Bible Discussion Thread

Growing up is a process. No one is born fully grown. Everyone comes into the world as an infant and progresses through different developmental stages until he reaches adulthood. The same is true when you become born again. It doesn't matter how old you are physically. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are a spiritual babe in Christ, and you must learn to grow in the things of God.

In the Book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul talks about the spiritual growth of Christians.

EPHESIANS 4:11-15

11 And he[Jesus]gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

Did you notice in verse 15, Paul tells the Christians in Ephesus to ". . grow up into him in all things . . ."? Evidently, Paul didn't think that the Church at Ephesus had grown up yet. He also said in verse 13, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, UNTO A PERFECT MAN . . . ."

In The Amplified Bible, this phrase is translated, "that we might arrive at really mature manhood." In these verses, Paul is encouraging us to reach spiritual maturity. He is encouraging us to grow up spiritually.

Throughout the New Testament, we see a striking similarity between spiritual and physical development. In fact, there are three stages of spiritual development that correspond to physical development. They are: babyhood, childhood, and manhood.