Luciusministry: The process of spiritual growth (part 2)

The same way Ishmael who was born according to the flesh persecuted Isaac who was born according to the Spirit, even so now, the life in the flesh is opposing and persecuting the life in the Spirit and so, we have been duly admonished saying; “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5: 16-17).

The life in the flesh stems from the works of the flesh, through the passion and lust of the flesh. It is sustained by the breath of life, and God's goodness who supplies it with food and drink.

The life in the Spirit however, stems from Jesus Christ who is the resurrection and the life, and in whom we live and move and have our existence. He is the vine and we are the branches.

Spiritual life is extracted from Jesus Christ through faith, and it is being sustained and developed by the grace of God, which is defined as God's unmerited favor, and comprise of:

(a) God's favor,

Which is His great love in giving us His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

(b) His gifts, talents, and abilities,

Which makes everyone unique, and it is given to the honor and glory of God and to serve one another.

Which is the means by which we can have our sins forgiven, in order to maintain our relationship with Him.

(d) His Gospel –

The good news of His salvation, the medium by which we can grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Spiritual growth begins with the activation of faith in the grace which we have all received according to the measure of Christ's gift.

We are told that, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as we were called to the one hope that belongs to our call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift" (Ephesians 4:4-7).

It is written, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not our own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast."

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

The faith that is required for salvation is not our faith, but faith in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who has given us a new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

As it is written: "As one man's trespass led to condemnation of all men so one man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. For, as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners; so, by one man's obedience many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:18-19).

This is the gospel which, "Those who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation, and have believed in Him, are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians1:13-14).

Then the Holy Spirit "As God's divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, that through these [His divine power and promises} we may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature"(2 Peter 1:3-4).

To grow in the nature of God, and have dominion over His creation, is God's original and ultimate plan for man. For, from the beginning He said, "Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth" (Genesis 1;26).

For this reason, we are admonished to, "Let no one glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come - all are ours; and we are Christ's, and Christ is God's" (1Corinthians 3:21-23).

We should at no time lose focus of the main objective of our human life for, we have been admonished saying, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.

He destined us in love to be His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace which He freely bestowed on us in [Jesus Christ] the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:3-6).

Spiritual life originates from Jesus Christ Who is the resurrection and the life. He is the vine we are the branches. We extract spiritual life from Christ in Whom we stand. Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

However, faith is insufficient of itself to help us grow in the nature of God, because faith by itself if it has no works is dead.

Therefore, faith has to be supplemented with virtue, and virtue with knowledge. Because the new nature is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator; for we all with unveiled face, are beholding the glory of the Lord, and are being changed into His likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

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