Paul tells us in Galatians 5:25 that if we live in the Spirit or are made alive by the Spirit we should walk in the Spirit.
Being made alive by the Spirit is instantaneous and requires receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord by faith. Walking in the Spirit is also an act of faith BUT it requires your cooperation.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:6
The spiritual new birth (born again) is in many ways like the natural birth.
Once a baby is born, the infant will experience natural phenomenon with natural senses. They will experience their material surroundings with the ears, eyes, nose, emotions, and feelings. They will also begin to grow in reasoning and logic.
It is the same with the Spiritual birth. The spiritual baby made alive in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit will become spiritually aware. There is a sensitivity to spiritual phenomena. The Holy Spirit takes up residence within the new born child of God.
The spiritual new birth experience is a requirement for salvation. Unless one has this experience they may believe intellectually in Jesus Christ as Savior but are not really saved. They are simply religious “Christians” or Christians in name only.
The test of a true Christian is examining the fruit. A true Christian will walk like their Savior and Lord.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lust. Galatians 5:22-24
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:6
You can find out more concerning this topic in this blog.
When the new born Christian is made alive in Christ, the spiritual senses begin to operate. There is a sensitivity to the spiritual realm. That realm is where the Spirit of God operates. While God is sovereign and supreme and his works are in the earth he is a Spirit. The Spirit of God requires worship in spirit and in truth.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
Unless one is born of the Spirit they cannot enter into God’s kingdom.
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. John 3:3
The kingdom of God is both a natural reality and a spiritual reality.
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:20-21
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17
In the same way that it takes time to grow as a baby in this material world, it also takes time to grow from a spiritual baby to a mature Christian.
The natural baby upon entrance into this world is hungry for the mother’s milk. The Baby requires dutiful attention and a constant change of diapers.
It is much the same with the spiritual baby
The spiritual baby becomes hungry for the milk of the word and requires dutiful attention.
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. 1 Peter 2:2
The new born baby should be mentored for growth. This can come through a pastor, a more mature Christian, Christian books, Christian ministries.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:18
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
Like the natural newborn baby, the spiritual new born baby needs diaper changes. The rubbish of the world begins to fall away. The mind is renewed by the word of God. Old sinful habits are replaced with godly habits.
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Ephesians 4: 23,32
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14
Sometimes those diapers stink really bad. It is good to remember that those coming out of sin may not be so pleasant to be around. They might have a lot of issues that God has to deal with. It requires much patience in discipling new born spiritual babes in Christ. Old ways take time to be put off and cast out.
It is important for the spiritual babe to be nourished and loved just like a natural baby. Other wise the infant may get sick, feel rejection, suffer neglect, or be stunted in growth.
Not to mention the fact that growing up is painful. Growing pains actually hurt physically for a child. Also, the young Christian may be emotionally needy for a time, demanding and even sometimes rebellious. It is all a part of growing up.
We need to keep this in mind when disciplining spiritual babes in Christ.
Another point I would like to make is that walking requires time too. A child first crawls then stumbles around when they are learning to walk. Even having a few tumbles.
This is why Jesus said, ‘judge nothing before the time’ and let the wheat and tares grow together until harvest time. A babe in Christ may be mistaken for a tare or a false Christian.
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 1 Corinthians 4:5
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Matthew 13:30
In conclusion, one must be born again to become a child of God. Then when one is made alive in Christ they must grow in Christ. Growing requires learning to walk in the Spirit.
I will cover more on this topic in my next blog.
To learn about being made alive in Christ check out this blog!
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