A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

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A Compe l l i ng Tes t imony

B. The Call to Maturity

1. We grow in Christ as we exercise ourselves in constant practice of his good and perfect will, Heb. 5.12-14 – 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, [13] for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. [14] But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

2. We grow in Christ by degree, phase-by-phase, going from child, to young person, to full adulthood (able to train others to teach others).

a. Grace is a growth process, 2 Pet. 3.18 – But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

b. We grow up to salvation over time through the pure spiritual milk of the Word, 1 Pet. 2.2 – Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation.

c. As we exercise our gifts together in the body, we corporately grow up in every way into the head, our Lord Jesus, Eph. 4.15 – Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

d. We are to increase in our faith and love steadily and progressively, 2 Thess. 1.3 – We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because