The challenge of growing in the Spirit

Nothing and nobody can grow without being born first. It is the natural cycle of life: one is born, grows, develops and finally dies. In the spiritual context it happens in the same way, only that the development of the Christian depends on the Spirit and that Spirit gives us life, because when we bear witness to Jesus, we pass from death to life. Spiritual growth can happen when the conversion experience is anchored in the new birth in Christ and we begin to walk on paths that were previously unknown to us. The way is Christ and the paths are those small arteries and paths of the believer, who inevitably and despite setbacks and obstacles, converge in the one who is the Way. Growing in Christ is not an option. The Christian who decides to abide in Christ and yearns to approach his stature must gird his life with the belt of holiness. No one can aspire to holiness without the desire each day to become more like Christ. There are no methods, no principles, no norms that govern the growth of the Christian, but obedience to the word of God. Examples abound in the Bible of men and women who became spiritual giants through God's work in their lives. But our model is Jesus.

To begin to grow, the first thing is to have a deep conviction and assurance of your salvation, to have the certainty that your conversion has not been a mere emotional experience, but a step of faith in Christ, a birth in the Spirit. “What is born of the body is the body; what is born of the Spirit is spirit ”. (John 3: 6). Jesus was the incarnate Word, born of a woman, but by the work of the Holy Spirit. We are born of women, but our new birth comes from the Spirit. We are spiritual not because of a sensitive character and a moral and subjective quality, but because we are born in the Spirit. Without a genuine spiritual new birth, growth in the Christian life could go through strong storms, because through much effort, commitment and desire for consecration, growth, in all the spiritual meaning of the word, is only given by the Spirit of God.

Conversion and the new birth in the Spirit take for granted that Christ gives us a new identity sealed with his name that produces in the believer the desire to please him in everything. This new identity allows us to live in Truth. The apostle Paul called for growth with an eye toward Christ. "Rather, by living the truth with love, we will grow to be in everything like the one who is the head, that is, Christ" (Eph 4.15). Spiritual growth in the Christian life flows spontaneously and naturally as you acquire that new identity. When this does not happen, we are inconsistent and act contrary to what our identity tells us to do. A fish can only live in water. If you try to live in another natural environment, no matter how hard you try, you will die. As a fish, its identity has specific characteristics that do not allow it to live in another natural habitat. So it is also with the children of God. Our habitat is Christ. In Christ we are born and grow. Our new Christian identity is fertile soil and it is Christ who provides the necessary nutrients to grow in all spiritual directions and live a life as God pleases.

Growth becomes manifest in the way that the fruit of the Spirit becomes visible in the life of the believer. "So then by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:20).

If you are aware of your new spiritual birth and your new identity, it will not be difficult for you to understand the benefits of resting and abiding in the Lord to grow each day in holiness. Jesus remained in the Father, he spoke what the Father instructed him, he did what the Father did, he bore witness to the one who sent him. His life was conditioned by his knowledge of the Father, his devotion to Him, his love for Him. The lifestyle of the believer must be founded on abiding in Christ just as Christ abided in his Father. Jesus once said to his disciple Philip: Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words that I communicate to you, I do not speak as my thing, but it is the Father, who is in me, who performs his works. (John 14.10). On another occasion he told his followers: On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (John 14.20).

Jesus grew in wisdom and stature because he abided in his Father. So too Christ calls us to abide in Him to grow and bear fruit. "Remain in me, and I will abide in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself, but must remain on the vine, so neither can you bear fruit if you do not remain in me. I am the vine and you are the branches. He who abides in me, as I in him, will bear much fruit; apart from me you cannot do anything. (John 15: 4-5).

The Christian life is lived in Christ, there is no other way to live it. May the Lord make you grow so that you love each other more and more, and everyone, just as we love you. (1 Ts 3.12)

God bless you!