The 6 Progressions of Spiritual Growth – part 3
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Mike Thorburn/ / February 11, 2018
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Mike Thorburn/ / February 11, 2018
How do I know if I’m growing spiritually?
How do I know if I’m growing spiritually?
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
In a performance based culture we need to understand that it does not matter how impressive or wonderful your results are. What matters is your obedience to Jesus. Are you listening? Are you obeying?
When Jesus says believe in me, do you believe?
When Jesus obey my commands, do you obey?
When Jesus says go and make disciples, do you go?
When Jesus says forgive as I have forgiven you, do you forgive?
When Jesus says stop sinning, do you repent?
Everyone should be growing, having a desire to “go on to maturity”
Everyone should be growing, having a desire to “go on to maturity”
How do I know if I’m growing spiritually?
1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
How do I know if I’m growing spiritually?
The 6 spiritual progressions of the growing believer:
The 6 spiritual progressions of the growing believer:
(1) A changed life and a changed attitude
(1) A changed life and a changed attitude
The 6 spiritual progressions of the growing believer
The 6 spiritual progressions of the growing believer
The 6 spiritual progressions of the growing believer
“repentance from dead works” repentance - to make a turn, to change. Any great spiritual journey begins with a first step. Our first step needs to be the recognition that we are going in the wrong direction
(2) Personally trusting Jesus and receiving his gift of salvation
(2) Personally trusting Jesus and receiving his gift of salvation
“faith toward God” faith is an act of the will that involves trusting someone or something so much that there is a resultant action
I believe my car will start so I turn the key
I believe that I have enough money in the bank so I write the check
I believe that the glass platform over the canyon will hold my weight so I step out onto it
Wrong: I believe I can swim to Hawaii so I jump in the water at Santa Cruz
Jesus is the power of salvation. You can start your life over
Jesus paid for your forgiveness on the cross. Your debt is paid
Jesus is the way to God. He is the bridge to eternal life.
(3) Publicly proclaiming my faith in Jesus
(3) Publicly proclaiming my faith in Jesus
Instruction about washings - baptism, confession, reconciliation
“instruction about washings” - the Hebrew scriptures continual reminded the believer of their need to be eternally cleansed through salvation and to be continually cleansed through confession and reconciliation
baptism - a public profession of my faith in Jesus
confession, reconciliation - I did something wrong, I need to make it right
(4) Serving the Lord and using my spiritual gifts
(4) Serving the Lord and using my spiritual gifts
“the laying on of hands”
(5) Living my life with eternity in mind
(5) Living my life with eternity in mind
“the resurrection of the dead”
(6) Sharing my faith with boldness
(6) Sharing my faith with boldness
“eternal judgment”
4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
The certainty of relationship:
Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.
To the perishing Jesus says, I never knew you.
The Reverse Standard Version - to those who believe he says, I know you.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
The first step of obedience is hearing, the second step is believing. Next week we’ll talk about the third step: obeying.
In a performance based culture we need to understand that it does not matter how impressive or wonderful your results are. What matters is your obedience to Jesus. Are you listening? Are you obeying?
When Jesus says believe in me, do you believe?
When Jesus obey my commands, do you obey?
When Jesus says go and make disciples, do you go?
When Jesus says forgive as I have forgiven you, do you forgive?
When Jesus says stop sinning, do you repent?