Real Spiritual Growth
Would you like to grow spiritually? Evidently, there are many in America who do not particularly care for religion, but they want to be “spiritual.” I suspect that many who do go to church do so, because they desire something spiritual.
What does spirituality look like? Is it just being interested in something beyond the material side of life? Is it being religious?
Spirituality includes many factors. From a Biblical point of view, it is impossible to be “spiritual” apart from knowing God who is spirit (Jn. 4:24). The way to know God is by trusting Jesus Christ for the gift of eternal life (Jn. 17:3; Rom. 6:23; 1 Tim. 1:16).
In the New Testament, “spirituality” is spiritual maturity. In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul uses the word “spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:6) to describe the “mature” (1 Cor. 2:13, 15; see also Gal. 6:1). When he says, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13), he means explaining spiritual truth to spiritual-minded people. He has come full circle from the thought expressed in verse 6 and introduces what follows in the passage.
If spirituality is growing to spiritual maturity, what does spiritual maturity look like? Among other things, it is being established in spiritual truth (Rom. 1:11, 16:25; Col. 2:7; 1 Thess. 3:13; 1 Pet. 5:10; 2 Pet. 1:12) and being strong in the Lord (Eph. 6:10).
Being strong in the Lord is tricky, because when we hear “strong,” we think of being self-sufficient. Spiritual maturity is being strong in the Lord, which means that I am only strong in Him. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 3:10). To be strong in Him, I must realize who I am, a sinner in need of a Savior, a weakling in need of strength.
Spiritual growth can be traced by people’s assessment of themselves. In 57 AD, 22 years after his conversion, Paul wrote, “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Cor 15:9). In 61 AD, Paul called himself, “the least of all the saints” (Eph. 3:8). A year later he claims to be the “chief of sinners” (1:12). As he grew in the Lord, Paul realized more and more, just how sinful he was. His assessment of himself went from being the least apostle, to the least of all saints, to the chief of sinners. When we see the holiness of God, we realize our sinfulness (Job 42:5-6; Isa. 6:5; Lk. 5:8). The closer we get to the light, the more we see our darkness and realize we need help.
It is when we see our sin and weakness that we are strong. When God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (1 Cor. 12:9a), Paul responded, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9) and added “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). That is real spiritual growth.
© G. Michael Cocoris 1/29/2005
What does spirituality look like? Is it just being interested in something beyond the material side of life? Is it being religious?
Spirituality includes many factors. From a Biblical point of view, it is impossible to be “spiritual” apart from knowing God who is spirit (Jn. 4:24). The way to know God is by trusting Jesus Christ for the gift of eternal life (Jn. 17:3; Rom. 6:23; 1 Tim. 1:16).
In the New Testament, “spirituality” is spiritual maturity. In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul uses the word “spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:6) to describe the “mature” (1 Cor. 2:13, 15; see also Gal. 6:1). When he says, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13), he means explaining spiritual truth to spiritual-minded people. He has come full circle from the thought expressed in verse 6 and introduces what follows in the passage.
If spirituality is growing to spiritual maturity, what does spiritual maturity look like? Among other things, it is being established in spiritual truth (Rom. 1:11, 16:25; Col. 2:7; 1 Thess. 3:13; 1 Pet. 5:10; 2 Pet. 1:12) and being strong in the Lord (Eph. 6:10).
Being strong in the Lord is tricky, because when we hear “strong,” we think of being self-sufficient. Spiritual maturity is being strong in the Lord, which means that I am only strong in Him. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 3:10). To be strong in Him, I must realize who I am, a sinner in need of a Savior, a weakling in need of strength.
Spiritual growth can be traced by people’s assessment of themselves. In 57 AD, 22 years after his conversion, Paul wrote, “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Cor 15:9). In 61 AD, Paul called himself, “the least of all the saints” (Eph. 3:8). A year later he claims to be the “chief of sinners” (1:12). As he grew in the Lord, Paul realized more and more, just how sinful he was. His assessment of himself went from being the least apostle, to the least of all saints, to the chief of sinners. When we see the holiness of God, we realize our sinfulness (Job 42:5-6; Isa. 6:5; Lk. 5:8). The closer we get to the light, the more we see our darkness and realize we need help.
It is when we see our sin and weakness that we are strong. When God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (1 Cor. 12:9a), Paul responded, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9) and added “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). That is real spiritual growth.
© G. Michael Cocoris 1/29/2005