This is A Better Bible Study Podcast. Today , we have the 12^th episode of the Bible study series The Gospel and Spiritual Growth. We wish to share with you our online Bible study in hopes that you find it useful in your own study of the scriptures. We are a group of friends from the Church of Christ. We go to different congregations in different cities, in different states.  We have been having Skype Bible study classes  for 10 years now.

Sometimes it is difficult to find an in-depth adult Bible study in the local area. We wish to share with you this free online Bible study in hopes that it , at least partly, satisfies the desire you have for a more meaty Bible study.

Last week’s review

Last week we discussed the contrast that Paul showed regarding the wisdom of the world and of God.  People of the world  are not equipped to understand the Gospel because they entirely rely on human resources. They are not equipped to grasp things that are understood spiritually.

However, this does not mean that Christians have become automatically equipped to understand all things spiritual. They have obeyed the gospel and have become equipped by developing faith. However, that does not mean that they have been taught how to study, perceive, grasp and hold on to some of the biblical concepts that we take for granted. Some examples of these concepts are as follows.

 

CONCEPT: God is Spirit

John 4:24 24    “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

We relate to God ,who is invisible intangible, intelligent righteous, caring and loving. We, according to the scriptures,  are created in his image. It takes a while for this concept to percolate in our minds.  In art and in literature  and in the minds of many Christians today this means that  God look like us. This idea sticks with the contemporary Christian. They haven’t sought to grasp what God’s image is. We are created from God’s image not the other way around.

The scripture tells us that we are not immediately equipped to understand these things. We do , however, have Jesus and  through Him we can see what God is like.

John1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.â€

The word here is “logosâ€.  What makes Christ-Jesus and Christ-God are  intangibles that we can somewhat grasp intellectually but we are told that the reality of this state of affairs is revealed to us through faith. We truly understand because we are Christians and accept that God’s word is true. Things can be revealed to us as we continue on in our walk with God.  The great contrast between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God becomes more apparent as we grow.  Those who are not Christians do not have faith. They do not have a chance to understand things that can only be revealed through faith.

CONCEPT: Be ye therefore Perfect – a command

Matthew 5:48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This is an imperative proposition, a general command.  We want to know how to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head of the Church. Matthew 5:48 is a command. Do you see this as a command?

Over time, there has been efforts to turn this verse into every kind of a sentence other than a general command. Several efforts have been made to change the meaning of “perfectâ€. Such alternative meanings that have been ginned up over the years basically mean the same thing -complete, mature and perfect. This is  very close to what Paul says in the scriptures are capable to do for us in 2^nd Timothy 3:15-17.

15 “and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to

salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 â€All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

17 â€so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

It is no surprise when unbelievers argue with the gospel.  It is disappointing when Christians argue with what the scripture say. Contemporary Christians question Matthew 5:48 being a command because they do not understand. They understand in human terms.

God is telling us something that we become. At the very least, he wants us to move in that direction. We become perfect. We are not there yet. Where we are is the current state of affair. God wants us to grow.  It only makes sense that we want to step it up. First, we have to realize that we are not there yet.  Then ,we have to realize that God wants us to be more than we are now.  The problem is that no one teaches us how to do that.

An example is the words written in Galatians 5: 16-23

16           But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

17           For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

18           But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

19           Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

20           idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

21           envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22           But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23           gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The passage talks of the fruit of the spirit and one component is patience. How do we know if we are patient enough? Do we lack loving kindness? How do we change that? Practice makes perfect? It is the same as saying if we fake it, we make it. Do we just need to work harder?

The Bible teaches that we cannot ourselves effect the change. Only God can affect the change according to his terms. What can we do? Study the scripture. Romans 10:17 ;

17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.â€

The Word of Christ produces faith, faith increases as we study the Word. A faithless person is most likely involved with himself. His  chief concern is his wants, his needs and his desires. He sees himself as more important than anything or anybody else. A Christian through faith can grow to the realization that others are more important than him.

LOVE as an example

Through faith, a Christian realizes that others are more important than he is. 1 Corinthians 13, Love is never selfish.  This is agape. It does not seek its own as the King James says.

In the process of studying the Bible, faith increases.  We see more clearly.  We do not need to force our self to see more clearly. Our life in Christ helps us to have more faith and we can love. We see not with our eyes but with another faculty.  If you love someone, you want the best for them. You want to do things for them. You would lay down your life for your family, gladly. Love causes us to do works.

HOPE as an example

Hope, when intense leads to prayer. Prayer results in a number of things. It results in a hunger for knowledge. This leads to more study of the scripture. Studying the scripture leads to more faith. With more faith, we have more love, and then more hope. This leads to even more hunger and so more study. Does this not sound like a cycle?  It is a process. It is a process of spiritual growth.

There are some things that we do that scripture tells us to do. Study, pray, associate with the brethren.  These are some things that we already do. When we participate in the things that God has given us to do, God grows us.  It is helpful to us to know this. If we come to understand that God takes care of us this way, we can look forward to growth and participate in a more meaningful and systematic way. We may find ourselves then rewarded with even more  growth.

PRAYER               

1 Thessalonians 5:17  “Pray without ceasing.â€

On the average Christians today spend maybe 3 ½ minutes per week in prayer. They participate in is public prayer and that is about it. If this describes you or someone you know and prayer is part of the spiritual growth process, doesn’t it make sense that there could be a whole lot more growth going on then there currently is. We need to concentrate on our part of the process. God will always do his part.

Spiritual Growth

When we want to know how to grow up in Christ, we look to see what the Bible says about that. We ask ‘How can I become  a better person?’ The answer is that there is a process, which is given to us in the Bible.

We need to understand that God expects from us. That is why it is important that we understand the notion of faith.

 

Q&A

Read Colossians 2:16-23, this is a matter of doing good things rather than just doing the deeds that people said are good things. This is legalism. We always see this in the New Testament. Study of the scripture will help.

Suggested Reading:

Acts 2:38, 43-47

Thank you for watching this episode. For more of our free online bible study episodes and notes, you may visit our website www.abetterbiblestudy.org. We hope you find this helpful in your quest to study the gospel and your walk towards spiritual growth.