Growing in Christ

As Christians, we are expected to 'grow in Christ'. Every church will tell you this, but sometimes it's easy to get so used to the sound of the words that we lose touch with what they mean.

The Bible describes the idea of "spiritual growth" or "growing in Christ" in several different ways.

We're told about the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22. We are told about "being transformed by the renewing of our minds" in Romans 12:2.

In 2 Peter 1: 5-8 we are told to "make every effort" to add goodness to our faith, and to goodness knowledge, to knowledge  self-control, to self-control perserverence, to perseverence godliness, brotherly kindness and love.

These are three quite different perspectives — a tree puts forth fruit without a conscious intention by the tree. "Be transformed…" is a command, in which we play a passive, but conscious part. "Make every effort…" is about our own plans, intentions and hard work. Clearly God is at work, but He expects us to be at work as well.

What are the signs of a growing Christian?

Faith and obedience are the marks of a Christian who is alive, accompanied by a steady increase in the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22).

What will help me to grow?

Four things act as the 'fertilizer' in Christian growth — worshipping God in a good local church, filling your mind with His mind by reading, studying and obeying the Bible, building your relationship with Him through prayer, and telling other people about the Good News of Jesus Christ.

What will stop me growing?

Sin! Or, more specifically, continuing to sin instead of going back to God to ask for forgiveness again. In Ephesians 4:30 we are told not to "grieve" the Spirit of God. 1 John explains that all Christians do sin, but we should confess our sin to God and he will once again cleanse us from unrighteousness. Later on, John explains that continuing in sin is a sign that God is not at work in us. "Continuing to sin" does not mean repeating the same sin, confessing it, and then carrying on as before. All Christians have particular sins which they are prone to. "Continuing in sin" is sinning and not confessing it to God, and carrying on as if the sin was acceptable.

Questions

What about Spiritual Gifts? What are they, how do I find out if have them?

Stechford Baptist Church • Victoria Road • Stechford • Birmingham B33 8AH. Map. Stechford is in the Stechford and Yardley North Ward, and is close to Hodge Hill.