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What It Takes To Be Saved – 20 – Man’s Part - Growing to Spiritual Maturity
What It Takes To Be Saved – 20 – Man’s Part - Growing to Spiritual Maturity
Mike Willis
Jesus compared being saved from one’s past sins to a new birth, being born again (John 3:3, 5). The same figure of speech is used in Peter’s instruction: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Pet. 2:2-3). A newborn baby is not well equipped to provide for himself, ward off danger, or do the work of a full-grown Christian.
In Jesus’s Parable of the Sower, the Lord compared the teaching of the gospel to a farmer who is broadcast sowing the gospel seed.
“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold. As he said these things, he called out, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’ . . .
“The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:4-8, 11-15).
To avoid being like the seed that fell on stony ground that had no root system to sustain it or the seed that fell on thorny ground that choked out the word, the heart that is described as good ground must develop habits that enable one to mature as a Christian. Here are some things that are essential:
GET INVOLVED IN THE LOCAL CHURCH. Do not be hit-and-miss in your attendance, but be there every time the doors are opened. Get involved with the members so that they will be available to encourage you through those times of temptation, weakness, stumbling back into sin, etc. (Heb. 10:24-25).
START A TIME FOR DAILY DEVOTION that includes reading of the Scriptures and prayer. If you do not feed your soul, it will starve to death (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Pet. 2:2).
MAKE FRIENDS OF GOD’S CHILDREN. Paul warned about the dangers of being unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1). “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’ ” (1 Cor. 15:33).
RECOGNIZE JESUS AS THE LORD OVER YOUR LIFE. You do not know everything involved in being a Christian when you are baptized. But, this is the commitment one makes when he becomes a Christian: My obligation is to cease doing anything the word of God teaches to be sinful and to begin doing those things the word of God teaches a Christian must do. Sometimes quickly and sometimes more slowly, the word will have its influence in sanctifying your life (John 17:17).
