Human beings are not born fully grown; neither is the child of God. Neither is faith. Neither is the knowledge of God, His Word, Way and Will. Neither is the saint’s ability to utilize his God-given faith and knowledge to overcome Satan “even as  I (Jesus) overcame” him (Rev. 3:21) and to “walk even as He (Jesus) walked” while on earth as a man (1 Jn. 2:6).

Relative to the spiritual growth the Lord requires of salvation-seekers, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrew Christians (5:8-6:1) that, being human, Jesus had to LEARN OBEDIENCE and be MADE PERFECT in order to become the Author of salvation to those who OBEY HIM. Paul told the Israelite Christians that they were hard of hearing and needed to be taught the first principles of the gospel AGAIN, that because they were content with spiritual milk they were rejecting the strong meat that would bring them to spiritual maturity and enable them to discern good and evil. He then demanded that they leave the “elementary principles of the doctrine of Christ (spiritual milk) and go on (grow into) to perfection (maturity).” Paul was telling them that in order to enter God’s kingdom upon Christ’s return they must continue to grow in faith, that, just as a human cannot remain on human milk and expect to live, they could not remain on the spiritual milk and live eternally. In other words: THE BELIEVER’S FAITH MUST GROW IN ORDER TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE.

Paul commended the saints in the church at Thessalonica because “your faith GROWS EXCEEDINGLY” (1 Thes. 1:3). In James 2:14-20,26 the apostle tells Christians among the twelve Tribes of Israel scattered throughout the known world (1:1) that faith without works of faith was dead and could not save them, that they must prove their faith through righteous works, and that to have faith without such works  made them no better than devils. Note it: Professing Christians are as spiritually dead as Satan’s angels if they have faith without works of righteousness–obedience to God’s Word. See Faith Versus Works. James told the people that they must submit to the Lord, and in so doing, resist the devil. Submission to God and resistance to Satan takes effort (works) on our part. God did not resist Satan for Jesus and will not do it for us. Satan is powerful and persistent. We must resist him by the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in us. The Apostle Peter seconds James’ admonition in his first letter to converted Israelites– “strangers” scattered throughout the world (5:8-10)–telling them to be sober and vigilant because Satan sought to spiritually devour them. The were to resist him steadfastly using their God-given faith, assured that God would strengthen them unto victory over their enemy. Only through continuous growth can we make our faith perfect, Abraham being an excellent example as James tells us.

“Was not Abraham justified by works when he offered Isaac his son upon the alter? See how his faith brought about his works and (his faith) was thereby made perfect …. Abraham believed God (believed His Words) and righteousness was imputed to him because of his faith …. by works (of righteousness) man is justified AND NOT BY FAITH ALONE …. SO FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD” (Jam. 2:21-26). Question: If Abraham had believed God but had not obeyed Him, would he be called the father of the faith? The Counterfeit Church claims to believe God’s Words but refuses to obey them, making her faith as dead as a body without a spirit (Jam. 2:26). God established this website to bring to light the fact that the whole of professing Christendom is dead, “having a form of godliness but denying the (faith-giving) power thereof” (2 Tim. 3:5). Due to his faith, Abraham is called God’s friend. We can become God’s friend only by spending much time with Him in prayer and Bible study. In so doing we “draw near to Him” (Jam. 4:8-10). Paul admonishes us to “pray without ceasing”–to remain in continuous contact with God (1 Thes. 5:17). After all, ONENESS WITH HIM IS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. To be continued. L.J.