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The Word of God in 2 Peter 1:3-8 shows us spiritual growth.
2 Peter 1:3-8 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So from these scriptures we can see that spiritual growth comes from :
- an increase in understanding and knowledge of the Word of God
- seeking to stop sinning
- increase in Christian character
- increase in faith in God through the filling up of the Word of God
Spiritual growth will happen when we have a true relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. Through the Power and Ministry of the Holy Spirit we will increase our relationship with Jesus and experience the growth in the Spirit that we deserve. We should seek the Lord for sound Biblical teaching of an experienced Bible teacher. We should not place ourselves under just anyone. We should not even look at the crowd of people that are gathered inside of a physical church. These are not the prerequisites that will cause us to be in the vein of the truth.
Spiritual growth occurs in levels throughout the Christian’s life until they see Jesus face to face. There is a lot of training, rebuking, correction and teaching that comes along with the learning and application of the Word of God. This is why there are no Lone Rangers in the Body of Christ. The Word of God must be discerned properly so that we do not get our own “ideas” of what the Bible is truly saying.
2 Timothy 3:16-17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The Christian must also learn how to get and keep the flesh under the subjection of the spirit of man through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. In turn, the fruit of the Spirit will come forth and glorify the Lord in the life of the believer.
Galatians 5:19-23: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.