LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Spiritual Growth
"...until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).
Much has been said about spiritual growth, but it is always good to remember the things that are taught to us by the Spirit, for, as Paul says, this is sure for us.
It is evident that God wants mature sons, perfect men, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. When Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:1 that he could not speak to them as to spiritual, but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ, he clearly reveals to us God's purpose: that we become spiritual.
As far as we Christians are concerned, Scripture speaks of regeneration or new birth, and then of growth and fruitfulness (Mark 4:26-29). John also uses these stages of the Christian life by comparing them to the development and growth of the human being, when he speaks about children, youth and parents (1 John 2:13-14). For this, the Lord sent his Spirit, the Paraclete or teacher, because he did not look only to salvation, but also to his Kingdom. From before the foundation of the world, God longed to bring many sons to glory - sons of adoption, mature sons in Christ, kings and priests (Eph. 1:5).
The great deception is to think that this maturity will be completed when we receive a glorified body. What each of us needs to know is that we will go to the judgment seat of Christ with the same measure that we have at the time of the rapture. For example, if the Lord returns today, our measure will be that which we have today. The fire will test each one's work, and if what we have built is straw or wood, it will be burned up, and we will suffer eternal damage (1 Cor. 3:13-15).
It is also necessary to understand that no one can grow individually. This type of growth is not possible, because it needs the righteous operation of each member (Eph. 4:16). The perfect man shown in the Scriptures is the resurrected Christ, the new man; a body made up of many members, where the head is Christ (Col. 2:19). His power operates effectively to present every man perfect in Christ (Col. 1.28), until all are filled with Him (Eph. 4:10). When Jesus returns, He will come for a mature bride; until the church reaches this stage, edification will be necessary.