Z
Zephyr
Guest
The following is "reprinted” with permission of the author, Michael:
"The growth of a Christian's maturity in the Lord Jesus is a process just as in the physical maturing process and keeping healthy physically. We must exercise the spiritual side of our being in accordance with God's Word. Those who continue to eat the milk of the Word and do not eat the meat of the Word will remain babes in Christ; while those who continue to exercise the spiritual portion of the body with what they know to do according to God's Word will become mature and wise while living a fruitful life in Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 1 explains the steps of spiritual maturity of a Christian.
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;
With all diligence, add to the foundation of your faith which is the belief in Jesus Christ and the beginning of your spiritual life, virtue. Virtue is defined as moral excellence; goodness; righteousness. So the first step in the maturation of ones spiritual life is the will to do what is right in God's eyes.
and to virtue knowledge;
The next step of maturation in the Christians spiritual life is the adding to virtue, knowledge. In order to know what is right in God's eyes, one must add the knowledge of God's Word and understand that one must now not be conformed to the world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of ones mind (Romans 12:2).
6 And to knowledge temperance;
The next step of maturation in the Christian's spiritual life is the adding to knowledge, temperance. Temperance is simply, self-control, and is defined as Moderation and self-restraint, as in behavior or expression. Once one has knowledge of what is right to do and think, one must exercise self-control to accomplish maturity in the spiritual life, and move forward to the next level of maturity.
and to temperance patience;
Following temperance, one must add patience to ones spiritual life. Patience is the step whereby we must "wait on the Lord" for His fulfillment in the various areas of action that he has us in. We have now added the "want to" to do what is right, and the knowledge as to "what is right", followed by "self-control" to be able to be transformed to do what is right, and now we add patience to wait on the Lord's direction and guidance to move forward. Patience also allows us to repent when we sin, and stand back up when we fall, grabbing onto the hand of our Father in heaven as he reaches down to assist us. Remember, Jesus will never ever leave us!
and to patience godliness;
After we add patience, the next step of spiritual maturity is to add godliness to patience. Godliness is the transforming to laws and will of God in ones life. A constant manner of obeying God's will in ones life is the level of maturity when godliness is added to patience.
The next two and final steps of a Christian's spiritual maturity reflect the two greatest commandments spoken of by Jesus Christ in Matthew 22:36-40.
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness;
Add to godliness, brotherly kindness so that in all cases love for ones brother and neighbor can be shown to all in all cases. Remember, Jesus said we are to even love our enemies. We do not battle against flesh and blood, but we battle against the powers and principalities of darkness, and it is these powers we are to battle by rebuking, reproving, correcting, and instructing other with the truth of the Word of God IN LOVE.
and to brotherly kindness charity.
And the final step of Christian spiritual maturity is to add charity which is AGAPE love to our brotherly kindness. When we have God's AGAPE love in our lives we will be mature and fruitful in all of our activities, and all that we do will bring honor and glory to the name of Jesus Christ.
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. 2 Peter 1:1-7
So know that we are all in the same boat, and that the Lord Jesus Christ is with us through all of our trials and temptations, and He will never ever leave us. Grow in the Lord, and continue to mature in Jesus Christ as we wait on Him and His righteousness, living our lives dead to sin, but alive in Him.
Prayers and grace and God's blessing to you, in Jesus name.
Michael"
"The growth of a Christian's maturity in the Lord Jesus is a process just as in the physical maturing process and keeping healthy physically. We must exercise the spiritual side of our being in accordance with God's Word. Those who continue to eat the milk of the Word and do not eat the meat of the Word will remain babes in Christ; while those who continue to exercise the spiritual portion of the body with what they know to do according to God's Word will become mature and wise while living a fruitful life in Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 1 explains the steps of spiritual maturity of a Christian.
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;
With all diligence, add to the foundation of your faith which is the belief in Jesus Christ and the beginning of your spiritual life, virtue. Virtue is defined as moral excellence; goodness; righteousness. So the first step in the maturation of ones spiritual life is the will to do what is right in God's eyes.
and to virtue knowledge;
The next step of maturation in the Christians spiritual life is the adding to virtue, knowledge. In order to know what is right in God's eyes, one must add the knowledge of God's Word and understand that one must now not be conformed to the world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of ones mind (Romans 12:2).
6 And to knowledge temperance;
The next step of maturation in the Christian's spiritual life is the adding to knowledge, temperance. Temperance is simply, self-control, and is defined as Moderation and self-restraint, as in behavior or expression. Once one has knowledge of what is right to do and think, one must exercise self-control to accomplish maturity in the spiritual life, and move forward to the next level of maturity.
and to temperance patience;
Following temperance, one must add patience to ones spiritual life. Patience is the step whereby we must "wait on the Lord" for His fulfillment in the various areas of action that he has us in. We have now added the "want to" to do what is right, and the knowledge as to "what is right", followed by "self-control" to be able to be transformed to do what is right, and now we add patience to wait on the Lord's direction and guidance to move forward. Patience also allows us to repent when we sin, and stand back up when we fall, grabbing onto the hand of our Father in heaven as he reaches down to assist us. Remember, Jesus will never ever leave us!
and to patience godliness;
After we add patience, the next step of spiritual maturity is to add godliness to patience. Godliness is the transforming to laws and will of God in ones life. A constant manner of obeying God's will in ones life is the level of maturity when godliness is added to patience.
The next two and final steps of a Christian's spiritual maturity reflect the two greatest commandments spoken of by Jesus Christ in Matthew 22:36-40.
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness;
Add to godliness, brotherly kindness so that in all cases love for ones brother and neighbor can be shown to all in all cases. Remember, Jesus said we are to even love our enemies. We do not battle against flesh and blood, but we battle against the powers and principalities of darkness, and it is these powers we are to battle by rebuking, reproving, correcting, and instructing other with the truth of the Word of God IN LOVE.
and to brotherly kindness charity.
And the final step of Christian spiritual maturity is to add charity which is AGAPE love to our brotherly kindness. When we have God's AGAPE love in our lives we will be mature and fruitful in all of our activities, and all that we do will bring honor and glory to the name of Jesus Christ.
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. 2 Peter 1:1-7
So know that we are all in the same boat, and that the Lord Jesus Christ is with us through all of our trials and temptations, and He will never ever leave us. Grow in the Lord, and continue to mature in Jesus Christ as we wait on Him and His righteousness, living our lives dead to sin, but alive in Him.
Prayers and grace and God's blessing to you, in Jesus name.
Michael"
