Re: Ways we are to grow in Christ. (301 Views)
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Anonymous User
Ways we are to grow in Christ. (447 Views) June 08, 2008 03:41PM |
Grow as a Believer in Christ Jesus! What does this mean to us as a believer?
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Lets look at this verse that I found in Rom: 8-29.
O Holy Spirit I ask that you would reveal to us the food from this study so that we might grow in the Lord.
“For” This word “for gives us this word picture
1-That
2- Because
3-Since
That, because and since gives us a look into the predestined works of the Father when He set into motion the Good News. Our Salvation.
It is stated in verse 8 that all things work for the good to those who are called according to His purpose (the plan that He predestined to be in the beginning of the world.
Well let’s look at His purpose for us from the beginning of the world.
“Whom He foreknew”
This word whom denotes the persons that He is speaking about.
Who is it?
We find the answer in the next word.
“Foreknow”
This gives us this picture.
1-to have knowledge before hand
2- of those whom God elected to salvation.
Now before we get into the old predestined debate let us look at what the word of God tells us about this works that He accomplished before the foundation of the world.
Pure and simple.
Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life
My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord this is what God predestined to happened.
“That whosoever” Is the answer to the “That Whom He Predestined”
The Whom that is referred to is all that have believed in His Son Christ Jesus. That the key word (Whosoever Believe) is self evident to all that seek the truth.
We try to make mountains out of the Word of God so that we cannot get over them. This is not the plan of God for us. The Holy Spirit has no problem revealing God’s truth to us when we seek and ask.
Ok now just what is it that God predestined for the Believer?
First we need to see what this word (Predestined) means to us.
1-To predetermine, decide beforehand
2- God decreeing from all of eternity past
3-To foreordain, appoint beforehand.
4-This is His Work of having predestined a plan-that is He made a plan for all who would only believe on His Son Christ Jesus.
Ok now just what was this plan once a person believed?
To be] conformed to the image of his Son,
Look at this truth for a second.
After we have become His Sons and daughters His predestined (His Plan for all His Children).
It is this.
That all things that happens to the believer will work together for the good.
What is this good plan that He predestined for us?
It is this and it was His plan since the beginning of the foundation of the world.
. Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen (Predestined) us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Mat 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. (Predestined)
How are we implicated in this great Plan (Predestine)?
It is this great truth to us.
[to be] conformed to the image of his Son,
To Be gives us a picture of an on going event that takes place in our lives while we are still here on earth It is an never ending event while we are still here. I might add it is called (Sanctification) and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to set us aside
“Sanctification” goes hand in hand with being conformed to the image of His Son (Christ Jesus).
With Being “Conformed” meaning this.
1-conformed to.
2- fashioned like unto .
3- having the same form as another, similar, conformed to
Notice something here It says conformed to the image of His Son. And not into his image. I think that we have our own image that needs to be conformed to His. In other word we are to reflect His image that has changed our image unto His. We are to keep our image but it must conform unto His.
“Image of His Son.”
1-The image of the Son of God, into which true Christians
are transformed, is likeness not only to the heavenly body,
but also to the most holy and blessed state of mind,
which Christ possesses.
It is unto His likeness that we are being conformed unto. This has been the plan of the Father since the foundation of the world.
In this plan it tells us that as we are conformed into His image so that we give him the honor of being the first born of many.
“That he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
1Cr 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1Cr 15:22 or as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Cr 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
‘The first born of many.brethren.”
1-first in time or place
2- in any succession of things or persons
3- first in rank
3- influence, honour
4- chief
5- principal
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.
Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Eph 1:22 And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church,
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ:
“Many Brethern”
1-All fellow believers that are united to another by the spiritual bond of affection who are called the brethern in Christ. When we are in Christ then we are called brethren.
2-Christians are brothers and sisters that have been exalted to the same heavenly place in Christ Jesus with Him being the Head over all things in heaven and earth.
Next we will start looking at ways we can and or to grow in Him.
Love
YBIC
John
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Lets look at this verse that I found in Rom: 8-29.
O Holy Spirit I ask that you would reveal to us the food from this study so that we might grow in the Lord.
“For” This word “for gives us this word picture
1-That
2- Because
3-Since
That, because and since gives us a look into the predestined works of the Father when He set into motion the Good News. Our Salvation.
It is stated in verse 8 that all things work for the good to those who are called according to His purpose (the plan that He predestined to be in the beginning of the world.
Well let’s look at His purpose for us from the beginning of the world.
“Whom He foreknew”
This word whom denotes the persons that He is speaking about.
Who is it?
We find the answer in the next word.
“Foreknow”
This gives us this picture.
1-to have knowledge before hand
2- of those whom God elected to salvation.
Now before we get into the old predestined debate let us look at what the word of God tells us about this works that He accomplished before the foundation of the world.
Pure and simple.
Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life
My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord this is what God predestined to happened.
“That whosoever” Is the answer to the “That Whom He Predestined”
The Whom that is referred to is all that have believed in His Son Christ Jesus. That the key word (Whosoever Believe) is self evident to all that seek the truth.
We try to make mountains out of the Word of God so that we cannot get over them. This is not the plan of God for us. The Holy Spirit has no problem revealing God’s truth to us when we seek and ask.
Ok now just what is it that God predestined for the Believer?
First we need to see what this word (Predestined) means to us.
1-To predetermine, decide beforehand
2- God decreeing from all of eternity past
3-To foreordain, appoint beforehand.
4-This is His Work of having predestined a plan-that is He made a plan for all who would only believe on His Son Christ Jesus.
Ok now just what was this plan once a person believed?
To be] conformed to the image of his Son,
Look at this truth for a second.
After we have become His Sons and daughters His predestined (His Plan for all His Children).
It is this.
That all things that happens to the believer will work together for the good.
What is this good plan that He predestined for us?
It is this and it was His plan since the beginning of the foundation of the world.
. Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen (Predestined) us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Mat 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. (Predestined)
How are we implicated in this great Plan (Predestine)?
It is this great truth to us.
[to be] conformed to the image of his Son,
To Be gives us a picture of an on going event that takes place in our lives while we are still here on earth It is an never ending event while we are still here. I might add it is called (Sanctification) and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to set us aside
“Sanctification” goes hand in hand with being conformed to the image of His Son (Christ Jesus).
With Being “Conformed” meaning this.
1-conformed to.
2- fashioned like unto .
3- having the same form as another, similar, conformed to
Notice something here It says conformed to the image of His Son. And not into his image. I think that we have our own image that needs to be conformed to His. In other word we are to reflect His image that has changed our image unto His. We are to keep our image but it must conform unto His.
“Image of His Son.”
1-The image of the Son of God, into which true Christians
are transformed, is likeness not only to the heavenly body,
but also to the most holy and blessed state of mind,
which Christ possesses.
It is unto His likeness that we are being conformed unto. This has been the plan of the Father since the foundation of the world.
In this plan it tells us that as we are conformed into His image so that we give him the honor of being the first born of many.
“That he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
1Cr 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1Cr 15:22 or as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Cr 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
‘The first born of many.brethren.”
1-first in time or place
2- in any succession of things or persons
3- first in rank
3- influence, honour
4- chief
5- principal
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.
Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Eph 1:22 And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church,
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ:
“Many Brethern”
1-All fellow believers that are united to another by the spiritual bond of affection who are called the brethern in Christ. When we are in Christ then we are called brethren.
2-Christians are brothers and sisters that have been exalted to the same heavenly place in Christ Jesus with Him being the Head over all things in heaven and earth.
Next we will start looking at ways we can and or to grow in Him.
Love
YBIC
John
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Anonymous User
Re: Ways we are to grow in Christ. (260 Views) June 10, 2008 01:59PM |
Ok now if we are to understand our growth in the Lord we need to go back and take a look at the very beginning of said growth.
So lets ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s truth to us.
Let it be even as I ask dear Lord amen.
The Beginning of our growth.
It started the very moment that we believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior. When we came under the idea of yes we have sin against The God of all creation and that we had not the power to save ourselves. That we were hopeless lost in our sin. We excepted the truth of that God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son so that whosoever believed upon Him will have everlasting life with the pardon of all our sins against The God of heaven.
Behold all things become new. We become as newborn babies that have been born again into the Kingdom of God. Nor knowing how or what God has planed for us.
His plan was that we would grow into mature believers.
2Cr 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1-recently made, fresh- as newborn babies
2- of a new kind- this newborn baby was something new to the world. Of course as being newly born there is a time that was decreed that this newborn baby was to grow up in the things of God. Taking of the image of His son Christ Jesus
3- unprecedented -Well to the religious establishments of the world then and even now this was an unprecedented event that takes place in the new believers in Christ.
3- unheard of- this believing by faith in Jesus is all that it requires to inter into the Kingdom of God was unheard of in the world at that time. Some have even today have not heard of the Good News that is in The Gospel of Christ.
1- Works to inter in was the main teaching of that day and even unto this day.
2- the worship of false idols was practiced then and is still practiced today.
“New creature” This gives us the word picture of God using His word once again to create something new.
2Cr 5:17
Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1-To form, shape- in the creation of Adam He created the first man whole with a perfect body and with his mind well developed with all wisdom. Then as now God put into man the capability of freewill.
2-to completely change-in the new creation of men from darkness into His Kingdom it is our spirit and soul that has become that new born babe in Christ. Because we are created as new babies we are to start out our new life by growing in His word to us.
3- or transform now as new babies we then start on our life of being transformed Which is called growing in the Lord. As we grow we become more and more like Him until that glorious day when we meet Him Face to face our growth (transformation) will be complete.
1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is
1Cr 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known
Our growth here on earth will be consummated (completed) when we stand before Our Lord and King Christ Jesus.
Hallelujah! Come quickly LORD Jesus
Will continue more on this exciding subject of growth.
YBIC
John
So lets ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s truth to us.
Let it be even as I ask dear Lord amen.
The Beginning of our growth.
It started the very moment that we believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior. When we came under the idea of yes we have sin against The God of all creation and that we had not the power to save ourselves. That we were hopeless lost in our sin. We excepted the truth of that God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son so that whosoever believed upon Him will have everlasting life with the pardon of all our sins against The God of heaven.
Behold all things become new. We become as newborn babies that have been born again into the Kingdom of God. Nor knowing how or what God has planed for us.
His plan was that we would grow into mature believers.
2Cr 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1-recently made, fresh- as newborn babies
2- of a new kind- this newborn baby was something new to the world. Of course as being newly born there is a time that was decreed that this newborn baby was to grow up in the things of God. Taking of the image of His son Christ Jesus
3- unprecedented -Well to the religious establishments of the world then and even now this was an unprecedented event that takes place in the new believers in Christ.
3- unheard of- this believing by faith in Jesus is all that it requires to inter into the Kingdom of God was unheard of in the world at that time. Some have even today have not heard of the Good News that is in The Gospel of Christ.
1- Works to inter in was the main teaching of that day and even unto this day.
2- the worship of false idols was practiced then and is still practiced today.
“New creature” This gives us the word picture of God using His word once again to create something new.
2Cr 5:17
Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1-To form, shape- in the creation of Adam He created the first man whole with a perfect body and with his mind well developed with all wisdom. Then as now God put into man the capability of freewill.
2-to completely change-in the new creation of men from darkness into His Kingdom it is our spirit and soul that has become that new born babe in Christ. Because we are created as new babies we are to start out our new life by growing in His word to us.
3- or transform now as new babies we then start on our life of being transformed Which is called growing in the Lord. As we grow we become more and more like Him until that glorious day when we meet Him Face to face our growth (transformation) will be complete.
1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is
1Cr 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known
Our growth here on earth will be consummated (completed) when we stand before Our Lord and King Christ Jesus.
Hallelujah! Come quickly LORD Jesus
Will continue more on this exciding subject of growth.
YBIC
John
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Anonymous User
Re: Ways we are to grow in Christ. (278 Views) June 10, 2008 02:26PM |
Moderator |
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Anonymous User
Re: Ways we are to grow in Christ. (301 Views) June 12, 2008 01:21PM |
Ok now we have looked at God’s plan for the believer that all things work together for the good so that they will grow into the image of His Son Christ Jesus.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Next we looked at the birth of the believer that we are called new creatures and that all things have become new in this new baby life. So He or She will have to start out a new life that is a new life as babies in the Lord and that their life must start growing all over again.
2Cr 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Just like when we were born into this world in the flash our new life is now a new creation that is created after the image of God. But in this new life we are to grow spiritual unto the image of Jesus Christ. For it is this new spiritual baby that will be conformed unto the image of Christ Jesus now as we live out our lives here on earth. Our earthly body that consists of flash is the one that is dieing daily and when we receive our heavenly bodies it will take on its spiritual attributes. Then at that time it will no longer be bound by sin.
For sin cannot inter into the presence of God.
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Lets look at this word ‘as” for it gives us this picture.
1-like, what?
2- even As What?
When we were born in the flash we cried out every time that we grew hungry and what was it that our parents fed us?
“Newborn babes”
Newborn- just born
Babes A newborn child, an infant that cries all the time for milk.
“Desires” Gives us this beautiful picture.
1-to long for means this to desire strongly or persistently for something.
2) to pursue with love, to long after
3) to lust, harbour forbidden desire
“Sincere”
1-unadulterated, This is the truth of God’s word to us.
2- pure. It is pure true with out false and hidden lies.
Tts 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
“Milk of the word”
This word Milk gives us this picture. “For the less difficult Christian truths”
It is first easy to grasp as being the truth and it will not be too difficult for the newborn babe in Christ to understand.
“WORD”
The milk of God’s word is first and above all spiritual and it is pertaining to the growth of the new soul that has been born again into the Kingdom of God. It will be reasonable and full of logic that is plan and simple to grasp.
“That ye may grow thereby”
“That’
1-in order that,
2- so that
This word “that” backs up God’s predestined works of salvation and growing in the Lord so that we will be conformed unto the image of His Son Christ Jesus.
“Ye” This is self-evident of whom it is referring to. (The Believer)
“May grow” This word is another word that has the picture of the believer’s free will working in them. It also gives us the picture of the predestined work that God put in place before the foundation of the world. It gives us permission so to speak to do something and is the foundation of our growth. It is a permissive action that God ordain that certain things will happen if we obey His Word to us.
This action is.
1-to cause to grow,
2- augment
3- to increase,
4-become greater
5- to grow,
6- increase
It is the picture of the inward Christian growth. The spiritual growth of the Believer.
I have ran out of time so tomorrow we will look at these verse’s below
1Cr 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.
Hbr 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Hbr 5:13 For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
YBIC
John
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Next we looked at the birth of the believer that we are called new creatures and that all things have become new in this new baby life. So He or She will have to start out a new life that is a new life as babies in the Lord and that their life must start growing all over again.
2Cr 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Just like when we were born into this world in the flash our new life is now a new creation that is created after the image of God. But in this new life we are to grow spiritual unto the image of Jesus Christ. For it is this new spiritual baby that will be conformed unto the image of Christ Jesus now as we live out our lives here on earth. Our earthly body that consists of flash is the one that is dieing daily and when we receive our heavenly bodies it will take on its spiritual attributes. Then at that time it will no longer be bound by sin.
For sin cannot inter into the presence of God.
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Lets look at this word ‘as” for it gives us this picture.
1-like, what?
2- even As What?
When we were born in the flash we cried out every time that we grew hungry and what was it that our parents fed us?
“Newborn babes”
Newborn- just born
Babes A newborn child, an infant that cries all the time for milk.
“Desires” Gives us this beautiful picture.
1-to long for means this to desire strongly or persistently for something.
2) to pursue with love, to long after
3) to lust, harbour forbidden desire
“Sincere”
1-unadulterated, This is the truth of God’s word to us.
2- pure. It is pure true with out false and hidden lies.
Tts 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
“Milk of the word”
This word Milk gives us this picture. “For the less difficult Christian truths”
It is first easy to grasp as being the truth and it will not be too difficult for the newborn babe in Christ to understand.
“WORD”
The milk of God’s word is first and above all spiritual and it is pertaining to the growth of the new soul that has been born again into the Kingdom of God. It will be reasonable and full of logic that is plan and simple to grasp.
“That ye may grow thereby”
“That’
1-in order that,
2- so that
This word “that” backs up God’s predestined works of salvation and growing in the Lord so that we will be conformed unto the image of His Son Christ Jesus.
“Ye” This is self-evident of whom it is referring to. (The Believer)
“May grow” This word is another word that has the picture of the believer’s free will working in them. It also gives us the picture of the predestined work that God put in place before the foundation of the world. It gives us permission so to speak to do something and is the foundation of our growth. It is a permissive action that God ordain that certain things will happen if we obey His Word to us.
This action is.
1-to cause to grow,
2- augment
3- to increase,
4-become greater
5- to grow,
6- increase
It is the picture of the inward Christian growth. The spiritual growth of the Believer.
I have ran out of time so tomorrow we will look at these verse’s below
1Cr 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.
Hbr 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Hbr 5:13 For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
YBIC
John
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