The Basics:  Fundamentals for Spiritual Growth

Introduction:

      The purpose of this brief study is to provide you with some information that will assist you in your spiritual growth as a Christian.  Peter wrote, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” (1 Peter 2:2)  It is the goal of the following pages to get you started in that great quest that will become the habit of the rest of your life.

      Placing faith in Christ was just the beginning of an exciting new life.  Faith was just a starting point.  Peter makes this clear when he says, “…giving all diligence, add to your faith….”  (2 Peter 1:5)  He then provides a list of things that need to be added to our lives by building on our faith in Jesus Christ.  As you study this book and the Bible passages assigned, you will begin to experience what Peter was referring to he spoke of spiritual growth.

      The lessons are short and simple.  Read one chapter of the book and the Bible passages noted.  Listen to the chapter’s message, then answer the questions at the end of chapter.  You will then be ready to proceed to the next section.  Prayerfully consider all the subjects covered in the book.  Keep a journal with your own notes and thoughts.  Don’t hesitate to pursue deeper study into the given subjects by examining references provided in your Bible. 

The lessons will be as follows:

-  The Bible:  God’s Roadmap for the Ages

-  Salvation:  God’s Will For All

-  Baptism:  First Steps of Obedience

-  The Church:  God’s House of Worship and Instruction

-  Quiet Time:  Just You and God

-  Giving Myself and Mine

-  Sharing My Faith

        Always be quick to obey the Scripture in your life.  When you read of something that you are to cease doing, stop doing it!  When you read of something you are to be doing, get busy!  Be observant as you read, applying the Bible to your life personally.  A good, cross-reference King James Version of the Bible will be indispensable.  A Strong’s Concordance would prove a valuable tool in your personal study of God’s Word, as would a good Webster’s Dictionary and perhaps a good Bible dictionary, such as Smith’s or Unger’s.  For this brief study, the Bible and a spiral notebook should prove sufficient.

May God bless you as you begin the life-long adventure of studying God’s Word and establishing a consistent walk with Him.  You will find that this truly is an “abundant life” (John 10:10).

Note:  It is strongly suggested that you use a King James Version of the Bible for your study.  A reference Bible (with verse references throughout for further research) with a concordance would be helpful but not essential.  Most Christian bookstores have inexpensive Bibles available. 

Reading Assignment:

-          Psalms 12:6-7;  18:30;  138:2

-          2 Timothy 2:15;  3:14-17

-          1 Peter 1:18-19;  2:1-3

-          2 Peter 1:16-2

      God provided a great blessing for mankind when He gave us His Word.    Through it we learn about God, His will for our lives and His great love for us (John 3:16).  Through reading the Bible we learn that God’ Son, Jesus Christ, died on the Cross for our sins, that He was buried and raised back to life again (1 Corinthians 15:1- 11).  So many great and wonderful truths are recorded for us, and God’s desire is that we know these and are assured in our faith by that knowledge (1 John 5:13).

Some might think that the Bible, written so many hundreds of years ago, is insignificant in the twenty-first century.  But the truth is that God never changes (Hebrews 1:10-12).  Also, the basic problem of humanity is unchanged (Romans 3:10-23).  Along with these truths, it is also true that there is only one remedy for this problem, and that remedy is found in Jesus Christ (John 14:1-6).  So, as you can see, God’s Word is relevant for today.  It is relevant because it was inspired by God.   The Bible is not the product of mankind.  God gave it in a miraculous and supernatural way to those who wrote down its truths.  Not only did He give the Bible supernaturally, He also protected it through the centuries from corruption.  Therefore, we have a Bible that is completely trustworthy and relevant for every generation. 

In light of this, it seems only natural that if the Bible is to be of benefit to us, we are required to study it, to understand it and to apply its truths to our lives (Matthew 7:24-29; John 13:17; James 1:22-23).  By doing so, we are enabled to experience spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2) and to keep ourselves pure for God (Psalms 119:9, 11).  The truly wonderful thing is that God Himself, through the Person of the Holy Spirit, will aid us in this endeavor to know His Word (John 14:16-17, 26;  16:12-15;  James 1:5-6). 

      There is no book like the Holy Bible.  It has survived many attempts that have been made to destroy or to denigrate it throughout the centuries.  The ancient wicked king, Jehoiakim, tried to cut it to pieces and to burn it but found it indestructible (Jeremiah 36:1-32).  It has undergone tremendous attacks in our “enlightened era,” but the psalmist declared, “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven (Psalms 119:89).”  A certain poet once wrote,

Feelings come, and feelings go,

       And feelings are deceiving.

My warrant is the Word of God,

       Naught else is worth believing.

      Begin a life-long practice today of reading, memorizing and applying God’s Word to your own life.  The result will be spiritual growth, peace and happiness that nothing else can bring (Philippians 4:8-9). 

1. Write down at least two passages of Scripture that assure us that the Bible is trustworthy.
2. What can I learn from Psalms 12:6-7 when comparing these verses to Psalms 119:89?
3. What did John tell us about the purpose of the Bible in 1 John 5:13?
4. What special assistance from God aids us in understanding the Bible?  Write out entirely at least one passage that points this truth out.
5. What does 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 tell us about the Gospel?

Reading Assignment:

-          Romans 3:10-23

-          John 1:1-14

-          Titus 3:5-7

-          Ephesians 2:1-9

-          1 Peter 2:21-25

      It is God’s will that all be saved.  That truth is clearly taught throughout the Bible (1 Timothy 2:1-6).  It is also clearly taught in the Bible that all will not be saved.  In fact, according to the Lord Jesus, the majority of mankind will not be saved (Matthew 7:13-14).  Unfortunately, not all will believe what the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ, sin or salvation.  That simple fact illustrates how far removed from God and His will most people really are.

      One of the first things necessary in understanding Biblical salvation is the realization that all need salvation because of sin.  The word sin means, “missing the mark.”  The mark is God’s righteous law.  When we break one of God’s righteous laws (The Ten Commandments) we are missing His mark of righteousness.    Some may miss the mark more than others.  Some may have broken more of His laws, or may have broken them more frequently.  But the undeniable fact is that we have all “missed the mark” (Romans 3:23). 

      The prophet Isaiah said, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)  While this verse was primarily applicable to Israel, it is also applicable to all humanity for, as Paul said, “all have sinned.” 

      Being separated from God is terrible thing.  The Bible informs us that, “…in Him (Jesus Christ) was life….”  (John 1:4)  Therefore, being separated from Him who is life means that humanity is also separated from that life.  When Adam sinned in the Garden, God cursed him with death; physically, spiritually and eternally.  Adam was originally created to live forever, but when sin entered so did death.  Many years passed, but eventually Adam was put in a place of burial by a grieving family.  But his physical death was not the greatest part of the curse.  The part of Adam that had the capacity to know, love and commune with God died because of sin.  That spiritual death was illustrated when God sought to walk with Adam in the cool of the day as He had in days past.  Adam hid himself from God because he had suffered a spiritual death caused by sin. 

      Eternal death is eternal separation from Him Who is life in that terrible place called hell.  The Bible refers to this as the second death (Revelation 20:14).  So, the man that God had created was separated from God because of sin, having experienced what is called in Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin.”  And, as Paul declared in Romans 5:12, “…death passed upon all men for that all have sinned.”

      Without some understanding of the above, it would be impossible to have an understanding of the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.  The whole mission of Jesus Christ is based on the fact of man’s sin and the consequences of that sin.  In Luke 19:10 we read the following, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  When the angels appeared to the shepherds outside Bethlehem the evening of the birth of Christ, they declared, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord..”  Joseph was told by the angel, “…call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) 

      Jesus Christ was our substitute, our sacrifice for sins.  Romans 5:8 declares, “But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  It was as though God had cursed man with death because of sin, but so loved mankind that He died man’s death for him on the cross. 

      Salvation, therefore, has already been paid for on Calvary.  What remains is personal application of the salvation which has already been provided.  This is accomplished through faith.  “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) Paul wrote, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)  We are saved from sin and its consequences when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and call upon Him in faith, asking Him to forgive us our sins and to come into our hearts as Lord and Savior.  The Apostle John wrote, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  (John 1:11-13).

      If you have not done so already, why don’t you place your faith and trust in Christ now?  Kneel and pray, asking Him for forgiveness of sins and invite Him into your heart as Lord and Savior.  You will never regret such an important decision.  If you have trusted Christ, rejoice in the salvation that He died to provide.  Rejoice in the fact that you can know now and forever that all is at peace with God.  “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (1John 5:13) 

Questions:

1. Write out at least one verse of Scripture that proves that God desires that all be saved from sin and its consequences.
2. Why is there a need for the salvation that Christ died to make possible?
3. Write out a brief account of your salvation experience.

       When Jesus Christ was crucified, there were two criminals crucified with Him, one on either side.  One of them expressed faith in Christ and was promised by our Lord, “To day thou shalt be with me in paradise.”  His salvation came just as he was about to die.  It is interesting to note that he was promised heaven without baptism.  Therefore it is obvious that baptism is not essential to the salvation of the soul.  Why then should we follow our Lord in Scriptural baptism?  Hopefully, this chapter will answer that question.

Reading Assignment:

-          Matthew 3:1-17

-          Matthew 28:16-20

-          Acts 2:37-47

-          Romans 6:1-10

      In the New Testament, followers of Jesus Christ were called “disciples.”  One of the identifying marks of true discipleship was obedience.  In fact, Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  (John 14:15)  In another place He asked this probing question, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say”?  (Luke 6:46)  They that are Christ’s have a desire in their hearts to please Him in all they do.  How could this not be true when we consider all that He has done for us?

      It is clear from the words of Christ in Matthew 28:19 that it is His will that believers follow Him in Scriptural baptism.  It is also clear from the New Testament that the early church regularly practiced the baptism of its converts.  Therefore, one of the first steps of obedience for the child of God is baptism.

      Unfortunately, many have misunderstood or abused the doctrine of baptism.  Constantine forced baptism as he ignorantly endeavored to promote Christianity.  Some today teach baptismal regeneration, or that baptism is essential to the saving of the soul.  The earlier reference to the thief on the cross should answer that erroneous teaching.  Also, when Philip was speaking to the Ethiopian eunuch, he taught the man that baptism could only follow faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 8:35-38).  The Bible thus insists that only those who have previously professed faith in Jesus Christ as Savior enter the waters of baptism.

      What then is baptism?  According to the Apostle Paul, through baptism we are associating publicly with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is our public testimony of faith in Christ and our confession to all that we have been made new through Him.  Paul said, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death.  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”(Romans 6:3-4)

      Therefore, baptism is an initial step of obedience to our Lord in which we publicly profess our faith in Him as Savior.  When the baptismal candidate is immersed in the water (the word baptism means “immersion”) it symbolizes their death and burial with Christ.  When they are raised from that watery grave, it symbolizes their newness in Christ.  Jesus Christ has made of that person, “a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”  (2 Corinthians 5:17)  When individuals have truly been saved, they want to share that great news with all.  Baptism is one means of doing just that!

1. Give two examples of individuals in Scripture that teach us that baptism is not essential to the saving of the soul.
2. How could it be said that baptism is an initial step of obedience for the Christian?
3. What testimony does baptism make?

      Jesus said, “…upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  (Matthew 16:18b)  In this chapter we will examine what the Bible has to say about the important institution of the church.

Reading Assignment:

-          Matthew 16:13-18

-          Acts 2:42-47

-          1 Timothy 3:14-16

-          Hebrews 10:19-25

      According to Hebrews 10:25, attending church is an important responsibility for the Christian.  So important in fact that to fail to regularly attend church is called “forsaking the assembling.”  The word, “forsaking” is a strong word implying, “to leave in straits, or helpless.”  God’s children need to faithfully attend a Bible believing, Bible preaching church.

      Church is a place where God’s children meet together regularly for worship.  While it is true that we need to worship everyday alone in our quiet time with Him, it is also true that we need to worship together with other believers of like faith.  Jesus made a promise to His followers in Matthew 18:20 saying, “…where two or more are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  It is truly a blessed thing to gather with other Christians and sense the Lord in the midst as hearts are lifted up in worship.  The Bible is clear in this matter.  It is His will that those who have trust Christ as Savior meet regularly in His church for worship.

Another important reason for attending church is the Biblical instruction that is given there.  In Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul informs us that God gifted certain leaders in the church in order that the “saints” might be brought to a place of spiritual maturity.  This comes through the teaching and preaching of the Word of God.  As was stated in the chapter on the Bible, God’s children should have a desire in their hearts to know the Bible and to grow in its truths.  Our spiritual growth is greatly enhanced by faithfully attending the house of God.

There is also the great benefit in faithful church attendance of Christian fellowship.  In Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 the Bible says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”  It is a real blessing to have Christian friends that you can fellowship with on a regular basis. 

Finally, through the local church there are service opportunities in which we can use our talents for Christ.  There are opportunities both within and without the church.  Working in and through the church is a good way to get involved in the community, and even in a broader sense through the church’s mission efforts around the world. 

For the child of God church is not merely an option.  It is an essential part of our obedience to Christ and is indispensable in our spiritual development.

Questions:

1.  Please write out a verse of Scripture in which faithful church attendance e is mandated for the Christian.
2.  What part do preachers and other spiritual leaders play in the spiritual growth of believers?
3. In what way does regular Christian fellowship benefit the child of God?

      In the last chapter, an emphasis was placed upon faithful church attendance and its part in the spiritual growth of believers.  In this chapter it will be noted that the Christian must take the responsibility for his own spiritual development and the means whereby this might be accomplished.

There is nothing more important for the Christian than spending time with God.  It is something that is easily neglected and can be difficult to consistently practice.  Our busy schedules make this something that must be scheduled into our days or it will be forgotten.

      A precious hymn of the Christian faith contains these words,

“Oh the pure delight of a steadfast hour

         That before thy throne I spend.

When I knee in prayer and with Thee my God

         I commune as friend with friend.”

        Communion with God is the goal of our daily “quiet time” and the consistent observance of this practice is valuable beyond measure.  There are basically two ways in which we communicate with God.  First, He communicates to us through His Word.  When god inspired the Blessed Book, He did so with our spiritual well-being in mind.  It is spiritual food that is essential for our spiritual growth.  (See 1 Peter 2:2)  For this cause, Paul instructed Timothy to study its truths carefully, applying them as they were learned.  (See 2 Timothy 3:16)  The Bible is God’s primary means of communicating with His people.  While it is true that the Lord may used some providential means of revealing His will for a person’s life, He will NEVER lead them in a way that is contrary to His Word.  Daily quiet time spent in reading and in studying God’s Word is a sure way to experience spiritual growth and to learn to discern the will of God for all situations.

       The second means of communicating with God’s people is prayer.  Prayer can be a very public matter, and there are many examples of public and corporate prayer in the Bible.  But Jesus emphasized the importance and need of private prayer to His followers.  “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to the Father that is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”  (Matthew 6:6)

      The best way to experience this ‘quiet time’ with God is to schedule it into every day and then to diligently and consistently practice it in your daily life.  Seta particular time each day to spend a few moments in prayer.  Keep a prayer list or a prayer journal where those things that are prayed for are listed.  What a blessing it is later to go back and review the prayer journal, noting prayers that have been answered.

      Along with this prayer time, spend some time in the reading of the word of god.  It is good to write down things of special interest, making notations of Bible passages that have a special message for you at that particular time in your life.  Notations can be made for passages of Scripture that will be studied in greater detail in the future.  Also, it is good to ask yourself as you are reading how the particular passage speaks directly to you.  It may reveal sins that need to be laid aside in your life.  It may speak of things that need to be added in your life.

      Daily quiet time with God will prove to be one of the greatest privileges in your Christian life and one of the most important in your spiritual growth.

1. In the references in Psalms, the writer speaks of communing with God upon his bed.  Briefly write out in your own words what this means.
2. Name the two primary ways we communicate with God.
3. What are some of the benefits of keeping a prayer journal”

      One of the favorite old hymns of the Christian faith is, “I Surrender All.”  It carries a tremendous message for the child of God.  Notice carefully and prayerfully the words.

This song writer learned and expressed a great secret; total surrender of all to the Lord.  Please read carefully the following passages for this part of the study.

Reading Assignment:

-          Romans 16:13

-          Romans 12:1-2

-          1 Corinthians 6:20

       The song writer said, “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give.”  The truth of the matter is that when we surrender our all to God, we are really giving Him what is rightly already His.  This is true in a couple of ways.  First, by virtue of the fact that He is the Creator of all things (John 1:1-3) all things rightly belong to Him.  In Colossians, Paul reminds us that, “…he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”  (Colossians 1:17)  “Consist” literally means that all things in the universe are sustained and held in place by His power.  As the Creator of this universe and all things that are in it, our Lord truly has sovereign control of all things and all beings.  To present ourselves to God and to surrender our lives to Him, we are acknowledging His ownership as Creator.

      Secondly, we truly belong to Him by virtue of t5he fact that He is our Redeemer.  Paul speaks of that when he tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price (the Blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary): therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  It was the death of Christ for our sins, the shedding of His precious blood that purchased our soul’s salvation and bought us back to God who had been lost in the fall of man.  Praise God for the value He placed on us and His willingness to pay to the full the redemptive price!

      After acknowledging that we belong to Him, we must then consider what is involved with totally surrendering all to Him.  Many consider total surrender as joining a convent, taking a vow of poverty and loneliness, becoming a hermit or totally giving away all earthly possessions.  Reading the New Testament rules these thoughts out completely.  Others are on the opposite extreme in believing that God is only interested in their spiritual being.  This belief is also incorrect.  The Scripture is clear that everything we are and everything we have is a gift from God (James 1:17).

      Total surrender means giving God “me” and “mine.”  Paul’s appeal to the Romans was, “…present your bodies a living sacrifice….” (Romans 12:1-2)  While He has never asked us to present our firstborn to Him in sacrifice, He has required of us that we present ourselves to Him as living sacrifices.  A life surrendered to God is a life dedicated to His glory, His cause and His will.  It seeks not its own, but His.  It endeavors to govern itself in all areas in order to please Him.  It sees its meaning in all things in light of Him.  It understands that all its possessions, all its blessings, all its opportunities are from Him.  “Every good and perfect gift cometh down from God….” 

      There are church seminars given around the country that train church leaders on how to lead their people in the area of financial giving.  Still other seminars emphasize the training of church members concerning faithfulness in others areas of the operations of the church.  However, those who are truly surrendered to God automatically yield themselves and all they have to god.  While at times it is appropriate to let the church know of special needs that arise, Christians who have received so much from God should not have to be convinced that their finances, as well as their body, soul and spirit need to be surrendered and dedicated to God and His service.

      Another old song of the church says, “I’m not my own, I belong to Jesus….”  How true that is!  We that have been saved belong to Him.  A very important step in our development as believers is total surrender of ourselves to the Lord  for His glory and honor.

1. What two thoughts are expressed that reveal that we already belong to God?
2. What are the two extremes people sometimes go to when challenged to present themselves to God?  Why are these extremes wrong?
3. Have you personally prayed, “Lord, I give myself and all that I am and have to you”?

      You are a Christian!  You placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.  This new life you have in Christ is the greatest things that ever happened to you.  How did you get to this point in your life?  What events transpired that brought you to faith I Christ?  Was it the faithful witness of a friend?  Was it something that you heard on television or the radio?  Did you find a gospel tract somewhere?  Were you invited to church by a good friend?  One thing is certain; you are a Christian because of the influence of someone else.

     When Paul wrote to Timothy, he emphasized the importance of believers sharing their faith with others.  He said, “And the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thous to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”  (2 Timothy 2:2)  Paul knew that the truths of the gospel would always be one generation away from becoming unknown.  Before His ascension into heaven, Jesus gave His disciples what is called, “The Great Commission.”  Notice the charge Jesus gave to His followers; “And he said unto them, God ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  (Mark 16:15)

      What a great responsibility and glorious privilege we have in sharing with others what Jesus Christ has done for us!  You may feel inadequate to do so.  This is natural.  You may think, “I don’t know enough to tell others how to be saved.”  A deep knowledge and of God is not essential in sharing faith.  Jesus talked with a woman at a well in Samaria and won her to Himself.  She was thrilled with her new-found faith, running back into town to share with others what had happened to her.  She had no deep theological training.  She had perhaps never even read any of the Scripture.  But, when she ran back into town, everyone she came in contact with she told, “Come and see a man that told me everything I ever did.  Is not this the Messiah?”  As a result of her excited testimony, many in that town were also brought to faith in Christ.  (See John 4)

      You have been given a great gift (John 3:16).   Because of this, you owe a great debt (Romans 1:14016).  This is truly a debt that can never be repaid.  In reality, God requires no payment.  But Paul saw his debt to Calvary as a responsibility to share the story of the Cross and salvation with as many as he could.  He knew that the hope of the unsaved is a faithful and consistent witness of those who have been saved.  May I encourage you to share with others this faith that you have been so greatly blessed with?  May I encourage you to ask of God a burden for lost souls?  Let’s pray that God will enable us by His grace and through the working of His Holy Spirit to be faithful and effective witnesses to the lost around us.  Pray that He will bless you and direct you in this privilege and responsibility of, “Sharing Your Faith.”

      It is my prayer that these thoughts on spiritual growth will be a blessing to you.  If there is anything further I can do to assist you in your development as a child of God, please contact me.  Please know that you are in my prayers as you seek to serve Our Lord Jesus Christ.