Today, focus is on language throughout the Bible that describes adult believers in Jesus Christ as children and “little ones.” Spoken of as adoption by the Spirit, being tried in a refiner’s fire (i.e., judgment), rebirth, purification, and sanctification, there is a profound divine process that a sinner must endure to become ripe (mature), and be harvested from the earth at the coming of the Savior as someone who has been purchased by his living ministry, his dying on the cross, and his rule as Risen Lord. Salvation is not a discrete episode or “one-time” event; and there must be discovery, gradual growth, acquisition of sacred knowledge, and the performance of godly works through ones lifestyle and routine living. A fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “2FollowHim” (Level 7 with 122,626 points, a member since January 24, 2010) posted the following:
Christians, could you elaborate?
1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not be shaped by the desires that used to influence you when you were ignorant
And why would he use the terms obedient children?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. (Luke 17: 1-2, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Becoming Joined To GOD (10/13/2017);
Rebirth, Growth and Transformation (09/29/2017); No Repentance Without Rebirth? (12/14/2016); His Children Are Sanctified (10/12/2016); Heirs of The Cross? (04/01/2016); Offspring of GOD? (12/23/2015); The Seed of the Wicked (10/27/2015)
“2FollowHim”, those who belong to GOD should be recognizable by their humility, obedience, and reverence togodward. Continuing the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Apostles frequently addressed full-grown adults of the early church as “children” and “little ones.” Being members joined to the body of Christ, developing believers at first are to be given guidance, instruction, and support as though they are infants, “born again,” and totally dependent. These “new born babes” who once were sinners must “grow up again,” acquire sacred knowledge and become ripe for harvest while facing challenges, “growing pains,” opposition, and suffering on the earth. All believers are to undergo multiple permanent changes in their character and makeup through the imparted Holy Spirit. In water baptism, the inborn spirit of those seeking GOD is carried through a form of death, burial, and resurrection. More than this, sinners are endowed with spirit content from the makeup of GOD (divine DNA, so to speak), and become heirs, offspring, and the sons and daughters of GOD. Their transformation to exist as immortal, incorruptible companions of divinity will begin while on the earth, and be completed in the air, “in the twinkling of an eye,” at the Lord’s appearing that many call the Advent, the harvest, the Rapture, and the Second Coming. With this in view, the great diversity among Christian believers is understood as resulting largely through the differences in their duties, knowledge, levels of maturity, and their specific spiritual gifts. Consider again the following:
(1.) John 3: 1-12, King James Version (KJV): 1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
(2.) 1st Peter 2: 1-10, KJV: 1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
(3.) Ephesians 2: 1-5, KJV: 1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Galatians 4: 19-29, KJV: 19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, 20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. 21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.) I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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