Spiritual Growth, Eph.4:11-16. continuation
Having talked about the need to grow spiritually we also need to look at the issue of recognizing the lack of growth in our lives. The Apostle Paul dealt with this problem in Heb. 5:12-14.
Should we be concerned about the lack of spiritual growth in the life of a believer or in a Church? Should we identify it and do something about it or simply ignore it? The answer to these questions is a firm- YES, we can not ignore it.
How do we identify the lack of Spiritual Growth? From the verses in Hebrews we see that the lack of growth is due to an inability to feed on the Word of God and instead depending on other things for Spiritual Food, really spiritual junk food.
If you have been a Christian for five years or more, you should be able to open your Bible and explore the basic truths of the Word. Whats more, you should be able to share these truths with other people. Concerning this problem, the writer to the Hebrews goes on to say that these believers cannot discern between right or wrong because of their immaturity. Instead of becoming teachers they still need to be taught.
What do we mean by lack of discernment? The inability to clearly see the difference between bad and good or the difference between what is genuine and false regarding Spiritual truth in the Bible. How will we be able to instruct others if we ourselves are not sure about what the Bible teaches?
Heb.6:1-2, enumerates another mark of Spiritual Immaturity. It is the preoccupation with First Principles in the Christian Faith and an unwillingness to move on to deeper things.
What are the First Principles? Repentance, Faith toward God, Baptism, Laying on of hands, Resurrection from the dead, the coming judgement. If we put these subjects in groups we see that they are: How to be saved-How the Church runs-God's future judgement.
The amazing thing is that these subjects are termed as 'Milk' and not solid food. If we are to grow in the Faith and mature as Christians we need Solid Food. End.
Having talked about the need to grow spiritually we also need to look at the issue of recognizing the lack of growth in our lives. The Apostle Paul dealt with this problem in Heb. 5:12-14.
Should we be concerned about the lack of spiritual growth in the life of a believer or in a Church? Should we identify it and do something about it or simply ignore it? The answer to these questions is a firm- YES, we can not ignore it.
How do we identify the lack of Spiritual Growth? From the verses in Hebrews we see that the lack of growth is due to an inability to feed on the Word of God and instead depending on other things for Spiritual Food, really spiritual junk food.
If you have been a Christian for five years or more, you should be able to open your Bible and explore the basic truths of the Word. Whats more, you should be able to share these truths with other people. Concerning this problem, the writer to the Hebrews goes on to say that these believers cannot discern between right or wrong because of their immaturity. Instead of becoming teachers they still need to be taught.
What do we mean by lack of discernment? The inability to clearly see the difference between bad and good or the difference between what is genuine and false regarding Spiritual truth in the Bible. How will we be able to instruct others if we ourselves are not sure about what the Bible teaches?
Heb.6:1-2, enumerates another mark of Spiritual Immaturity. It is the preoccupation with First Principles in the Christian Faith and an unwillingness to move on to deeper things.
What are the First Principles? Repentance, Faith toward God, Baptism, Laying on of hands, Resurrection from the dead, the coming judgement. If we put these subjects in groups we see that they are: How to be saved-How the Church runs-God's future judgement.
The amazing thing is that these subjects are termed as 'Milk' and not solid food. If we are to grow in the Faith and mature as Christians we need Solid Food. End.
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