The Christian’s Life Cycle
Hebrews 5:12-14
Introduction.
We have been so very blessed to have had so many baptisms this year.
Let us always remember that, while someone may have planted, another may have watered, it is God who gave the increase and should get the glory.
I am so grateful for the Lord for this increase, and for all of you who have helped and pitched in.
Yesterday was particularly interesting, since many of those who usually help weren’t in town.
But two new souls have been added to the Lord’s body!
This prompts me to take a Sunday evening to talk a little about that.
Many of us know these things already, but it’s a good reminder.
We are a family, but we are all at different maturity levels.
It’s often difficult to teach a class of people at different levels.
The more mature are not challenged if you play to the less mature.
The less mature are overwhelmed if you play to the more mature.
This lesson is a reminder of the Christian’s Life Cycle.
So the spiritually mature can better handle the spiritually youngest among us.
So the spiritually young can know what to work toward, and recognize our efforts to help you grow.
Body.
Rebirth.
The Bible describes those who first become Christians as a “new man” and a “new creation” (Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
Jesus described this as being “born again” in his conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:3).
As with any new birth, there are many growing pains, both with the child and the parents.
The children must learn to grow and learn on their own.
The parents must learn to teach them how—this includes those who are more spiritually mature.
This takes patience.
Let us be patient with our new converts.
Many of them have so much religious baggage that they are carrying with them.
They have learned many things that were not right.
Depending on the severity, we do not have to call out each thing right away.
Keeping in mind you no doubt said some things that weren’t right when you were first converted (particularly if from a denomination).
You may have been corrected on it right there, or you may have realized later it wasn’t right.
Whatever the case, we are to nourish our new converts.
Nourishment.
Infants have a built-in alarm for when they are hungry: their cry.
Every two to three hours they must be fed or they will be malnourished and potentially die.
A newborn Christian is similar, but the signs for hunger are not always so obvious.
Regardless of our age, we need nourishment, both physical and spiritual.
But the youngest among us need it the most.
These early years are formative and will be influential in how they will continue to grow and operate as a Christian.
Ideally one ought to have that desire to grow right after becoming a Christian, but not everyone does.
Peter writes that we should be “as newborn babes, [and] desire the pure milk of the word, that [we] may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).
Let us have that desire, and let us also be fed by those who have the desire and the patience to “feed [His] lambs,” as Jesus commanded Peter (John 21:15).
Growth.
Peter wrote that the purpose of desiring that pure milk is to grow.
Our babies will grow naturally as we feed them (all too fast!).
But new Christians are not always that way.
The writer of Hebrews admonished the Jewish Christians that they were dull of hearing and ought to be teachers by now rather than spiritual infants (Hebrews 5:11-12).
They were not growing as they ought.
Peter further commands that we “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
We need to grow and to help our newer brothers and sisters grow.
Take those baby steps with them so one day they will be able to stand on their own.
This will then lead us and them to spiritual maturity.
Perfection.
In Scripture, the word often translated as “perfect” means “of full age” or “mature.”
That is certainly the case when Paul gives his reason for preaching: “that we may present every man perfect [spiritually mature] in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28).
Paul’s goal was to teach everyone so they might be mature in Christ.
Our goal ought to be heaven.
Those who have been born again, nourished in the Word, grow in grace and knowledge, and reach this state of spiritual maturity will make it there.
Not everyone makes it to spiritual maturity—they might pass before getting there.
As long as we are on that path to maturity, our home will be in heaven.
But we cannot stop being nourished and we cannot stop growing lest we die and miss our chance at heaven.
At no point will we have “made it.”
At no point will we be at a point where we no longer need to grow.
That is easier for some than others, but we should always strive to be better than we are today!
God’s judgment is perfect, so if you have been born again and are diligently seeking to grow, heaven awaits!
Conclusion.
All of our new converts need to be treated with patience and love.
We love all of you just as God loves you.
We want to see you in heaven one day just as God does.
Please note that anything we might say about a behavior or belief that isn’t quite right and needs to change is done out of a place of love.
For those of you who are more mature, don’t make a liar out of me!
Do your best to make sure what you say to them cannot be misconstrued as anything other than a loving admonition.
We are a family and should treat each other as family.
I know some may have had a dysfunctional family—not talking about that.
If we do not have a healthy example of a family to base this on, based it on Jesus and the Golden Rule.
We should treat them as we would want to be treated (Matt. 7:12).
Let’s keep in mind 1 Timothy 5:1-2 – we are the family of God!
We love you, old and young alike.
But we are not of that family unless we have been born again.
Help those of us who have been born again to continue to grow to be that mature man or woman in the faith!