 |
|
First of all, let me make a distinction: Being immature and being child-like in Christ are two very different and opposite conditions. One is the starting point of the Salvation lifestyle; the other refers to the character our walk with God and others is developing within us. We all Believers begin as immature, but we each have different stages and seasons of where we are in becoming child-like in Christ. One is a fact, the second is an option; but trust and believe, one does NOT equal the second…which is a different teaching for a different time. If you want a taste of what I am speaking of, go to this blog for more info.
One of the next reasons it is absolutely vital for us to grow up is because as difficult as it is to grasp, some individuals prey on spiritually immature people. There are individuals who look for and create scam theologies and philosophies that deceive the spiritually and mentally weak. Although the Apostle Paul’s words don’t state it in this passage, the primary reasons these deceitful men of cunning and trickery do this is for personal profit, pleasure, and power. The Apostle Peter calls them “false teachers,” and has this to say in various places of 2 Peter chapter 2 (taken from the New Living Translation of the Bible),
“Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.”
and
“These people are proud and arrogant…”
and
“They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight... They delight in deception…”
and
“They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed…”
and
“They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.”
Wow. Did you grasp that last part?? “…they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.” Do you see why spiritual maturity is vital?? The biggest problem with deception is that you usually don’t realize when you are being deceived. This is why it is so very important to place heavy emphasis on being grounded in the truth of our Faith and Salvation, and growing into full maturity. Decide today that it’s time to grow up!
Seeking to Grow my Walk with God and Others,
Dawn~
One of the next reasons it is absolutely vital for us to grow up is because as difficult as it is to grasp, some individuals prey on spiritually immature people. There are individuals who look for and create scam theologies and philosophies that deceive the spiritually and mentally weak. Although the Apostle Paul’s words don’t state it in this passage, the primary reasons these deceitful men of cunning and trickery do this is for personal profit, pleasure, and power. The Apostle Peter calls them “false teachers,” and has this to say in various places of 2 Peter chapter 2 (taken from the New Living Translation of the Bible),
“Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.”
and
“These people are proud and arrogant…”
and
“They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight... They delight in deception…”
and
“They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed…”
and
“They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.”
Wow. Did you grasp that last part?? “…they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.” Do you see why spiritual maturity is vital?? The biggest problem with deception is that you usually don’t realize when you are being deceived. This is why it is so very important to place heavy emphasis on being grounded in the truth of our Faith and Salvation, and growing into full maturity. Decide today that it’s time to grow up!
Seeking to Grow my Walk with God and Others,
Dawn~
RSS Feed
