Spiritual Progression
Tanner Bass

The value of the soul who is daily seeking to please God by following His commandments as He has clearly labeled for us, as well as striving to progress spiritually, is truly irreplaceable. To progress in a spiritual sense means many things for us as Christians. We have a choice to either work toward progressing ourselves spiritually, or not. This is an individual responsibility put upon each child of God.

First, progress can be defined as “forward or onward movement towards a goal, destination, or an objective.” It is very clear that a biblical application can be made from this. Paul says in his letter to the Philippian church, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind... ” (Phil. 3:14-15). He then goes on to say to join him in his example because he is a pattern, as well as Christ is, for us to follow. The goal that Paul was saying he was pressing toward is reaching heaven, our upward call. This goal can only be reached by growing and progressing spiritually, as we have been instructed (2 Pet. 3:18; 1 Pet 2:2; Heb. 6:1). Look even at the example of our Lord when he was a child. Luke says that Christ “kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and found favor with God and men” (Luke 2:40-52). Because Christ was growing in wisdom and seeking spiritual progression daily, He pleased God. God expects the same from us.

If we are not progressing, growing, and maturing daily as Christians, I ask then, what does it mean we are doing? It must mean we are stagnant or regressing. We cannot afford to be regressing spiritually, or be in a state where we are not growing. No matter your age, your race, your gender, or how long you have been a Christian, each individual is responsible for his own growth spiritually. No one can do it for you! There is no limit or cap to spiritual growth and progression, either. It is something we must always be working on. We hear the term often, “I am a work in progress.” Similarly, in a spiritual sense, we are a work in progress too. We always will be.

So what does this mean for us? We must daily be seeking to grow and mature in the Scriptures as we have been commanded. Examine yourself daily, set a spiritual goal or two, plan how you will achieve this goal or goals, and execute. Along the way of working towards fulfilling this spiritual goal, you will grow and please God through your progress as a Christian. Through all things, never forget the ultimate goal we are striving for is what Paul mentioned. If we miss heaven, we have missed life as God intended it to be lived.

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
 

Come or Leave?

1. Prejudice develops only one-perspective, and fails to consider any variation, Jno. 7:52 (1:46).
2. Such unrighteous judgments result from pride, reinforcing false conclusions, Lk. 18:9-14.
3. Jno. 8:1-12: Jesus exposed unrighteous judgment against a sinner and Himself, producing an occasion of for self-examination.

I. SOME COME TO JESUS TO LEARN, Jno. 8:1-2; Matt. 11:28-30.

  A. The Crowds of People Heard Jesus Gladly, Mk. 12:37; Lk. 8:15; Acts 17:11-12; Mk. 11:9-10 (Psa. 118:25-26); Jno. 6:68.
  B. We Must Sit Down at Jesus’ Feet to Learn from Him, Jno. 8:2.

II. SOME COME TO JESUS TO ACCUSE HIM, Jno. 8:3-6.

  A. These have Prejudiced Minds and Evil Motives, Lk. 11:52-54; Jno. 8:3-6 (esp. v. 6); Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22; 19:15-21 (17:6-7).
  B. Prejudice and Evil Speaking against Brethren is Sin against God, Jas. 4:11-12.

III. SOME LEAVE JESUS, AND REMAIN IN THEIR SIN, Jno. 8:7-9.

  A. Jesus Exposed their Sin, Yet they would not Repent, Jno. 8:7; Matt. 23:26.
  B. In Spite of Knowing their Sin, Many People Still Turn Away and Leave Jesus, Jno. 12:42-43; 6:41, 60-61, 66 (Ruth 1:16-17).

IV. SOME LEAVE, BEING FORGIVEN BY GOD AND WITH FAITH IN JESUS, Jno. 8:10-12.

Forbes puts out various “Richest People” lists, one of which I came across this week - “The Richest Person in Every State” (forbes.com). Forbes says their reporting of these rich folks “offers another marker of the entrepreneurial drive that pushed the country to 50 states in the first place” (Ibid). Of course, Forbes reports business news, where success and failure is measured by profit and loss. We would expect them to regard the wealthiest as the most successful.

We also know it is the love of money, not money itself, that is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10). The difficulty for the rich person entering the kingdom of God is not their money per se, it is measuring material possessions as their true fulfillment, meaning and measure of life (Lk. 18:22-25).

Jesus said, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Lk. 12:15). Jesus has an entirely different list of the richest people.

The richest people are those whose souls are saved. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26) Billions of dollars are worthless to save even one soul. Your soul is more valuable than everything else combined. Why waste it by valuing things more that the salvation of your own soul.

The richest people are “rich toward God” (Lk. 12:21). They lay up treasures in heaven instead of on this earth (Matt. 6:19-21). Their heart is in heaven, not on the corruptible things of this life.

The richest people are those who value the reproaches of Christ of greater value than this world’s treasures. Like Moses, they “look for the reward” to come, accepting the momentary trials of faith as they look to eternity (Heb. 11:24-26).

Are you on God’s “richest people” list? (1 Tim. 6:17-19; 1 Pet. 1:3-5)