Category: Spiritual Theology

The theology of spiritual growth & sanctification

steps stages of growth

The Biblical Five-Level Maturity Model – Part 1

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Understanding stages of growth is important for many reasons. Quoting from one of our earlier posts on stages of growth which emphasized the stages of our experience of God’s felt grace: Understanding progressions of our growth helps us to know where we are and where we are going. It also helps us to be okay with where we are and not dislike ourselves for not being more mature. Understanding phases also teaches us what thoughts and feelings are normal for our situation and what teachings and practices are best for our situation. It also helps us to remain pliable in the Potter’s hand in whatever phase we are in and not struggle to circumvent any painful shaping he is doing. Understanding phases also helps us to be more understanding and helpful to others who are in different phases. Often well-meaning Christians will give advice that is designed to get someone Continue Reading →

bible big picture

The Whole Story When We Look Back From Eternity

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On the New Earth we will look back and marvel at the history of God’s work on earth. I think it will read something like this, and it should help us to remember the context of our lives and what God is doing in us. God generated a garden of delights for humanity to enjoy and called them to develop and expand and steward this garden in partnership with himself and each other.  Humans chose to embrace evil and mixed it with the good had God made. Because of this God established death on earth as a judgment on them and in order to shorten the time that humans would live in a corrupted world. Humans lost the delight of living and they were alienated from full fellowship with God. The leader of the fallen angels, Satan, became the destroyer-prince over the earth. But God did not abandon humans and Continue Reading →

joy in the garden

What Will We Do On The New Earth?

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Jesus and his Apostles taught us to keep our focus on the next age. However, when it comes to the next age when we live on the New Earth it is important to remember that God has only revealed what he wants to reveal and we can’t force Scripture to answer questions it isn’t trying to answer. Yet, we have more than enough information in Scripture to assure us that the next age will be euphoric for God’s saints. In Revelation 21 the New Jerusalem will come down from heaven onto Earth (v. 2). Throughout Revelation 21-22 we find signs that this New Jerusalem is also a New Eden. From Revelation 2:7 we know that it is a paradise; remember that Eden means “pleasure” in Hebrew. We will live in delight. This new Eden will not just be a restoration of the first Eden but rather a vastly superior Eden. Continue Reading →

marriage, bride, wedding, spiritual

Are You Looking Forward To Your Wedding Day?

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1 Peter 1:13 directs us to “Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (ESV). In other words, we keep our focus on the coming age when God will recreate the earth into a New Earth and come and live with us. So, it is important to spend time reflecting on the blessings God will bring to us then. Perhaps what is most astonishing about the next age is that we will be “married” to the Lamb (Rev. 19:6-9; 21:2, 9-27; 22:17). “In the story of redemption and the history of heaven the supreme event for which the ages are waiting is the marriage of the Lamb. The Bible is one long love story and redemption a divine romance of the love of God.”[1] The idea that the people of God are the bride of God or Jesus is Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

Victory Over Trials Leads To Jesus’ Throne – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.” (Ps. 18:29, NIV) In this Psalm King David is rejoicing over his victories that God gave him over his political and military enemies. Under the new covenant believers have no geographic kingdom in this world and “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world” (Eph. 6:12, NIV). This sounds like a daunting task, for mere humans to defeat unseen rulers and authorities! And yet, “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37, NIV). How can we be conquerors? With the full armor and weapons of God. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done Continue Reading →