What Is Spiritual Growth

   Spiritual growth should be the pursuit of every person who names the Name of Christ!

Once we have given our lives to Jesus, receiving Him as our personal Lord and Savior, becoming new creations in Him, washed in His blood from our sins, the next step is to grow in Him. This is a process that will end when Christ comes or when we go to be with Him. It takes time. And yes, it will take some effort on our part as well. While becoming a Christian or a kingdom citizen occurs the moment we receive Christ, growing in Christ is not something that just happens. If we are going to grow in grace there are things we must do.

   The Apostle Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said these words;

1Peter 2:2

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby.

Stages Of Spiritual Growth

   We all start as babies in Christ. None of us begin as a full grown, perfectly mature believer.  Spiritual growth is much like physical growth. This is why the Bible uses analogies of physical growth to describe spiritual growth. There are stages in spiritual growth just as there are stages in physical growth. In the verse of scripture above, those who just received Christ are referred to as babes (or babies) in Christ. Then again, the scriptures also refer to some as children in Christ.

Ephesians 4:16

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;

   The scriptures also speaks of the spiritually mature believer, those of full age;

Hebrews 5: 12-14

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

   The scriptures also refers to another kind of believer, the carnal believer.

1Corithians 3: 1-3

1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2 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.

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

   Now how can we discern where we are in Christ? How can we determine what stage we are in? Where are we in our walk with the Lord? And how can we grow in the Lord to another level? We shall discuss this in our next lesson together. Stay tuned. How will you know when the next article is released? Just sign up and receive notification as soon as it is up. Have an awesome day in Jesus.