Seeking Jesus First Feb. 18, 2025
Spiritual Maturity - Part Two
Newborn baby - ‘Nepios’ -There is nothing wrong with being a newborn baby. It is a very intimate and holy part of a person’s spiritual maturity. In this time we learn the love of The Father and the personal care of the Holy Spirit. God does everything for us during this time. He gives us all the faith we need to accept His love for us.
“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (1 Peter 2:1–3, NKJV)
Child - ‘Teknon’ -Being a child is exciting and fun as we learn all of the new things that God has promised to us as an inheritance. It is also challenging as we learn to obey His word. This process of being a child can last a long time. But remember that we are given the right/privilege/authority to become children who grow into manifested sons of God. As we “age”, more is expected of us. Our Father lets us make more of our own choices and these choices affect our outcomes.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12–13, NKJV)
Son - ‘Huios’ -Sons have received the adoption as sons of God. This word is ‘huioothesia’ and it represents a son who has been recognized as mature enough to share ownership in the family business - the inheritance. They have studied their father, have received and adopted his training and have received the authority and transference of the inheritance.
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29, NKJV)
“having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,” (Ephesians 1:5, NKJV)
Father - ‘Abba’ -Fathers are helping others through this process of growth and spiritual maturity.
“For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 4:15, NKJV)