Attitudes of the Heart - Growth
In the last two lessons we dealt with two foundational attitudes – faith and obedience. The Christian’s entire walk with God can be summed up as a daily exercise of these two attitudes. This lesson naturally flows from the previous two. When a Christian consistently exercises his faith in God through obedience to God, he will inevitably progress in his Christian maturity. This increasing maturity is what we call spiritual growth. Growth is our next attitude of the heart.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to 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.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. Why did Paul thank God for the Thessalonians?[/su_box]Paul thanked God for the Thessalonians because their faith was growing abundantly. Even in the midst of great persecution and afflictions, this church’s faith endured, and grew. They remained steadfast in the faith and increased in their love for one another. God was to be thanked because it was His grace and His Holy Spirit which was producing the Thessalonians spiritual growth.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What two things does Peter tell us to do?[/su_box]Whereas Paul showed us in 2 Thessalonians 1:3 that God is to be thanked for spiritual growth, Peter indicates that growth is the responsibility of the believer. Again, we find the paradox of human responsibility and divine sovereignty. How do these twin truths reconcile? God places the responsibility to grow spiritually upon us and then provides all the means for us to do so.
What Spiritual Growth is Not
Before we get into a Biblical understanding of what spiritual growth is, let’s consider what it is not. First of all:Spiritual growth is not a means by which we become accepted by God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. Why was Christ “made sin” for us?[/su_box]
Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. Whose righteousness do we have? How did we get it?[/su_box]We were accepted by God the moment we received Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord by faith. God’s acceptance of us had nothing to do with our inherent worthiness and will never have anything to do with our inherent worthiness. He has accepted us on the basis of Christ’s righteousness and not our own.He accepted us “while we were still sinners” (Rom 5:8), while we were “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1) and while we were the “slaves of sin” (Rom 6:17). He did it, not because we deserved it, but for the “sake of Christ” (Eph 4:32). This acceptance was immediate and irrevocable (Heb 13:5).Having been accepted by God on the basis of Christ’s righteousness and not our own merit, it makes no sense to attempt to earn His continued acceptance through obedience or spiritual growth. Every Christian should strive for continual obedience to the Lord while understanding that this is the outworking of our acceptance by God and not the means to obtain it.What pitfalls might a Christian encounter if he believes his acceptance by God is dependent upon the rate or quality of his spiritual growth?Next, consider that:Spiritual maturity is not necessarily linked to how long someone has been saved.
Job 32:9 It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What cannot always be said about “great” or “aged men?[/su_box]Because God has chosen to use means to produce growth (His word, prayer, fellowship, obedience, etc), it is possible for one to be a believer for quite some time without seeing much spiritual growth. How is this? Spiritual growth can be stunted by the neglect of God’s means for growth. On the other hand, a relatively young believer, who has a pattern of Bible reading, prayer, fellowship and obedience can grow quite rapidly.A Christian’s stage of spiritual growth is not necessarily related to how long he or she has been a Christian. Some grow fast, some grow slow, and some recede in their growth. Still, there should be a definite progression in ones spiritual maturity. We should expect to see spiritual growth in the life of a genuine believer.
Hebrews 5:11-14 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 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, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. v12. What did the writer to the Hebrews believe the Hebrews should have been able to do?Q. v11-12. What was the writer not able to do because of their immaturity?Q. v14. Spiritual maturity does not necessarily relate to time. How does one become spiritually strong?[/su_box]Although every believer is different and rates of spiritual growth will vary, it is right to expect a reasonable rate of maturity. The writer to the Hebrews expected to find them at a certain level of maturity, but was disappointed. He even admonished them for their lack of spiritual growth.[su_box title="Think and Apply" style="soft" box_color="#E67600"]Do you think your current stage of spiritual maturity is appropriate for the length of time you have been saved? What may have hindered your growth along the way?[/su_box]Next, consider that:Spiritual growth and Bible knowledge are not synonymous
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What affect can knowledge have on a man?Q. Considering 1 Timothy 3:6 how might equating knowledge with spiritual growth lead to problems in the church?[/su_box]Head knowledge and spiritual growth are not the same. Growth comes as a man learns scripture, obeys scripture and becomes closer to God as a result. There are many men who can quote scripture and have knowledge of doctrine, but who do not have the spiritual wisdom or fruit which accompanies growth. A man who learns, but does not grow is susceptible to pride. He can cause undue discord in the church by his immature reactions – often towards what he perceives to be false doctrine. He has not yet grown to the point where he can handle himself with the grace, meekness or compassion that comes with spiritual maturity.Now, understanding what spiritual growth is not let’s look at a passage of scripture which deals with the stages of spiritual growth.
Stages of Spiritual Growth
1 John 2:12-14 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What are the three stages of growth found here?[/su_box]There are two different terms for children in this passage. The first in v12 seems to encompass all Christians. This is not an uncommon usage in scripture. Jesus, Paul and John all used this term to refer to the people of God in general (John 13:33, Gal 4:19, 1 John 2:1). Verse 12 indicates that there is something that all children of God have in common, regardless of their stage of growth – that their sins are forgiven for the sake of Christ.In verse 13 we find another greek word translated “children.” This word refers to those Christians who are spiritually immature.
Children
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. v13. Why did John write to these “little children?”Q. What are some of the characteristics of a physical baby? Using John’s analogy, how can we relate those characteristics to an immature Christian?[/su_box]A spiritual child doesn’t know much. What he does know is that his sins are forgiven and that he has a new heavenly Father. For the most part, this is the entire span of his spiritual knowledge. He knows that he has entered into a new relationship with God and that’s about it.Spiritual childhood is a necessary and wonderful stage of spiritual growth. The presence of spiritual babes in the church is an indication that a church is growing and people are getting saved. That being said, when this stage of growth persists for too long it becomes abnormal and even detrimental to a Christian and the church at large.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. Considering Paul’s tone in this passage, what did he expect from the Corinthians? What did he find?Q. What were some of the evidences of the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthians? [/su_box]As we see in this passage, and as we have already seen in Heb 5:11-14, it is good and right to expect to find spiritual growth in the life of a believer. Where there is life, there should be growth. Stunted growth and continued spiritual barrenness should not be viewed as “normal” for the Christian life. Such a lack of maturity is an indication that there is something terribly wrong.Paul expected a natural progression of growth to take place in the Corinthian’s lives, but he did not find it. He went on throughout his epistle to correct false doctrine and to rebuke sin. The Christian who remains immature may be the victim of false doctrine (and the unbiblical thinking which accompanies it); they may be harbouring sin in their lives; or, they may not be a Christian at all (Luke 8:11-15).Consider your own life. Have you passed the childhood stage of spiritual growth? What is different in your life now compared to when you were a “spiritual babe”?
Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. This passage indicates there are gifted men whom God has given to the church. These men are to use their spiritual gifts to mature the church (v12-13). According to verse 14, what is one of the results of spiritual growth?[/su_box]Spiritually immature Christians are susceptible to false doctrine. It is easy for them to be led astray by cults or other false teachers (Gal 1:6-7, 2 Cor 11:1-4). Like a child, they lack discernment, are vulnerable and are in need of protection from those who would do them harm (1 Cor 4:14-16). They have a basic knowledge of God but have not yet progressed to the point in their knowledge of the son of God that they can refute false doctrine or defend the faith (Eph 4:13).
Young Men
1 John 2:14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. For what reasons did John write to the “young men?”Q. John indicates that men and women at this stage of spiritual growth have “overcome the evil one.” How did they do this?[/su_box]Satan’s chief approach to harming Christians is not through temptation to sin, but through the lure of false doctrine and unscriptural thinking. He will often “disguise himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14). This “light” comes in the form of false doctrine and cults. Teaching which often resembles sound doctrine, but upon investigation turns out to be gross error. The spiritual young man has overcome the wicked one by becoming established in his understanding of the gospel through the study of the word of God. He has built upon the emotional and relational aspects of salvation and has added a solid, biblical theology. As a result, he possesses a discernment which enables him to distinguish truth from error. He is “no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:14).
Colossians 2:6-8 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. v7. What three terms are used here to refer to spiritual stability?Q. v7. The Colossians were to be established in the faith as they had been what?[/su_box]Learning and applying scripture is the key to spiritual growth. This is the main tool that God has given us for spiritual growth. Even the spiritual gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4 are really just different ways of ministering the word of God to promote spiritual growth.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What four things is scripture good (profitable) for?[/su_box]Spiritual growth depends upon our consistent learning and applying of God’s word. Through scripture we learn doctrine, are reproved, are corrected and are instructed in how to live righteously. It is through scripture that we are equipped for “every good work.” The spiritual young man has learned this and spends quality time studying the word of God.
1 Peter 2:1-2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation--
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. According to this passage, how should we feel about the word of God?[/su_box]We will never progress from spiritual immaturity and instability to being firmly grounded in God’s word if we do not have a sincere, heartfelt desire to study scripture. The growth of many Christians is stunted because they do not have the right view of the word of God. They have failed to incorporate it into their daily lives and have failed to learn how to study.Spiritual young men know doctrine. They understand the word of God and are rigid defenders of it. They are ready and willing to go to battle over right doctrine, yet they have much growth ahead of them. What are some ways that they might make their immaturity obvious?
Fathers
1 John 2:13-14 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. Why did John write to the spiritual fathers?[/su_box]
Philippians 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What was Paul’s desire? [/su_box]Paul was one of the greatest Christians who ever lived. He was a spiritual father to many churches, yet one of his sincerest desires was to “know God.” This speaks of more than a simplistic awareness that God is our father. To “know God” in this sense is to have an intimate relationship with Him. These spiritually mature Christians have progressed from a simplistic knowledge of God their father as spiritual children. They have learned scripture and have become defenders of it as spiritual young men. But they have progressed even further, by not only knowing scripture, but by living it. They have entered into an intimate and sustained relationship with God the father.[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. Considering 1 Peter 5:10 and James 1:2-4, What are some things that may have occurred in the spiritual father’s life that has promoted his spiritual growth?[/su_box]The spiritual father has experienced answers to prayer. He has endured trials with God at his side. He has seen the word of God proven true over and over again. He not only knows scripture, but he has applied it, proven it and lived it. He has prayed for wisdom and has received it. The spiritual father bears the fruit of the Spirit and has developed a Christ-like character. He not only knows scripture, but he has the wisdom and discernment needed to practice and share it.
Always Growing, Never Arriving
Philippians 3:8-13 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. In this passage we find the wonderful testimony of the Apostle Paul as a man who had given up everything for the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul longed to learn more about Christ, to know God better, to experience His righteousness and even to suffer for His sake. Of all believers, the Apostle Paul could be held up as a model of spiritual growth and maturity.[/su_box]With all of the above being true, consider v12-13 of this passage. According to the first part of verse 12, and the first part of verse 13, what was the Apostle quick to state about his progress in spiritual growth?With all of the Apostle Paul’s spiritual maturity, he was quick to tell the Philippians that he “had not arrived”. His growth was not complete. He had not reached full maturity.[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. Look again at verses 12-14. Paul declared that his growth was not complete. According to the latter parts of verses 12, 13 and all of verse 14, how did the Apostle Paul approach his spiritual life?V12… but IV13… But one thingV14 I press [/su_box]There is no such thing as sinless perfection or complete spiritual maturity. We will not be entirely like the Lord Jesus Christ until we are glorified with him in Heaven. Like the Apostle Paul, our goal in this life should not be the attaining of spiritual perfection, but rather the continual progress towards increasing Christ-likeness. As long as we exist in these sinful bodies and in this sin-cursed world, our efforts toward spiritual growth will be tainted by sin and hindered by our weakness. For this reason, our focus should be on progression and not perfection.The healthy Christian life is one of continual progression in spiritual maturity. Healthy Christians grow. This is the natural and inevitable outworking of the spiritual life that God has given us. The genuine believer has received spiritual life through the Holy Spirit and the presence of the Holy Spirit inevitably produces growth and fruit.Spiritual growth is a work of God inside of us, yet we have the power to help or hinder the process through our obedience. Responding to God with faith and obedience yields growth. Bearing up under trials by trusting in Him, yields growth. Availing ourselves to the resources for growth which he has given us (scripture, prayer, fellowship, preaching, etc), yields growth. On the other hand, disobedience, faithlessness, and neglect of God’s resources prevents growth, produces doubt and forfeits all the blessings which accompany obedience.The heart’s desire of every genuine believer should be spiritual growth. This inward desire should overflow into real, tangible action as we seek to obey the Lord, abstain from sin and avail ourselves to his means for growth. We will never arrive at a place of perfection in this life. But our short time here should be spent becoming more and more like Jesus Christ through spiritual growth.[su_box title="Review!" style="soft" box_color="#FF4D2C"]1. We do not gain acceptance by God through spiritual growth, but what negative effects might a lack of spiritual growth have on our relationship with God?2. In your own opinion, what types of things might keep someone from growing at a reasonable rate? (Also consider 1 John 2:15-17)3. Have you ever met someone who could quote scripture but was obviously not very spiritually mature? What impression does this leave on people? How could it hurt them?4. Why do you think Satan chooses to use false religion and false doctrine to lead immature Christian's astray? Why is it effective?5. Spiritual young men know scripture. They have a solid understanding of theology. Yet in today's church there seems to be very few who really understand doctrine. Why might this be so?6. How can the church help change this?7. Why do you think trials and suffering are so effective in producing spiritual maturity?8. How might a trial in the life of a Christian fail to lead to spiritual maturity?9. Explain the difference between spiritual perfection and spiritual progression.[/su_box]