How To Grow in Christ

How To Grow in Christ

The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God . . . because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor. 2:14)

Paul is speaking about the natural man, which is used for the unsaved, carnal person. Another version reads, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned”. It’s easy to see that someone not in Christ would not understand or accept the teachings of Scripture. 

But what about the new Christian? How do they grow up in Christ? How do we more mature Christians continue to grow and to bring up others in Christ?

Ephesians 4:15 states “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love”.

In 1 Peter 2:2 we are told that we will grow when we “desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby”

 

Clearly, if we want to grow, we need to get into the Word and allow IT get into us. We need to read, reread and then read again the Scriptures.

I was taught that the first reading of Scripture was for facts. The second time through reading was to help you understand the truth being taught. The additional readings allowed the Word to seep into your thoughts and into your life.

Take time to pray the Scriptures back to God. By repeating the Word in prayer your heart is warmed and will become tender with the truth.  Find someone to share what you have studied. Teaching others is the best way to deepen your level of understanding. You will also see a growth in your relationships with other Christians.