Almost every image used in the New Testament to describe the Christian life suggests growth and development.
• We are to "pursue righteousness" (1 Tim. 6:11).
• We are challenged to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2).
• We are to "press on toward the goal" (Phil. 3:14).
• We are to be "built up in Him" (Col. 2:7).
• We are to "build upon the foundation" (1 Cor. 3:12).
• We are told to "long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation" (1 Pet. 2:2).
All of these passages support the same conclusion: becoming a Christian is only the first step in a process of growth and development in our Christian lives. As our text puts it, we are "to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ" (Eph. 4:15). The question is, how can we actualize this growth?
Some Christians probably feel like a certain grasshopper who asked the wise old owl how he could weather the winter months better. The owl said, "What you need to do is to change yourself into a caterpillar with all that warm covering." That seemed like a reasonable suggestion. So the grasshopper said, "Okay, but how am I supposed to do that?" The owl replied, "I’ve given you the principle. You have to work out the details."
Some Christians, particularly new Christians, hear preachers tell them they need to grow in their faith, but no one ever tells them how they can do it. Our text for tonight presents the principle. Now, let’s try to work out the details.
How can we grow as Christians?
The beginning point is to understand the models for growth presented in the New Testament. Let me point out four specific New Testament models for growing Christians.
The Concentration Model
The first model is found in 2 Cor. 3:18. I call it the concentration model. The Bible says, "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory." In this model, spiritual growth is defined as "being transformed into the image of Christ."
How are we transformed into the image of Christ?
The key is concentration or focus.
We grow when we CONCENTRATE ON CHRIST.
What we concentrate our attention on will determine what we say, what we do, and eventually what we become. Therefore, when we concentrate on Jesus Christ in our thought life, in our reading, in the company we keep, and by participation in worship and personal study, we will become more and more like Him.
E. Stanley Jones was right when he said, "The process of Christian maturity is the process of the redemption of the imagination ... redeeming it from self-concentration, past-failure-concentration, and sin-concentration ... and concentrating it on ’The Lord.’"
We grow when we COME CLEAN WITH CHRIST.
The Bible says we are to concentrate on Jesus Christ with "unveiled face." What are some of the veils which keep us from concentrating on Jesus Christ? One veil is fear. Another is selfishness. Bitterness is a veil that can distort our view of Christ. Laziness can be a veil which keeps us from concentrating on Christ. Unless we remove these veils, they will divert and distract our concentration on Christ and keep us from growing spiritually.
To implement this first model of spiritual growth, we need to sharpen the focus of our lives so that we can concentrate more clearly on Jesus Christ.
The Addition Model
The second model is found in 2 Peter 1:5-11. The Bible says, "For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these are yours and they abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." In this model, spiritual growth is defined, to put it in positive terms, as being "effective and fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
How do we become effective and fruitful as Christians?
By adding certain ingredients to the foundation of faith in our lives.
We begin with FAITH.
Belief in Christ as our Lord is the foundation for growth. We cannot grow as a Christian until we become a Christian.
We then add to that MORAL EXCELLENCE.
Purity leads to spiritual growth for as Jesus said, it is the pure in heart who shall see God (Matt. 5:8).
Next comes KNOWLEDGE.
The Greek word means insight or understanding. We grow as Christians as we grow in our understanding of the Lord. That comes only as we study.
Then we add DISCIPLINE.
This word means self-control. This is the discipline Jesus had in mind in Mark 9:43 when He said that anything which offends God or deters us in our Christian life should be put away.
The next factor to add is PERSEVERANCE.
This Greek word is often translated "patience." Literally it means to remain under the load and carries the idea of perseverance rather than patience.
The key to growth is consistent commitment.
Then we are to add GODLINESS.
I believe Peter was referring to that feeling of fellowship with God, that quality of oneness that comes through prayer.
The last two ingredients to add are BROTHERLY KINDNESS and CHRISTIAN LOVE.
The key here is that as we open ourselves to others through genuine concern and share our lives with them, this will create growth in our lives.
To implement this model for spiritual growth, we need to develop a plan to add to our foundation of faith these essential ingredients which will cause our faith to grow.
The Subtraction Model
The third model is found in Hebrews 12:1-2. I call this the subtraction model.
The Bible says, "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith."
In this model, spiritual growth is defined as being able to "run with endurance the race that is set before us." How can we effectively run the race? The key is not what we add to our lives but what we subtract from our lives. We are to subtract two things: "every encumbrance" and "sin."
The word ENCUMBRANCE does not carry a moral connotation.
It does not mean something evil but rather something that is superfluous, an unnecessary burden that prevents us from running at full speed. It may be a habit or some relationship or some pastime which dominates our time and keeps us from using the that time to develop as Christians and to serve God. These things are not necessarily bad. They are just less than the best. They are in many cases unnecessary.
The word SIN does carry a moral connotation.
It means things that are evil. There are vulgar sins like purity or polished sins like pride. There are sins of action or sins of the attitude. In any case, sin is like a load that bears down on our shoulders.
To implement this model of spiritual growth, we must subtract from our lives all of the things which will keep us from effectively running the race Christ has called us to run.
The Construction Model
The fourth model is found in 1 Cor. 3:10-15. I call it the construction model.
The Bible says, "For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work." In this model, spiritual growth is defined as using the material which will enable us to build an adequate structure on the foundation Christ has given us. As Christians, we are alike in our foundation. Every Christian has been given the eternal, unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ upon which to build our lives.
However, we are not all alike in our level of maturity. The difference between a Christian who is mature and productive and one who is immature and fruitless is determined by the material with which we build our lives. Each act, each word, each relationship, each thought is like a stone which we place upon the foundation which Christ has given to us.
To implement this model of spiritual growth, we must make the choices which will enable us to build on our foundation of faith, Christ-like actions and attitudes which are permanent and imperishable.
Using these New Testament models will enable us "to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ."
