Spiritual Growth: A Study in the Scriptures

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

"That we henceforth be no more children ... but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things ..."
Ephesians 4:14, 15

I. Every believer, at salvation, is born into the family of God.

John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power
to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

1 John 3:2 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God ..."

II. But a baby grows up, matures, becomes a man, and takes on responsibility.
As it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual.

Ephesians 4:13 "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and
fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine ...but speaking the
truth in love, may grow up into him in all things..."

1 Corinthians 13:11 "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood
as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away
childish things."

1 Peter 2:2 "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby."

2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ."

III. Scripture cites two basic evidences of spiritual infancy.

A. Carnality.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you
as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were
not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal..."

Galatians 4:1-3, 9 "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child,
differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under
tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so
we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of
the world."

B. Inability to discern or understand doctrine.

Isaiah 28:9 "Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom
shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned
from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must
be upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and
there a little."

Ephesians 4:14, 15 "That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine
...but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things..."

Hebrews 6:1-2 "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine
of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the
foundation ... of the doctrine ..."

IV. The Word of God gives growth to our spiritual lives.

1 Peter 2:2 "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the
word, that ye may grow thereby."

A. Milk is for the babes.

1 Corinthians 3:2
Hebrews 5:12, 13
Hebrews 6:1, 2
1 Peter 2:2

B. Solid food (meat) is for the more mature.

Isaiah 28:9
1 Corinthians 3:2
Hebrews 5:12-14

COPYRIGHT/REPRODUCTION LIMITATIONS:
This material is solely for personal use and is not to be posted publicly on other web pages. Diane S. Dew holds exclusive rights to publicly post these messsages on this web page. You are free to download, copy, print and distribute one copy of this material for your own personal use, so long as you do not post it on a different Internet site. You may, however, link this site to reference these messages.

This file is the sole property of Diane S. Dew. It may not be altered or edited in any way. One copy of this study may be reproduced only in its entirety for your own personal use, without charge. Permission for any other use must be obtained, in writing, from the author: Diane S. Dew, PO Box 340945, Milwaukee, WI 53234.

Don't wear out your printer. Order a printed, bound set of these studies, available AT COST!

Complete, printed and bound copies of these studies (75 topics, 600+ pages)
may be obtained, at cost, from:

Diane S. Dew, PO Box 340945, Milwaukee, WI 53234

MAIN PAGE

|| Pro-life Perspective || Bible Studies || The Prayer Place || Poems ||
|| 'Comfort Ye My People' || Apologetics || Chat Rooms || Testimonies ||
|| Devotional Articles || Articles on Political & Social Issues || Fav Links ||
|| Music Links || Bible Q&A || Seniors' Section || Kids' Site || Humor ||
_____________________________________________________________________

Email: Diane@dianedew.com
Diane Dew o PO Box 340945 o Milw WI 53234