‎"Why is it that so many professing Christians make no spiritual progress, and indeed make no efforts to grow in grace? Why? Because they care nothing about it! To take up a �mere profession� is all they desire; but to proceed from one degree of piety to another; to grow in grace � is no part of their desire... Is it possible to be a Christian and yet destitute of this desire to grow in grace? No, it is not! I tell you, it is not! If you have no concern to grow in grace � there is no grace in you! You are a piece of dead wood � and not a living branch! You are a spiritual corpse � and not a living man! In this state there can be no growth � for dead things never grow!" - John Angell James, "Christian Progress"
Jesus gave the prime example through His parable of the sower...
Luke 8:10�And he [Jesus] said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.�
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.�
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.�
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.�
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.�
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Bob, now I know why I don't answer many of your questions...they often do not make sense. �I have to wonder sometimes if you understand the question you are asking.
I wrote: "We SHOULD mature in our faith; however, the Bible clearly shows there were many Christians who did not "
Bob wrote: "Prove that they were TRUE Christians and then prove that they NEVER matured. Show it and prove it."
Me: The Bible explains it...no further explanation is necessary. �Read the verses that were posted.
Bob wrote: "Your first case only shows some mature faster than others. Fine. Does not prove the first half of your statement."
Me: the first half of my statement was "we SHOULD mature in our faith". What don't you understand about that?
Bob wrote: "Your parable shows 3 hearers who were not true christians and the last one who went on to patient maturity. Proves my point - not yours."
Me: it's not my parable or explanation.. It is Jesus's. �Either you're a Christian or not a Christian...just some are better Christians than others. �I know people who are Christians but don't have as close a walk as others...they let things of the world interfere.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,�
*****this is addressing Christians that have sin in their lives
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.�
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.�
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
�6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?�
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bast@rds, and not sons.
�9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
�10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
�11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
***** we wouldn't need to be chastised as Christians if we didn't sin...my Heavenly Father chastises/punishes me if I sin just like my earthly father did when I was a child. �We learn and grow through proper discipline...sometimes we learn the lesson and grow right away, sometimes we don't.
The statement is made several times I proved you, you did not prove, no man proves the validity of the word of God it stands alone and needs no defense.
The statement is used as to true Christians, where does this kind of statement come from you are either in the family of God, or you are not.
Concerning The parable of the sower Jesus made it very clear to anyone one who would hear the word of God.
The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word�s sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
The untrue statement was made as in support of the post, there is no question there should always be growth, but the absurd justification that if one does not grow they are not a Christian, such a statement is in complete denial of what the word of God teaches.
In the parable as it is revealed here all people heard and received the word of God only one group continued.
