Some believers find it difficult to understand that since they are “complete in Him” (Colossians 2:9-10), then how can they possibly “grow in Christ”. At the other end of the spectrum we have believers who want God to make them better than they are. In one group I was in we sang a hymn, one line of which went “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” I now know He is not going to pick up my feet and plant them higher, for He has already provided for my growth.
There are three verses in the epistles that use the word “grow”. We have the well-known exhortation “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation” (I Peter 2:2 ESV). Then we read, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18). Both of these statement were written to born-again Jews who were dispersed among other nations.
The major passage is from Ephesians, considered by some to be the highest revelation of God to man. “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). The context speaks of attaining “mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (verse 13). The phrase we need to focus on is “grow up… into him… into Christ.”
We are to grow from “children” (verse 14) to “manhood” (verse 13), and all this is “in Christ”. Immediately the illustration of I John comes to mind — “little children”, “young men”, and “fathers” (I John 2:12-14). It is generally agreed that fathers are “those mature believers with long and rich experience” (Robertson’s Word Pictures).
A seed is perfect but God designed it to grow. The seed of eternal life in you is also designed to grow. So, yes, all believers are complete in Him, yet as we read and read again that part of God’s Word addressed to us (from Romans to Philemon), our relationship with the Christ within and our loving Father grows and grows until we reach “the stature of the fullness of Christ”, also referred to as “mature manhood”. It is not talking about position but relationship.
Am really blessed bw the message sir coz i now have a ful understanding of who i am in christ,”A NEW CREATION”.i have no past anymore,am a new man in christ,but i have a question to ask,HOW AM I GONNA BUILD A FIRM RELATIONSHIP,FELLOWSHIP,COMMUNION,WITH THE HOLY GHOST?
That’s why God gave us His Word, Peter. Let Him talk to you, and in prayer talk to Him. Remember, it is all about Him!
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15)
It’s been taught that Ephesians is about the body of Christ and Colossians is about the head. Here we see that we – the body – is to grow up into the the head. Wow! This to me means that the body should be in correction proportion to the head. What we see in a carnal Christian’s understanding is the view that the head is large and the body small. This often is the religious spirit. That’s not His plan. We need a fully developed body of believers connected to the head in correct proportion! Its not a big head and an anaemic scrawny underdeveloped body. Its a powerful mature body connected to the head.
The way you explain how we grow in Christ is so refreshing, as you stated on Sunday when you were referring to being complete in Christ, the Acorn nut and the mustard seed are already complete, but they will go onto grow in to a very large tree (referring to the Acorn nut) and the mustard seed will continue to grow into a plant, but when you see these two seeds they are already complete as a nut and a seed. Thank your teaching. Joe
Thank you, Joe. I’m blessed that you enjoyed the teaching on Sunday. These truths on the new creation are powerful and necessary for believers everywhere. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
i’m blessed with the revelation
I like this revelations of the New Creation . I request to receive them. I am from Africa, Uganda. We need these realities.God bless you.
Mark Ronnie Ojja
From Uganda
Amazing! That song– “Higher Ground” was going through my head today, and I was without much thought on the implications of asking God to put me somewhere I already am. I read this morning that he has blessed me with every single blessing and that I am complete in Christ! So if I want higher ground, it is going to have to be somewhere I go, not somewhere he is going to put me. He’s packed my lunch, given me the ticket, and sent me, hallelujah! Thanks for your great insight and straightforward teaching on the most delicious truth of the new creation!