WHAT IS LIFE ALL ABOUT?
GOD’S GROWTH PROCESS: BABE TO SALVATION
Earthly-fleshly children begin as babies who know nothing, who must be fed, washed, clothed and coddled. Eventually they recognize voices, and begin to learn language and the difference between right and wrong from those around them. That’s flesh. What about Spirit?
It’s similar. All people — even those who are 80 years old in the flesh — are merely babes of the world who know nothing of God. So, to become a child of God and grow in His Word, what needs to happen? People need to recognize God’s voice, hear God’s language, and understand from Him the difference between good and evil.
Taking in the milk of The Father’s voice — in the books of Moses and the Prophets — is the first part of God’s spiritual growth process. His process goes from babes, to children, to young men, to fathers in the Word who bring up babes for God. People go through God’s process in this life to be with Him in the next, and are required to persevere in His process to the end. Here is a summary:
- children … your sins are forgiven … you know the Father 1Jn 2:12,13
- young men … strong … word of God abides in you … you have overcome the evil one 1Jn 2:14
- fathers … you know Him who has been from the beginning 1Jn 2:13,14
- it is the one who has endured to the end* who will be saved Mt 10:22 *in His growth process
What is God doing? He is building His own family by Spirit, not according to the flesh. In God’s family, He is The Father, invisible on the throne in heaven; the Mother and womb is new Jerusalem above. People become children in His family by being born again — born a second time — not by flesh and blood but rather by God’s Word and Spirit in His growth process. Jesus said:
- That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Jn 3:6
- Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Jn 3:5
- My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it. Lk 8:21
- For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother. Mt 12:50; Mk 3:35