Spiritual Growth

This Bible study contains three parts: Birth, Discipleship and Spiritual growth You can study it all at once or you may Divide it into three or more parts It can be studied alone or if you are a Bible group leader, you can use it as a study material with your Bible group. God bless you!

SPIRITUAL GROWTH INTRODUCTION When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 1 Cor 13:11 Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Eph 4:13-14 It is natural to expect a child to grow and mature. The society considers it essential to observe individual’s development. Preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities - we train our children and ourselves to better life and to better achievements. Teachers at school are expected to work hard to motivate the students to do their best and extend their own personal limits. School teachers work with an enthusiastic commitment seeking for the best of their students providing them a safe and challenging learning environment. This Bible study reveals how important it is to expect growth in our spiritual life and not just in our natural life. The Bible talks a lot about Christian maturity and spiritual growth and how it can be reached by grace and by the word of God. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen 2 Peter 3:18 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby 1 Peter 2:2 (KJV)

Table of Contents Part I:

Birth - How can a man be born again? - What happens when a man is born again?

Part II:

Discipleship - Discipleship means to abandon everything for Christ - To abandon everything forces to depend on Christ - A disciple may take advantage of Christ’s achievements

Part III:

Spiritual Growth - The results of growth - How to start the growth - Concentrate on the reality that is found in Christ. - Dare to trust in grace 1

PART I: BIRTH Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again. "How can anyone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' John 3:3-7 The only way to the kingdom of God is by spiritual birth. A person may be extremely religious or exceptionally well behaving, but that does not mean that he is on the way to heaven. His own deeds do not make him any good in God’s eyes. Only a born again Christian is acceptable to the Kingdom of God.

How can a person be born again? Not:

- By accepting the Biblical and Christian principals in his life. - By going to Church or joining Christian clubs - By taking a Water Baptism - By living a good life - By doing good deeds - By inheriting the salvation from parents - By studying Theology

But:

- God justifies by faith (Romans 3:30) - It is by faith, so that it may be by grace (Romans 4:16) - it is through the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23)

An unbeliever obtains salvation by believing in Christ. Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). Jesus Himself said that God sent Him to save the world and whoever believes in him shall have eternal life (John 3:16-17). Jesus said to Paul on the road to Damascus, that He would send him to open people’s eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Him (Acts 26:17-18). Salvation is God’s work. Nobody can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him (John 6:40-44). Nobody can find faith from himself. It comes by hearing the word of God (Rom 10:17). Jesus sent the Holy Spirit and He is the one who reproves the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16: 7-11). And the Spirit himself testifies with believer’s spirit that he is God’s child (Rom 8:16).

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What happens when a person is being born again? I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' Acts 26:17-18 1.

...to open their eyes. When a person is born again, he begins to see beyond natural things. He begins to see supernatural views. Before it may have been difficult to understand things like God’s guidance, prayer answers or angels. After being born again those things feel natural.

2.

...turn them from darkness to light. A person who is not born again but still lives in his sins, wants to cover up certain areas of his life because of a bad conscience. He does not want to bring his deeds into light because his deeds cannot stand light. Born again Christian can bring his life to light because he is not showing around his own life, but the life of Christ, because Christians are living their life in Christ. Jesus describes it this way: “All those who do evil hate the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But those who live by the truth come into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” (John 3:20-21)

3.

...from the power of Satan to God. The Bible tells that Satan works in the lives of unbelievers: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” (Eph 2:1-2) However, when a person in born again, this bondage is cut and God begins to work in his life.

4.

...they may receive forgiveness of sins. What ever evil and sin has a man done, God’s grace and forgiveness is always greater! According to Ezekiel 33:16 God does not even remember the sins he has forgiven: “None of the sins they have committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.”

5.

...a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Peter writes in his first letter: “for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1. Peter 1:9) Because we are born again, we have a place among other saints in heaven.

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PART II: DISCIPLESHIP Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18-20 Jesus commanded to make disciples. It is not wise or practical to give birth a baby and then leave him trying to survive by himself without care. When a person is born again, it is a start to discipleship. Next we will have a look on what the discipleship means

Discipleship means abandoning everything for Christ If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple… Suppose one of you wants to build a tower… In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:25-35 see also Matthew 10:32-39 Because of this, you should carefully think if you really want to be a disciple or not. If you don’t think it all the way to the end, you might end up like the one with his building project described in Luke 14. Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!" "Truly I tell you," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life." Luke 18:28-30 Abandoning everything for Christ brings blessings both in this time and in eternity. A Christian who does not give up everything for Him, will be weak, stumbling, halfhearted and dissatisfied in his Christian life. On the other hand, a Christian who has abandoned everything is courageous, balanced and victorious in his Christian life, because a person who has nothing must depend on Christ and His achievements.

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Abandon everything forces to depend on Christ Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. John 6:53 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 A Christian must suck life and nourishment from Christ. He must seek how to take advantage of Christ’s life. Like a parasite cannot live outside or apart from it’s host, so cannot a Christian live apart from Christ. Because we do not have life in ourselves, we must depend on Christ and on His life. He offers us all the things we need in our Christian life: Hebrews 3:14 Hebrews 6:4 Hebrews 12:10 1 Peter 4:13 Philippians 1:7 Philippians 4:13 1 Corinthians 10:16 2 Peter 1:3-4

- Christ - Holy Spirit - His holiness - Christ’s sufferings - God’s grace - I can do everything through Him who gives me strength - the blood and the body of Christ - He gives us everything we need for life and godliness

A Disciple may take advantage on Christ’s achievements - disarm the devil, Jesus did it already on Calvary! - defeat the devil, Jesus did it already on Calvary! - look for a victory to come, the victory is here already! - fear the devil, it is to underestimate the Calvary! - settle for loosing, it is forgetting the power of Jesus’ blood

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PART III: SPIRITUAL GROWTH Let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation… Heb 5:11 - 6:3 Then we will no longer be infants , tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching… Eph 4:11-16 As it is natural to expect a child to grow and mature, it should be natural to expect a Christian to grow and mature in his faith.

The results of spiritual growth Everybody effects other people around him. A spiritually mature people are bring blessings to their churches and to the life of their friends, family and neighbors. A mature Christian cannot easily be led astray. Paul writes to Ephesians: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph 4:20-24) That’s what it is about: “new in the attitude of your minds” and “new self”. Let’s look at how the spiritual growth effected on Paul’s life: What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ… I want to know Christ— yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death… Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead… Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. Philippians 3:8-17 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Jesus was the most precious for him (verse 8) He is willing to abandon everything for Christ (verse 8) He has a desire to become like Christ (verse 10) His mind was focused on the future (verse 13) He could be an example to others (verse 17)

The results of spiritual growth are obvious and can be seen in lives of mature Christians. Spiritually mature Christians is able to take responsibilities in the church and in their own personal lives. They are the answer to Jesus when he said: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit— fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (John 15:16)

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How to start the growth? In the beginning of this Bible study was mentioned two important tools: grace (2 Peter 3:18) and the word of God (1. Peter 2:2). Spiritual growth is after all pure grace. No matter how hard you study the Bible and try to gain knowledge about God, it does not make you grow spiritually unless God in his grace let it happen. The word of God is living (Hebrews 4:12), it will accomplish what God desires (Isaiah 55:11), Words of God are spirit and life (John 6:63), even faith comes from hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17). The effect of reading the Bible can never be emphasized too much when we are talking about spiritual growth. After all it is from the Bible we find the Lord Jesus Christ and the reality that is found in him. Let us focus on 2 principals which will help us to start our spiritual growth: 1. Concentrate on the reality that is found in Christ. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Colossians 2:16-23 Read the whole passage!

The more a Christian concentrates on Christ, the more he becomes free from worldly habits. It is more fruitful to seek God that trying to avoid worldly habits. Paul writes to Galatians: “…he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Gal 6:8) Instead of cleaning your life and keeping up a religious mask, you should rather seek Christ and His presence by praying, singing worship songs, attending Church and by talking about Him with your friends. Then Christ can start His work in you and all those bad things (shadows of the reality) in your life will be taken care and you will feel released from them. Keeping up religious mask and concentrating on the shadows of the reality leads to several problems in your life according to the passage we read in Colossians 2: If you concentrate on the shadows of the reality (Col 2:16-23) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

You start to judge other people (verse 16) see also Rom 2:1 Somebody might loose his faith (verse 18) see also Matt 18:6 You become pride (verse 18) see also 1Pet 5:5 Your mind becomes idle (vain, inactive, lazy) (verse 18) You loose connection to Christ (verse 19) see also You are just satisfying your flesh (verse 23 KJV)

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If you concentrate on Christ (Col 2:16-23) 1. 2.

Nobody can judge you (verse 16) see also Rom 8:1, 33-34 Nobody can disqualify your prize (verse 18) see also Rev 2-3 A) B) C) D) E) F) G)

3. 4.

The right to eat from the tree of life (Rev 2:7) Will not be hurt at all by the second death (Rev 2:11) Will have manna and a white stone with a new name (Rev 2:17) Will rule over the nations (Rev 2:26-27) Will be dressed in white (Rev 3:5) Will be made a pillar in the temple and may stay there forever (Rev 3:12) Will be given the right to sit on Jesus’ throne with Him (Rev 3:21) You have died to the shadows and can focus on reality (verse 20)

You have been raised with Christ to live in reality not in Shadows, to set your mind on things above (verse 3:1-2)

Next we will have a look, what is this reality. What has Christ done and what he is and what has been done by him. Let’s study it from the Colossians chapters one and two. So, what is the reality you should focus on? What is Christ like and what has he done? The reality is what He has done / is doing - Rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us… (verse 1:13) - Holds everything together (verse 1:17) - Firstborn from among the dead (verse 1:18) - Reconciled you through his death (verse 1:22) - Made you alive (verse 2:13) - Forgave our sins (verse 2:13) - Cancelled the written code against us and nailed it to the cross (verse 2:14) - Disarmed the devil and made a public spectacle of him (verse 2:15) The reality is what he represents - Our redemption (verse 1:14) - Our forgiveness of sins (verse 1:14) - The image of the invisible God (verse 1:15) - The firstborn over all creation (verse 1:15) - Before all things (verse 1:17) - The head of the body, the church (verse 1:18) - The beginning (verse 1:18) - Full riches of complete understanding of the mystery of God (verse 2:2) - The fullness of the Deity (verse 2:9) - The head of over every power and authority (verse 2:10) - The conqueror of the devil (verse 2:15) The reality is what he mediates - By him all things were created (verse 1:16) - Through him we are reconciled (verse 1:20 - By him we are given the fullness of Christ (verse 2:10)

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The reality weights more than shadows in God’s scale. Doing good things is more fruitful than trying to avoid bad things. Stop carrying the darkness out—bring the light in instead! If you focus on the reality (Christ), the shadows (good deeds) follow automatically. Shadows:

Denials, asceticism, human traditions and principles, false humility, harsh treatment of body

Reality:

Christ

The desire to reach good (Christ-reality) should be bigger than the desire to avoid bad things (shadow). In Christian life more critical and important is the good that you do, than the fact that you can avoid bad temptations. Because when you focus on avoiding bad habits you only correct your life outside but focusing on Christ makes your spirit healthy and the shadow follows automatically: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:1-10 See also: 2Tim 2:22, Ps 119:11, Gal 5:16 2. Dare to trust in grace Another important factor in the process of spiritual growth (besides the reality/ shadows) is our attitude towards the grace of God. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. Galatians 5:1,4 The Bible says that we can actually fall away from grace. And it happens if we try to earn our justification by good deeds (shadows). Trying to earn salvation by good deeds alienates us from Christ. An example of falling away from grace: A Sunday school teacher says: “A little girl wanted to play with her mom’s silver spoon. She knew that it was wrong but she took the spoon anyway and went outside to play with it and unfortunately lost the spoon. Next night Jesus returned and the rapture happened. The little girl started to rise up with all the believers because she believed in Christ and loved him with all her heart. But suddenly she stopped and something pulled he back down. The girl looked down and realized that the silver spoon was pulling her back and she never got to heaven.”

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Another example of falling away from grace would be a Christian who gives advices to a newly converted friend telling him all kind of rules and things the Christians are not supposed to do. May these two examples reveal, warn and remind you how much harm we can do if we fall away from grace in our Christian life. are you to set up rules to your fellow Christians? are you to load people down with burdens they cannot carry? are you to say that God’s grace ends if we make mistakes? are you to say that those mistakes are stronger than God’s mercy? you saying that the blood of Jesus is not strong enough? you denying Jesus’ authority over sins? you despising the blood of Jesus by saying that it is not enough to cover people’s sins but they must work for their salvation? We are saved because of what Jesus did, not because of what we do or what we don’t anymore do. A born again Christian is ready to die any second because of Calvary. The Blood of Christ is strong enough to cover you sins all the time. God’s grace is stronger than your mistakes or your sins. You are God’s child as long as you want to walk with the Lord and serve him even though you surely will never become perfect and sinless while you still are here on earth! Hopefully this Bible study with three parts helps you to understand the importance of being born again, discipleship and spiritual growth and some of their principals. The Word of God is full of good advices how we can be victorious in our Christian life. That is why I encourage you to open your Bible and study it with passion. Read the Bible daily. Study it praying and with a great interest and passion. Read it systematically but also study different topics and make careful notes. Attend your Church activities weekly and my prayer is that the Lord would guide your life according to His will. Tuomo Lantela [email protected]

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