SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS RELATED TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND EPH 4:7-16
-Spiritual growth as a Christian shows itself in many ways.
1. Growth in godliness (being more like Christ)
2. Growth in spiritual disciplines (prayer, reading God’s Word, fellowship, giving)
3. Growth in obedience
4. Growth in wisdom
5. Growth in the knowledge of Christ and the Scriptures
6. Growth in dependence on God
7. Growth in a biblical understanding of God, self and world
8. Growth in putting away sinful patterns and putting on godly patterns of thinking/living
9. Growth in love for God, other believers, and the lost
-Spiritual growth does not make us any more or less justified before God. We are justified (declared righteous before a holy God) through faith alone in Christ alone [Gal 2:16] by grace alone [Eph 2:8-9], and not by any of our works. Good works and spiritual growth flow out of a new life and are the fitting and right response to the gospel (Eph 2:10), but they do not make us justified or more right with God. An immature Christian AND a mature Christian are justified the same way: by grace alone, through faith alone.
-Spiritual growth comes about as a result of God’s grace (Eph 4:7). We are saved by grace, but also sustained and transformed by God’s grace. It is an act of supernatural power at work within us from God’s kind heart that leads to spiritual growth. We do not rely on our own strength or power, but we rely on God’s grace empowering us to obey and grow and do what is right (2 Cor 11:7-9; Phil 2:12-13).
-Spiritual growth is often unpleasant in the moment, but the result is for our good. God is weaning us off the ways of the old self and love of the world, so that we embrace what is truly priceless: God Himself. God is exposing areas of foolishness, immaturity, unbelief, so that we might walk in holiness. Though it may not feel pleasant in the moment, God’s sanctifying grace is for our good and flows out of His kind heart. He prunes those He loves (John 15:1-2).
