The Encourager
“The Growth of the Christian”
THE GROWTH OF THE CHRISTIAN
by David A. Cox
“But grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 2:18).
Peter points out that being a Christian is not just a one-time decision made, and then it is over. Being a Christian involves a lifetime of growth. The Christian is a child of God and a part of the family of God. The family analogy gives us the picture of brothers and sisters, children, and parents. God is the Father. As the Father, He provides for us as His children. We are children of God because we have voluntarily submitted ourselves to Him and have been baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). By being baptized into Christ, we have been “born again” into the family of God or the church (John 3:3-5). The ones that have been “born again” by the word of God (1 Peter 1:23) are new converts or “babes in Christ.” Peter continues to speak of the laying aside of old dispositions, attitudes, and actions of sin. Peter then states that we should “as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow” (1 Peter 2:1-2). As a babe's desire is to grow, the Christian's growth is desired and expected by God.
Passages Stressing How and Why to Grow.
• The Nurturing for the New Convert. The newborn babe, if they are not nurtured, will die spiritually. Everyone surely understands the tragedy of a baby that is born in this physical life being left alone, uncared for, and deserted. The nurturing of the disciples is something Jesus is concerned about as He tells the disciples to teach those they baptize to observe all things (Matthew 28:19-20). Disciples, who follow the instruction of Jesus in the great commission, will not let this happen.
• The Grounding that is Needed. The teaching of God's word is vital in the grounding of newborn babes/new converts. Speaking to Christians, the Hebrew writer tells them they should have grown. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to them that are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14).
• The Need to Stand Against the World and its Forces. Paul writes to the Ephesians about the need to grow. Paul states, “…that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ” (Ephesians 4:14-15).
It is apparent in the scriptures that Jesus and the apostles taught that Christians should grow. Without growth and maturity, Christians will wander aimlessly through life and will fall prey to the snares of the devil. As a child of God grows, they will not be tossed about in the world of darkness. The trials and temptations will come to man, but a Christian will endure with a developed and mature faith (2 Timothy 4:8). Jesus came and gave His life to save man. Spiritual growth and development are essential for Christians to not grow weary and fall away. Indeed, we can understand why growing in faith is imperative if we endure to the end.
