Grace, Faith & Life

There are several terms used for essentially the same process in a Christian’s life, “increasing faith”, “growing in grace”, “spiritual maturity”, and “sanctification”.

 Increasing Faith  2Peter 1:5-12 Eph 4:14-24

When we talk about increasing our faith, we are talking about spiritual maturity in terms of “putting on” something new. When we were “born again”, we didn’t get a new old (old being the Flesh). We were not made righteous in the Flesh. By the grace of God, we are being changed from the image of Adam into the image of Christ. This change comes by responding to what God puts into our heart by the Holy Spirit enlightening us as to the meaning of Scripture. He is not looking for “sacrifice” but a contrite heart. The Psalms 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart”. I think this means He is changing the desires of our heart, not giving us what we want.

Spiritual maturity  Rom 1:1-5 Eph 1:17,18 1John 3:2 Col 1:15,18 Col 3:10 Phil 3:20,21

We (the NEW MAN), because of Christ, are righteous before God.

We, in spite of the OLD MAN, are being changed –

BY PUTTING ON THE NEW –  Eph 4:22 Col 2:9-11 Rom 6:6  

BY RENEWING OUR MIND –  Eph 4:23 Rom 12:2

BY WALKING IN THE SPIRIT – Gal 6:8 5:16-18,25 Rom 8:1-4

BY TRIBULATION –  Rom 5:1-5 2Cor 12:9-10  Phil 1:29 James 1:2-3,12

BY TRUTH –  John 8:32 1Peter 1:22 John 14:17 16:13 Eph 4:15

BY KNOWING HIS LOVE – Gal 2:20 Rom 5:8-10 1John 2:15-16 

Discuss how these can be prioritized. (Spirit – Truth – Love)

What difference does it make?

In us – We should experience the fruit of the spirit and grow by coming to know God and depend on Him more and more. Gal 5:22-26 Eph 1:17-23

In others – We share this GOOD NEWS with others, in love.  Rom 12:10 John 13:34,35  Gal 5:6-13 6:2

If faith is responding to what God puts into our heart, how do we increase our faith?

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:16-17 (KJV)

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