Saturday, January 19, 2013

Growing Increasingly Christlike



I recently had a conversation with another Christian who said something to the effect that not all Christians will attain a high level of Biblical knowledge or Christlikeness, and that is okay. While I agree that many will indeed voluntarily forego Christian maturity, I disagree that it is okay.

Romans 12:2 commands: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The Bible makes it clear in 2 Peter 1:2-11 that we are to finish strong with the gift we have been freely given:

     “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
     For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
     Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 


Note how many times this verse talks about knowledge. Knowledge of what? Jesus Christ. We are to be increasing in the knowledge of Christ so that we are increasingly Christlike in every area of our life.

With the Bible and all of the Bible commentaries and Bible study software available today, there is no excuse for flatlining as a Christian.


“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” Ephesians 1:17



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