Faith and Spiritual Growth

“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:17-18

As many have already discovered from academia, sleeping with a book under your pillow before an exam does not produce an osmosis of the information-a transference of information from a book to your brain. Similarly, a person’s spiritual growth nor spiritual maturity never “just happens”, and a closed bible lying on a nightstand, bookshelf, pew, or any other location will move a person to growth because the words of Christ are intended to be heard and obeyed!

Growth is an important Christian command and demonstration of our faith, as Scripture says: 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to His own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 2 Peter 1:3-9

Notice 2 Peter 1:5 directs the child of God to make every effort to add to our faith and is not written passively, suggesting if we have time permitting in a carnal lifestyle. Despite how the religious world continues to inaccurately use and apply the definition of faith, Romans 10:17, teaches the child of God, that faith comes only from hearing God’s Word, and coincidently, faith can only grow by continuing to hear God Word. Hebrews 11:6 should remove any doubt as to God’s desire for His children to grow in faith and the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:11-14

— Damon Long