I am going to take a side trip for the next few days to look at Spiritual Growth and Development. This for many is a very touchy subject and I have found it true that for these kind of people it is so because they have been robed and caught in the trap and snare of Satan's doing in mans religion. There are some 55 verses devoted to the use of these two terms within the context of our Bibles for good reason so that we do not become so defiled. We all should be some place on the line of this happening within our soul or spirit. For some it maybe that they are high schoolers others maybe kindergartners and some in elementary school but all should be learning of the secrets and mysteries of Christ. Some may have even gorged themselves on the hidden manna for years to the point of overflowing with the living water of Life but all should be growing. However over the years of my own walk with the LORD I have learned that the otherwise is most often true. People have been hindered and retarded from any growth what so ever and this is NOT because of GOD. But because of our enemy the devil and Satan in his diabolical hindrance of the church. This is done by subversion, deception and distortion twisting of GODS word ever so slightly. Now for more on the working of Faith and Grace from the pen of Pastor Hoekstra and the use of the ESV translation in our look at Spiritual Development.
"Faith and Grace"
"Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand . . . therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace . . . the just shall live by faith." (Romans 5:2, 4:16, and 1:17)
"As noted previously, Faith accesses the Grace of GOD. "Through whom also we have access by faith into this Grace in which we stand." When we trusted Jesus as our LORD and Savior, we were born again and enjoyed our initial access to Grace and Truth. GOD's intends for His children to continue accessing Grace day by day throughout their years of Spiritual Growth and service here on earth. Every time that we face any matter in our lives with dependence upon the LORD Christ Jesus, we are drawing from the bottomless ocean of GOD's Grace. Thereby, His Grace becomes our resource for living.
The Resources of GOD's Grace cannot be earned, deserved, or produced by man. They must be freely provided by the LORD. From beginning to end, the saving, rescuing, Transforming work of GOD's Grace is "the Gift of GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). This Truth highlights the strategic nature of Faith. Only faith accords with Grace. "Therefore it is of Faith that it might be according to Grace." Faith alone is compatible with Grace. Any other approach will not fit with Grace. Faith working with its fellow Love is the master key to accessing Grace and Truth in the Light of our being One with GOD in Christ. It then stands that we are operating on the Faith of Jesus Christ and that means it is Him and Him alone Who operated on the Faithfulness of GOD making co-heirs of Christ, or joint heirs in Christ, One in His Faith, Ephesians 4.
This marks another profound distinction between Law and Grace. "Yet the Law is not of Faith, but 'The man who does them shall live by them' " (Galatians 3:12). The Law is about performance. Those who live by the Law are left to their own resources to work up a life that measures up to the perfect standards of GOD. Those who daily put their trusting Faith in the LORD Christ Jesus for the issues of life access Grace for godly living.
It is GOD's Will that we live our entire lives by faith, which accesses Grace. "The just shall live by Faith." This Truth is comprehensive. It applies to every aspect of our lives. When we arise in the morning, entrust the day into the Lord's care and guidance.
As we communicate with our families, depend upon Jesus for love and patience. In our drive to the office, pray in faith concerning the opportunities and challenges that may await us. If a crisis develops unexpectedly, immediately cry out to the Lord for peace and direction. When times of Bible study and worship approach, exercise faith toward God to make them spiritually genuine and personally effective. Whatever, whenever, whoever," The just shall live by Faith."
Spiritual Development:
Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:1-8, 9-12, 13-20 "This we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 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, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.........Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward GOD, and of instruction about washing's, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if GOD permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of GOD and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of GOD to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from GOD. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to Salvation. For GOD is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
For when God made a Promise to Abraham, since HE had no one greater by whom to swear, HE swore by Himself, saying, "Surely I Will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation." So when GOD desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, HE guaranteed it with an Oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for GOD to lie, we who have fled for refuge (Revelation 12) might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
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