The Doctrine of Suffering - The Anatomy of Spiritual Growth – Part 3
July 15, 2010
OUTLINE:
The Spiritual Life
Living inside the DPG produces the spiritual life (eusebeia). The spiritual life produces a mature believer.
“walk”
from peripateo - means behave, conduct, lead a life; the present active infinitive indicates our purpose; the present tense means that we should keep on walking worthy.
“His”
from autou - an intensive, possessive pronoun used to emphasize the believer’s identity with the DPG; expanded translation: “His, you see, we are His”
“workmanship”
from poiema - means something made brand new; something produced (by God)
Moving “from faith to faith”
- An anchor (TLJC/Cross)
- An operating envelope (DPG)
- Energy to pursue the end goal (BD + HS)
- Time (Life)
The Anchor
Moving “from faith to faith” requires a spiritual vector that is anchored to something immovable - TLJC/Cross.
Assurance of God’s Promises
TLJC is our Anchor to the promises of God!
Clinging To the Anchor
Every promise of deliverance related to spiritual growth is a function of our union with Christ. Our confidence in this Truth is a function of our doctrine.
In Union By Baptism
At salvation, we are baptized into union with Christ - He is our Anchor “from faith” (Rom 1:17).
“being renewed”
from anakainoo - means new in species again and again; It’s never too late to lean on God’s promises of deliverance - repentance is YOUR choice!
Moving “from faith to faith”
- An anchor (TLJC/Cross)
- An operating envelope (DPG)
- Energy to pursue the end goal (BD + HS)
- Time (Life)
DPG
Success in the spiritual life means we humbly stick to the simple idea that God has provided, by grace, each of us a plan for our lives, with the purpose of facilitating spiritual growth.
Moving “from faith to faith”
- An anchor (TLJC/Cross)
- An operating envelope (DPG)
- Energy to pursue the end goal (BD + HS)
- Time (Life)
The Energy
The spiritual energy to function inside of the DPG is by means of God the Holy Spirit working with BD.
1Th 2:13
…the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
Wrong Motivation
Eternal life to the “ruler” in Luke 18:18 was simply another object for him to figure out a way to obtain and bring into subjection to his own system of thinking.
Objectify (definition)
to degrade to the status of a mere object
Objectifying Bible Doctrine
Objectifying Bible doctrine is a movement away from Biblical humility. Objectification seeks to establish obedience of BD to man, rather than man to BD.
Counterfeit Sanctification
Arrogance seeks to set man apart (sanctify) for the sake of mankind, using whatever perverted levers are available, including the objectification of BD.
“being perfected”
from epiteleo - (same Greek word as Phi 1:6 - “He will perfect a good work in you”); Do you think you can do God’s work?!! – silliness!
In Fellowship
Even if we possess the BD, it’s impossible to “walk” without God the HS’s active ministry in our soul.
Loss of Spiritual Energy
- “grieving the Spirit”: characterized by one or more sinful thoughts/actions; temporary condition
- “quenching the Spirit”: characterized by an evil system of thinking; lifestyle ramifications
The Energy
The spiritual energy to function inside of the DPG is by means of God the Holy Spirit working with BD.
Moving “from faith to faith”
- An anchor (TLJC/Cross)
- An operating envelope (DPG)
- Energy to pursue the end goal (BD + HS)
- Time (Life)
Time
A construct designed by God for the finite mind, maintained through divine patience, and the means by which God’s decree for mankind is progressively wrought.
“transformed”
from metamorphoo - means to be transformed in thought, to change your thinking from human viewpoint to divine viewpoint. The customary present tense denotes something habitual (over time).
“conformed”
from suschematizo - means to be molded after something, to be conformed to something, or to be guided.
Something Old, Something New
Being transformed implies something new (ala new life) flourishing whereas being conformed implies something existing being modified (dressing up the pig).