Spiritual growth 2

Spiritual growth2
Spiritual growth isn't an attempt to earn God’s favour. We have
His acceptance in Christ Jesus.
It is not a pursuit of justification.
It is freely given in Christ. Neither is it to guarantee our
salvation, this is done ONLY by Jesus Himself.
Ephesians 1: 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein
he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Romans 5: 17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by
one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and
of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus
Christ.
Hebrews 7: 25 Therefore He is able also to save to the
uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and
eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is
always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him
and intervene for them.
This is settled.
Let us distinguish Spiritual growth from what it is not.
The Work of Salvation proceeds from Grace.
By Grace we are saved (Ephesians 2: 8-9).
Then we can fall into the error of thinking that's all the help we
get that now Spiritual growth is in our efforts to ensure we live
right!
How we have been wrong.
NO MAN CAN LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE!
IT IS RECEIVED!
Philippians 2: 12... work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of
his good pleasure.
He gives an instruction to work out (not work for) your
salvation.
He yet places emphasis on God working in us to do God’s will
and pleasure.
God working in us is Christ working in us.
Christ in us (Colossians 1:27) is the indwelling of the Spirit.
Romans 8: 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please
God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit
of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but
the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Christ in us is the secret of and reason for Christian Living.
We are NOT to live for Him. He is to live through us
The issue here is how?
Paul again answers this:
Colossians 2: 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the
Lord, so walk ye in him.
How was Christ received?
By the Word!
His finished work! That's the way to walk in Him.
We must feed on Him! Hence He works and walks though us.
2 Corinthians 3: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to
think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.
It’s not in our power. We are not self-sufficient ... We are God
sufficient, God-reliant!
This means Christ-within dependent.
As I focus on the Word, I focus on Christ and Christ functions
though me.
Hence Spiritual growth is a function primarily of Knowledge.
Let’s view the work of Pastors and Ministers in this regard.
Ephesians 4: 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 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 fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of
men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to
deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ:
The Pastor (I use this as a general term for all ministers) is to
mature saints.
Thus he shouldn't be shell-shocked at immature behaviour or
childish traits of believers.
No child ceases to be human because of pranks or mischief.
Hence no believer should be "de-Christianed" based on his
indiscreet, unbecoming conduct. I digress.
The food is the Unity of the faith. This isn't a collective unity of
Christian churches. The unity of the faith is the ONENESS OF
BELIEF. This unity is Christ!
The meal is the Knowledge of the Son- Christ.
The Perfect man- Christ.
This is the measure of the Fullness of Christ.
With these he won’t be tossed about and carried by every new
move in the church world.
Many have no doctrinal footing.
They know success-motivation from the world. They have built
models from business empires. The pastors must retrace their
steps. To see growth, you teach CHRIST alone!
There's a further danger in teaching the law of Moses. This
CAN NEVER produce growth. It will only cause an
inflammation which is often taken as growth.
When we feed on Christ, we grow up into Him!
Hence His word is given different concepts.
Romans 10:8, the word of Faith. He is the author and finisher
of faith (Hebrews 12:2). Faith comes by hearing Him (Romans
10:17).
It is referred to as the Word of Grace (Acts 20: 28). He is
Grace(Titus 2:11). Grace is no doctrine (same with faith). It is
a Person.
It is called the Word of Life- 1 John 1: 1-3. He is Life.
The Doctrine of Righteousness- Hebrews 5:14. He is our
Righteousness.
Spiritual Growth starts when we look in His Word, focus on
Him and Not us.
As we focus on the Word, The Word focuses on US!
Then we aren't just positionally changed but conditionally
changed and transformed.
Blessed? Say I focus on the Word and allow the word of Christ
to work through my life, I grow up in Him!
Jesus is Lord,We win!