The Stages Of Christian Growth | The Institute for Creation Research

The Stages Of Christian Growth

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (II Peter 3:18).

A great transformation is initiated when one accepts Christ as Savior. A newly born-again Christian receives many gifts, such as the forgiveness of sin, a hatred for sin, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit—with spiritual maturity as the goal. Initially, these babes in Christ must be fed with “milk” and not with “meat” (I Corinthians 3:1,2).

The apostle John refers to three stages of Christian development: little children, young men, and fathers (I John 2:3–18). Throughout John’s epistles, the believer is instructed in how to progress to Christian maturity. A believer may be 60 years old physically, but only a babe in Christ. Conversely, a Christian can be quite young and still be mature. Early spiritual maturity comes from early Bible study and its application to Christian living. Any training, whether it be Bible school, Bible teaching, Bible reading, or Christian witnessing and service, should produce a Christ-like character.

Unfortunately, there are experiences in the Christian life which hinder growth: walking after the flesh (Romans 8:5–8); being captivated by the things in the world instead of being led by the Spirit and obeying the Bible’s injunctions (Romans 8:14–17). It pays to live for Christ and grow in spiritual life. Admittedly, there can be suffering and loss of former friends, and there must be a rejection of the world’s immoral standards (Romans 8:18,19).

Believers “groan” within themselves, waiting for the redemption of their bodies (Romans 8:23–25), but the Holy Spirit, who indwells the believer, will assist and sustain those who truly desire to grow in His grace and knowledge. JLG

The Latest
NEWS
A ''40 million year old'' 100% European Gnat
Finding well-preserved creatures in amber1 is a landfall for creation scientists, much like the numerous discoveries of soft dinosaur tissue...

CREATION PODCAST
The Undeniable Power of Narrative | The Creation Podcast: Episode...
Science is objective. At least, that’s what we’re told. But there are inherent issues with this statement that can cause...

NEWS
Paintbrush of the Creator
Who doesn’t enjoy the amazing color patterns of butterflies?1,2 Such beautiful designs and construction do not reflect blind naturalistic...

NEWS
November 2024 ICR Wallpaper
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV) ICR...

NEWS
Reformation Day, October 31
Five hundred years ago in Wittenberg, Germany, an unusual scholar changed the course of human history using pen and hammer. Dr. Martin Luther protested...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Kids: Owls
by Sydney Walters and Susan Windsor* You're never too young to be a creation scientist and explore our Creator's world. Kids, discover...

ACTS & FACTS
RNA Hoops: When Circular Reasoning Makes Sense
If the regulatory picture of the genome were not complicated enough, over the past decade scientists have discovered another level of Darwinian-defying...

ACTS & FACTS
Gunnison National Forest: Adaptable Aspens and Warped Rocks
Gunnison National Forest’s 1.67-millionplus acres showcase stunning views of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The Continental Divide forms its eastern...

ACTS & FACTS
Applying the Theory of Biological Design to Optimal Owl Flight
by Randy J. Guliuzza, P.E., M.D., and Aaron T. Guliuzza, P.E.*   If the greatest writers had been well-versed in fields of science,...

ACTS & FACTS
The Jaw-Dropping Design in Hawaii's State Fish
Hawaiians call their state fish the humuhumunukunukuapua’a, or humuhumu for short, and snorkelers marvel at its wild paint job as it flits...