Continuing with 1Corinthians 2's verse 6 which is part of the bigger picture of 6-13. In our last blog we looked at two areas which were "spiritual immaturity and the things devoted for destruction." Today I want to look at two more which are, "Spiritual Maturity and Spiritual Progress."
Spiritual Maturity, how it is Secured;
By Putting away Childish Things,
1Corinthians 13:8-14:5 "Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect [maturity, the consummation with Christ childhood ceases] comes, the partial [child likeness] will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I will know fully, even as I am fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy [empowered to reveal divine things even the secret and mystery of Christ]. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to GOD; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their up-building and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up."
By Cultivating the Understanding,
1Corinthians 14:20-25 "Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written (in Isaiah 28:11f), "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the LORD." Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you."
By Striving after the Christlike Ideal,
Ephesians 3:14-19, 20-4:6, 4:7-16 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named (Christian), that according to the riches of His glory HE may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of GOD.
Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, the Amen. I therefore, a prisoner for the LORD God, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one LORD, one faith, one baptism, one GOD and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in All. For grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore HE says, "When He ascended on high He (Colossians 2:9-14)led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men (Psalm 68:18)." (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that He had also descended (Colossians 2:9-14, 15) into the lower regions (Isaiah 44:23), the earth? He Who first descended (Matthew 27:51 at the ; make as a time break, through 53) is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave (Acts 2 and there after) the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes (of mans religions). Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him Who is the head, 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."
By Partaking of the Deeper Truths of His Gospel,
Hebrews 5:11-6:8 "About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing (remaining under religions curse of having eyes without sight and ears without hearing by a spirit of stupor, Romans 11:8, 1Corinthians 15:34). 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. For 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 washings, 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 (as was Esau), 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 (of grace) 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."
By Overcoming Temptations,
1John 2:12-14 "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for His name's sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him Who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know Him Who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word [which is] GOD abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one."
Spiritual Progress, the Characteristic of the Righteous,
Job 17:6-16 "He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom men spit. My eye has grown dim from vexation, and all my members are like a shadow. The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless. Yet the righteous holds to His way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger. But you, come on again, all of you, and I will not find a wise man among you. My days are past; my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart. They make night into day: 'The light,' they say, 'is near to the darkness.' If I hope for Sheol as my house, if I make my bed in darkness, if I say to the pit, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'My mother,' or 'My sister,' where then is my hope? Who will see my hope? Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Will we descend together into the dust?"
Psalm 84:5-7 "Blessed are those whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion."
Psalm 92:10-15 "For You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; You have poured over me fresh oil. My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."
Proverbs 4:10-19 with 2Corinthinas 3:18 "Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. For the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble."
2Corinthians 3:11, 12-18 "For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have more glory.
Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. For their (hearts) minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But only when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the LORD, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit. (John 4:24)
1Timothy 4:10, 11-16 "For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living GOD, Who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers."
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