Growing In Christ 1

I. Must be born before we can grow 2

Born of water & the Spirit Jn. 3:5 [5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 3

When we are born into the family of God we are babes in Christ Through proper growth we can become mature persons in Christ – able to accept great responsibilities and bear great burdens for our Lord 4

Church = _________________| Mt. 16:18-19 [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 5

Acts 2:47 [47] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 6

II. Things essential for growth 7

1. Food A child needs proper nourishment in order to grow physically The spiritual child needs spiritual food 8

The Word of God is spiritual food - Mt. 4:4 [4] But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 9

1 Pet. 2:1-3 [1] Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, [2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: [3] If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 10

1 Cor. 3:1-2 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. 11

Some are not ready for solid food Heb. 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. 12

[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. 13

In order to grow and mature spiritually we must be involved in constant and careful study of the word of God We need to grow into mature men and women in the gospel 14

2. Exercise – 1 Tim. 4:7-8 [7] But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. [8] For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 15

Exercise = to train the mind Godliness = humble reverence and deep respect toward God which leads us to be more godlike – leads us to submit to God’s will for us The desire to be godlike should control all of our actions 16

Exercise by: We are to exercise godliness in worship - we must worship God in spirit and in truth We are to exercise godliness in our daily lives --- our actions, words, attitudes and places we go are to demonstrate godliness 17

Christian Service – feed the hungry, clothe those in need, visit the sick, teach/preach the gospel to lost souls and to Christians to edify, encourage, etc. 18

Denying ungodliness Titus 2:12 [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 19

Ungodliness = living irreverent and rebellious lives before God To deny ungodliness is to control this feeling of rebellion and irreverence and to bring it under subjection to God 20

3. Right atmosphere/associations We need clean, pure air for physical growth – polluted air is harmful to the human body A pure spiritual atmosphere is essential for spiritual growth of a child of God 21

Christian fellowship – found when we come together for periods of worship – in association with Christians – we have fellowship with God and with each other 22

Clean associates 1 Cor. 15:33 [33] Be not deceived, evil companionships corrupt good morals 23

A Christian home Eph. 6:4 [4] And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 24

III. Necessity of Growth 25

Growth is essential – 2 Pet. 3:18 [18] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 26

2 Pet. 1:5- [5] And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; [6] And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 27

[7] And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. [8] For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 28

[9] But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. [10] Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 29

[11] For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 30

Lack of growth rebuked in the N.T. – Heb. 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. 31

[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. 32

Lack of growth is dangerous When one fails to grow spiritually they are not getting enough spiritual food or enough spiritual exercise or they are living in an impure atmosphere 33

Conclusion 1 Pet. 2:2 - As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 2 Pet. 3:18 - But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 34

Reference – gleaned from a tract by Roy H. Lanier, Sr. 35