ that you may come] to know [ practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses[ mere] knowledge [ without experience] that you may be filled up [ throughout your being] to all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
As we experience Christ’s love, we become grounded and secured in love and are filled up with the fullness of God. God has hidden his fullness in His love, as we know His love we experience the fullness of God in every area of our lives.
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11
Love grows with knowledge and discernment. We cannot grow in love without knowledge.
We grow up in being truthful in all things, as we mature in love. Growing in love also grows us up in all ways.
Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [ in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly], Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [ even] Christ ( the Messiah, the Anointed One). For because of Him the whole body ( the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [ with power adapted to its need] is working properly [ in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love. Ephesians 4:15-16 AMPC
May we grow in grace; and in the knowledge of Him; in faith and in love to the glory and honor of His name.
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