Series #1: What does it mean to be a ‘Jesus Follower’?
Welcome to this Christian Foundation Blog!
Series One: ‘The Foundations of Following Jesus’
SESSION 1: What is Biblical Growth?
However, as we approach this Blog on Christian Foundations, the first thing we need to consider is why even read this blog? What have you expected ….what do you think this blog is about? Good questions but before we even look at the topics and series ahead, we want to set the firm idea that being a ‘Jesus Follower’ is all about change! What? Change ….how and what? …… then why?
1. First of all, God wants us to grow; all living things grow and change.
To stop growing —- > static, death. Father God designed One perfect model of a Human Being – Jesus! He expects and helps us grow into the image of Jesus:
2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
2. We are all called to become the person God created us to be.
When we make our spiritual life in Christ a priority, everything else falls into place, Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well”.
We need to learn to expect, accept and help create Holy Spirit ‘transformation’ in our Christian growth. This is what being a ‘Jesus Follower’ is all about!
3. Christian growth is different from the World’s drive for change.
We are NOT teaching you how to be conformed to some religious outer life; nor are we talking about growth for our personal comfort. We are being transformed into ‘new creatures’ in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17.
4. Some people may need Counselling and Mentoring for Change to happen.
Counselling may be necessary for some people, because they have been very damaged by circumstances. The Counsellor’s job is to apply bandaids, until they are patched up enough to ‘die to Self’, where the real Freedom is, Matthew 10:39. Then they need to find the real Way to Life and Growth through an intimate relationship with Jesus, John 14:6.
Being ‘Born Again’ is only part of the Journey!
1. The Meaning of ‘Being Saved’:
a. ‘Soteria’ is a New Testament Greek word meaning “To be made WHOLE, to be delivered, made safe, preserved from destruction”. It is a word that, both infers completeness and an on-going process. 1
b. We are in need of salvation from the evil world, from ourselves and from the Enemy who wants us destroyed. It is God’s intention “to make us whole”, in spirit, soul and (future) body.
2. Why did Creator God plan this process?
The purpose of such a ‘bargain of love’ is that He would have a people of His own, adopted as Sons. We are to grow into the image of His first human Son, Jesus. We are a royal priesthood: a living, holy building which God can inhabit with us, 1 Corinthians 3:16,17; 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16.
3. True, Jesus finished His work when He joined Father God in heaven.
Jesus’ redemption work is applied to our past. It is accomplished on the cross of Calvary – Galatians 3:13, Romans 3:24, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19. It is applied to our present, an ongoing process as we walk with God – Titus 2:14. It is applied to our future, to be fully accomplished at the Second Coming of Jesus – Romans 8:22-23, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:52.
4. Legal vs. Experiential – paid for, but yet a process.
This salvation and redemption has been legally given to us by what Jesus has done at the Cross. He has fulfilled all God’s requirements 1 Peter 1:20, Hebrews 9:14, John 6:38. However, just like Israel in the Promised Land, we must ‘claim’ the territory and ‘fight’ for our freedom. There were some 33,000 promises given to Israel by God. They would never have prospered if they hadn’t taken that first step into the Land.
“Soteria” is an event! It was all done at the Cross, John 19:30 ……but it is also process, a journey as well! (Philippians. 2:12)
5. We are to grow as part of the Refining process.
Christians do have The Answer to Life’s problems! God expects us to go through a refining process of growth; it’s the norm not the exception! Salvation is Father God’s plan of rescuing His creation from the effects of sin and rebellion. It is two-fold: both a legal standing we have with Him and an experiential one in practical living, an everyday process.
In our next post, we shall look at some barriers that stop some people from growth, how to shape our own growth and practicing the rituals that keep growth going. So, join us then.
Susanne Fengler, Blog Editor
www.christianfoundations.jesus-treeoflife.info
Tags: being a Jesus Follower
Filed under: Foundations of our Faith, Series #1: Being a Jesus Follower
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