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.

Setting Yourself Up for Spiritual Success

by Heath Rogers

The days of one’s youth are an exciting time of life. A time to discover what is in the world and find one’s place in it. It is also a time to find direction for one’s life. We want our young people to look ahead and plan for their future in this world (get an education, prepare for a career, find a spouse, etc.). It is even more important that young people make plans for their eternal soul (Matt. 16:26).

Success in anything takes effort, whether it be academics, sports, business, or a marriage. Success doesn’t just happen; it isn’t just handed to you.

What are some things a young person can do to set themselves up for spiritual success in the future? Three young people in the Bible leave great examples to be followed.

1. Josiah. This boy became king when he was 8 years old. At the age of 16, “while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David” (2 Chron. 34:1-3). What does it mean to seek the Lord? David had explained this to his son Solomon: “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever” (1 Chron. 28:9, emphasis mine - HR).

The decision you make about whether to seek God, to come to know Him, and to develop your own relationship with Him will determine if you are successful spiritually.

2. Ezra. This man was a priest and a scribe who played an important role in the Jews reestablishing themselves in Palestine after the Babylonian Captivity. He was a very successful man, but this was not by accident. Ezra had made an important decision early in his life: “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

Ezra “prepared his heart.” This included his entire being. He was “all-in” regarding his future service to God and His people. He sought God’s Law. He read it, familiarized himself with it, and learned how to rightly divide it (2 Tim. 2:15). This wasn’t a mere academic pursuit, for he was determined to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only (James 1:22). With this good foundation, Ezra was then prepared to teach these statutes and ordinances to God’s people.

3. Daniel. Success also requires us to avoid certain pitfalls and dangers. Daniel did not escape the contaminations of the world by accident: “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore, he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Dan. 1:8). Daniel was probably a teenager when he was taken into captivity, but he did not use his youth as a license to sin. He had decided, before the temptations ever presented themselves, how he was going to react. He was determined to keep himself pure. This choice put him in an influential position to be able to serve God effectively later in life.