A newborn baby is expected to grow.
If years pass and the child never develops, something is wrong.
The New Testament uses that same picture to describe Christians.
A person is born again.
A new life begins.
But God never intended for His children to remain spiritual infants forever.
That raises an important question:
AM I GROWING AS A CHRISTIAN, OR AM I MERELY GROWING OLDER?
PETER COMMANDED CHRISTIANS TO GROW
Peter concluded his second epistle with this command:
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…”
(2 Peter 3:18, KJV)
Notice:
BUT GROW.
Spiritual growth is not merely a suggestion for unusually dedicated Christians.
It is something Christians are commanded to do.
GROW IN GRACE
↓
GROW IN KNOWLEDGE
↓
GROW IN CHRIST
THE WORD OF GOD PRODUCES GROWTH
Peter wrote:
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
(1 Peter 2:2, KJV)
Notice the pattern:
NEWBORN BABES
↓
DESIRE THE WORD
↓
GROW THEREBY
A Christian cannot consistently neglect God’s Word and expect strong spiritual growth.
Just as the physical body requires nourishment, the spiritual life requires nourishment.
God has provided it through His Word.
Jesus said:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
(Matthew 4:4, KJV)
Physical food sustains physical life.
God’s Word nourishes spiritual life.
SOME CHRISTIANS WERE NOT GROWING
The writer of Hebrews rebuked Christians who should have matured but had not.
He wrote:
“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God…”
(Hebrews 5:12, KJV)
Notice:
TIME HAD PASSED
↓
THEY SHOULD HAVE GROWN
↓
THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TEACH
↓
BUT THEY STILL NEEDED THE FIRST PRINCIPLES
Time alone does not produce spiritual maturity.
A person can attend worship for twenty years and still remain spiritually immature.
The writer continued:
“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.”
(Hebrews 5:13, KJV)
Then:
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age…”
(Hebrews 5:14, KJV)
There should be progression.
MILK
↓
GROWTH
↓
STRONG MEAT
↓
MATURITY
PAUL ALSO CONFRONTED SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY
Paul told the Corinthians:
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 3:1, KJV)
Notice:
They were:
BRETHREN.
They were:
IN CHRIST.
But they were still:
BABES.
Paul continued:
“I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it…”
(1 Corinthians 3:2, KJV)
Why were they immature?
Their conduct demonstrated it.
Paul wrote:
“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions…”
(1 Corinthians 3:3, KJV)
Spiritual maturity is not measured merely by how many Bible facts we know.
It should change how we live.
GROWTH REQUIRES PUTTING AWAY THE OLD LIFE
Paul wrote:
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;”
(Ephesians 4:22, KJV)
Then:
“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;”
(Ephesians 4:23, KJV)
And:
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
(Ephesians 4:24, KJV)
Notice:
PUT OFF THE OLD MAN
↓
BE RENEWED
↓
PUT ON THE NEW MAN
Growth involves change.
If Christianity never changes our speech, attitudes, priorities, conduct, relationships, and response to sin, we should examine whether we are truly maturing.
CHRISTIANS SHOULD DEVELOP CHRISTLIKE CHARACTER
Peter gives us a remarkable progression:
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
“And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
“And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”
(2 Peter 1:5–7, KJV)
Notice the growth:
FAITH
↓
VIRTUE
↓
KNOWLEDGE
↓
TEMPERANCE
↓
PATIENCE
↓
GODLINESS
↓
BROTHERLY KINDNESS
↓
CHARITY
Peter says:
“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful…”
(2 Peter 1:8, KJV)
God expects fruit.
GROWTH PRODUCES FRUIT
Jesus said:
“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
(John 15:8, KJV)
Notice:
DISCIPLESHIP
↓
GROWTH
↓
FRUIT
↓
GOD IS GLORIFIED
A healthy branch connected to the vine produces fruit.
Jesus said:
“I am the vine, ye are the branches…”
(John 15:5, KJV)
Then:
“…He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit…”
(John 15:5, KJV)
Spiritual growth comes through remaining connected to Christ.
WE MUST GROW IN OUR KNOWLEDGE OF SCRIPTURE
Paul told Timothy:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God…”
(2 Timothy 2:15, KJV)
Then:
“…rightly dividing the word of truth.”
A growing Christian should increasingly understand:
THE GOSPEL
THE CHURCH
WORSHIP
CHRISTIAN LIVING
BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS
HOW SCRIPTURE FITS TOGETHER
HOW TO RECOGNIZE ERROR
HOW TO TEACH OTHERS
But knowledge must never become merely intellectual.
Knowledge should produce obedience.
James warned:
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
(James 1:22, KJV)
Therefore:
LEARN THE WORD
↓
UNDERSTAND THE WORD
↓
OBEY THE WORD
↓
LIVE THE WORD
↓
TEACH THE WORD
GROWTH REQUIRES PRACTICE
Hebrews says mature Christians are those:
“…who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
(Hebrews 5:14, KJV)
Notice:
BY REASON OF USE.
Spiritual maturity develops as God’s Word is repeatedly applied.
We study.
We obey.
We make decisions according to Scripture.
We resist temptation.
We worship.
We pray.
We serve.
We teach.
We endure trials.
And through faithful practice, we grow.
TRIALS CAN PRODUCE GROWTH
James wrote:
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”
(James 1:2, KJV)
Why?
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
(James 1:3, KJV)
Then:
“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
(James 1:4, KJV)
Trials are difficult.
But God can use them to strengthen us.
TRIAL
↓
FAITH TESTED
↓
PATIENCE
↓
MATURITY
SPIRITUAL GROWTH NEVER ENDS IN THIS LIFE
Paul had served Christ for years.
He was an apostle.
He had suffered for the gospel.
He had taught countless people.
Yet he still wrote:
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect…”
(Philippians 3:12, KJV)
Paul continued:
“…but I follow after…”
He later said:
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:14, KJV)
Paul was still growing.
Still reaching.
Still pressing forward.
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN
OBEY THE GOSPEL
↓
BE BORN AGAIN
↓
DESIRE THE WORD
↓
GROW THEREBY
↓
LEAVE SPIRITUAL INFANCY
↓
PUT OFF THE OLD MAN
↓
PUT ON THE NEW MAN
↓
ADD CHRISTIAN VIRTUES
↓
APPLY GOD’S WORD
↓
BEAR FRUIT
↓
ENDURE TRIALS
↓
GROW IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE
↓
PRESS TOWARD THE MARK
↓
REMAIN FAITHFUL
THAT IS THE PATTERN.
The question is not:
“HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN A CHRISTIAN?”
Someone may have been a Christian for decades and still be spiritually immature.
The better question is:
“HOW MUCH HAVE I GROWN SINCE I BECAME A CHRISTIAN?”
Do I understand God’s Word better?
Is my faith stronger?
Is my prayer life stronger?
Am I better able to recognize truth and error?
Am I more patient?
Am I more self-controlled?
Am I more willing to forgive?
Am I more willing to serve?
Am I producing more spiritual fruit?
Can I teach others what I have learned?
Am I becoming more like Christ?
Those questions are not answered by the number of years since our baptism.
They are answered by examining the person we are becoming.
GROWTH SHOULD EVENTUALLY ENABLE US TO TEACH OTHERS
The Christians addressed in Hebrews were told:
“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers…”
(Hebrews 5:12, KJV)
That does not mean every Christian must become a public preacher or Bible-class teacher.
But every mature Christian should become increasingly capable of explaining the hope he has.
Peter wrote:
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…”
(1 Peter 3:15, KJV)
A growing Christian should be increasingly prepared to:
EXPLAIN THE GOSPEL
↓
DEFEND THE TRUTH
↓
ENCOURAGE OTHER CHRISTIANS
↓
TEACH THE LOST
↓
HELP NEW CHRISTIANS GROW
That is how spiritual maturity begins producing maturity in others.
WE MUST NOT CONFUSE AGE WITH MATURITY
There is a difference between:
GROWING OLDER IN THE CHURCH
and:
GROWING STRONGER IN CHRIST.
A person can sit in the same pew for decades.
Hear hundreds of sermons.
Attend hundreds of Bible classes.
Sing thousands of hymns.
And still fail to apply God’s Word.
James warned about hearing without doing.
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
(James 1:22, KJV)
The goal is not merely:
HEAR MORE.
The goal is:
HEAR
↓
LEARN
↓
BELIEVE
↓
OBEY
↓
PRACTICE
↓
GROW
↓
TEACH
↓
BEAR FRUIT
THE GOAL IS CHRISTLIKENESS
Paul described God’s purpose for Christians as being:
“…conformed to the image of his Son…”
(Romans 8:29, KJV)
That gives spiritual growth its direction.
The goal is not simply:
KNOW MORE FACTS.
The goal is:
BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST.
More faithful.
More holy.
More loving.
More patient.
More obedient.
More useful in His kingdom.
More capable of helping others reach maturity.
The Christian should be able to look back and see evidence that God’s Word has changed him.
And as long as life remains, there is still room to grow.
Peter’s command remains:
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
(2 Peter 3:18, KJV)
Don’t accept that conclusion merely because it is written here.
Open your Bible.
Read 1 Corinthians 3.
Read Ephesians 4.
Read Philippians 3.
Read Hebrews 5.
Read James 1.
Read 1 Peter 2.
Read 2 Peter 1.
Read 2 Peter 3.
Read John 15.
Compare Scripture with Scripture.
Then ask yourself:
AM I GROWING AS A CHRISTIAN, OR AM I MERELY GROWING OLDER?
And if there are areas where growth has stopped:
RETURN TO THE WORD.
APPLY THE WORD.
PRACTICE THE WORD.
GROW THROUGH THE WORD.
BEAR FRUIT.
PRESS TOWARD THE MARK.
REMAIN FAITHFUL.
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…”
(2 Peter 3:18, KJV)
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
TheBiblicalPattern.com
The Biblical Pattern 