Three Stages of Spiritual Growth in 1 John 2
A practical Christian study of “Three Stages of Spiritual Growth in 1 John 2,” with clear application for faith, relationships, and everyday life.
Stages of Growth: Little Children to Young Men to Fathers
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Begin with the truth
Growing in your relationship with Jesus in a way that actually has stages where you can measure the progress that other people can recognize, and that isn't just about accomplishments and doing more, it's about depth. It's just as much about the depth of the nearness of Jesus in your heart, a sign of great spiritual maturity, as it is your decision to receive his gifts, thankfully, or to fight the good fight on his behalf.
Trying to get to a point of resting in Jesus, of true peace as we get older, can be difficult because we know more, so we know we should be doing more, and the reality of our shortcomings become ever glaring.
What this reveals about God
I think all of us in our Christian journey hit that mid-stage arc where we really think that the reason that God is blessing us and we're right with him is because of how hard we're trying. Nobody's saying you unenlist as a soldier, but I got to tell you, as I've grown through these years, and I mentioned the books in the beginning, started reading scripture, not looking for me and how to be awesome, but looking for Jesus and recognizing his awesomeness.
I'm a hiding soldier who gets up with courage because Jesus slayed Goliath, like really resting in the peace that comes from his finished work and his glorious reign.
Let faith take root
Because I think there are people who've been Christians for a long time and they're really just kind of still in this infant stage of, well, I believe in the Lord Jesus, and I'm just really grateful for all the things he's done for me, just like a child. A child doesn't know how to love and serve for the sake of others, for the sake of becoming an example for others.
A child knows where the cookies come from, and they know to be thankful for that, and they can behave under that.
Respond in daily life
There's a passage here that I think brethren have struggled with over the years, not what it says, but just living it. 1 John chapter 5, verse 13, these things I've written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. We're not throwing out any of the stages, but I have come to find my peace in the power of the Lord.
And it's such a healthy thing because it just feeds its way back around to even more increased belief and more gratitude, and the cycle just rolls on with this beautiful upward momentum.
Take the idea with you.
- 01Where do I see the problem or opportunity described in “Three Stages of Spiritual Growth in 1 John 2” in my own life?
- 02What Scripture or spiritual principle in this study most needs my attention?
- 03What one specific change can I make this week to put this teaching into practice?
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