Welcome to Growing Up Into Christ chapter of Steps To Christ eBook
In Short:
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You grow in Christ in the same way you received Him at first – As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. Colossians 2:6.
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By faith you became Christ’s and by faith you are to grow up in Him.
Those who are just converted to Christ are as new-born babes to grow up into him in all things to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 2:2; Ephesians 4:15. It is only through the life from God that spiritual life is begotten in the hearts of mankind.
Thus unless an individual is born from above, John 3:3, he or she cannot become a partaker of this life which Christ came to give. He is the living water, the bread of God…which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. John 6:33.
You are just as dependent upon Christ, in order to live a holy life, as is the branch upon the parent stock for growth and fruitfulness. Apart from Him you have no life.
You have no power to resist temptation or to grow in grace and holiness. As abiding in Christ and drawing your life from Him, you may flourish and will not wither nor be fruitless.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:4, 5.
An abiding and peaceful trust without ecstasy of feeling
Your hope is not in yourself, but in Christ. Thus your:
- weakness is united to His strength
- ignorance to His wisdom
- infirmity to His enduring might.
Let the mind dwell upon Christ’s:
- love, beauty and perfection of His character
- His self-denial and humiliation
- His purity and holiness
It is by loving, copying and depending wholly upon Him, that you are to be transformed into His likeness.
Christian must lay aside all self-seeking
It is Christ that has begun the good work in you and it is Christ that must finish it. You must trust wholly in the merit of Him who will never err. If not – all increasing knowledge and privileges will result in self-trust and self-righteousness.
The hypocrisy of the Pharisees was the product of self-seeking. Thus the glorification of self was the object of their lives. It was this that led them to pervert and misapply the Scriptures and blinded them to the purpose of Christ’s mission.
In the same manner, it prompted the strife among the disciples as to who would be the greatest. Moreover, it made them little in sympathy with His mission of self-sacrifice and slow to comprehend the mystery of redemption.
Today, the spirit of self-seeking destroys the soul as of old. The secret desire to exalt self motivates our service to God and communion with one another! Only the power of God can banish self-seeking.
The faith we accept destroys self-seeking and pretense. It leads us to seek God’s glory and not our own. Father, glorify Thy name was the key-note of Jesus’ life. If we follow Christ this will be the key-note of our life.
Watch and pray not to choose another master
Keep your eyes fixed upon Christ and He will preserve you. Looking unto Jesus we are safe. Nothing can pluck us out of His hand. In constantly beholding Christ, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18.
All that Christ was to the first disciples, He desires to be to his children today. For in that prayer with His disciples He said: Neither pray I for these alone; but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. John 17:20.
Jesus prayed that we might be one with Him, even as He is one with the Father.
The Son can do nothing of himself. John 5:19.
The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 14:10.
Then if Christ is dwelling in our hearts, He will work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13. We shall work as He worked and manifest the same spirit.
Thus, loving and abiding in Him, we shall grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:15.
Where there is spiritual health there is growth
Thus the child of God grows up to the full stature of a man and woman in Christ. With God’s grace, there is no limit to their improvement. When the love of God is a living principle in the soul, there are:
- no narrow and confined views
- love and faithfulness in warnings and reproofs
- work and character to bear burdens and take responsibilities.
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The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change can never be wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness.
Mankind dreams of progress and efforts for uplifting of humanity are in vain if they neglect the one Source of hope and help for the fallen race. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from God. James 1:17. There is no true excellence of character apart from Him.
Moreover, the only way to God is Christ. He said:
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. John 14:6.
Those who have experienced the love of Christ cannot be idlers in the Master’s vineyard. They will see opportunities for helping others in their steps to Christ. Partaking of Christ’s love, they will labor for the souls of others.
Let every soul copy the Pattern, and become missionaries in the highest sense, winning souls to Jesus.
May we all Repent, Confess, Grow up into Christ, and Rejoice in the Lord.
Uplifting Christ and humanity with Him!
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References:
- YI, Oct, 1892; ST, Mar, 1902; 5T 265 – The Ellen G. White Estate
- King James Bible Version (KJV)
Why Wait Longer?
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Your Creator And Redeemer Longs For You – Take Him At His Word Learn to trust in God’s love and His power to save and restore His moral image in you. The Spirit of God is pleading with you to seek for those things that alone can give you peace and rest – the grace of Christ and the joy of holiness. Give to Christ your guilt and fear today. He can satisfy the craving of your heart. Believe the Son of God. He will receive you. His hand is stretched out still. Why wait longer? |
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