I feel I can’t grow in the faith , so do you have any way to grow in the faith every day ? I read the bible everyday but what next ?
Sanctification? What would you say the doctrine of sanctification is?
Direct command to grow in Christ.
~2 Peter 3:18 explicitly enjoins increase in relational and doctrinal depth: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Organic growth imagery, increase, fruitfulness, rooting, and abounding.
~Ephesians 4:15 speaks of corporate maturation “may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”
~Colossians 1:10 frames growth as Godward productivity “being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
~Colossians 2:6–7 presents rootedness and stability in Christ as the matrix of growth.
~Colossians 2:19 describes the body “increaseth with the increase of God.”
~1 Peter 2:2 commands desire for the word “that ye may grow thereby.”
~1 Corinthians 3:6–7 attributes all true increase to God.
~2 Corinthians 9:10 speaks of God multiplying seed and “increase the fruits of your righteousness.”
~Philippians 1:11 depicts believers “filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ.”
~Philippians 1:25 refers to “furtherance and joy of faith.”
~1 Thessalonians 3:12 prays that the Lord “make you to increase and abound in love.”
~1 Thessalonians 4:1 urges believers to “abound more and more.”
~2 Thessalonians 1:3 commends faith that “groweth exceedingly.”
Maturity versus infancy, perfection, full stature.
~Ephesians 4:13 aims at “a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”
~Hebrews 6:1 calls believers to “go on unto perfection.”
~Hebrews 5:12–14 contrasts milk and strong meat, identifying maturity with trained discernment.
~1 Corinthians 14:20 exhorts “in understanding be men.”
~1 Corinthians 13:11 uses developmental transition from child to adult as a paradigm.
~Colossians 1:28 speaks of presenting every man “perfect in Christ Jesus.”
Transformation into Christ’s likeness, glory, obedience.
~2 Corinthians 3:18 describes progressive transformation “into the same image from glory to glory.”
~Romans 12:2 commands renewal of the mind resulting in discernment of God’s will.
~Romans 8:29 grounds growth teleologically in conformity to the image of the Son.
~Galatians 4:19 portrays apostolic labor “until Christ be formed in you.”
~Philippians 3:12–14 depicts pressing forward toward eschatological completion.
~Colossians 3:10 speaks of the new man “renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”
Edification and strengthening in faith and love.
~Acts 20:32 commends believers to God and the word of his grace “which is able to build you up.”
~Jude 20 exhorts believers to be “building up yourselves on your most holy faith.”
~Ephesians 3:16–19 prays for inner strengthening, rooted love, and experiential knowledge of Christ.
~Colossians 2:7 again speaks of being “stablished in the faith.”
~2 Thessalonians 1:3 and ~1 Thessalonians 3:12 as noted above highlight faith and love expansion.
Abiding and continuing as the condition of growth.
~John 15:4–5 locates fruitfulness in abiding in Christ.
~Colossians 1:23 calls believers to “continue in the faith grounded and settled.”
~Acts 2:42 depicts persevering in apostolic doctrine and fellowship as the pattern of growth.
Sanctification and progressive holiness.
~1 Thessalonians 4:3 identifies sanctification as God’s will.
~2 Corinthians 7:1 calls believers to “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
~Hebrews 12:14 urges pursuit of holiness.
~Ephesians 4:22–24 describes progressive putting off and putting on in renewed righteousness.
Perseverance under trial as refining growth.
~James 1:2–4 frames testing as producing patience and completeness.
~Romans 5:3–5 outlines tribulation producing experience and hope.
Taken together, these passages show that growth in Christ is not a single linear metric but a multidimensional reality involving doctrinal deepening, ethical transformation, corporate unity, affective enlargement in love, perseverance through suffering, and increasing conformity to the crucified and risen Lord. The grammar of growth is both imperative and indicative: believers are commanded to grow, yet the increase is repeatedly attributed to God, who through the word and Spirit conforms them to Christ.
Hope this is helpful brother.
J.
First thing, stop trying to ‘ feel ‘ God.
2nd, get involved in a church, join whjat ever area needs help.
3rd join who ever in your church does street preaching or evangelism.
Paul uses two illustrations of mature Christians that of an Olympic athlete and of a fully trained soldier.
Both are the result of strict and hard training.
So yes read your bible, be involved in your local church, but also read apologetics, read theology, study the bible with a bible commentary, follow missionary societies and pray for the missionaries, spend time praying for Christians in need etc etc
To grow you need biblical meat so listen to sound biblical teaching like:- https://www.mljtrust.org/
follow blogs like wintery knight, or coldcaschristianity or web sites like answersingenesis.
1 Like
Immerse yourself in the bible. Many people do not understand the supernatural aspect of God’s word/ As you gain knowledge, you can get understanding and with understanding you can see wisdom.
Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
For the Christian, growth is not a matter of trying harder to be good; it is the systematic process of the Holy Spirit making you in practice what God has already declared you to be in position. This is the outworking of the Hagiasmos (Sanctification) we discussed, and it involves several specific biblical actions.
Present Your Body as a Living Sacrifice
Growth begins with a decisive act of the will. In Romans 12:1, Paul beseeches believers to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy (hagios), acceptable unto God.” The Greek word for “present” is parastēsai, which is a technical term used for a priest placing an offering on an altar. Unlike the Old Testament sacrifices that were dead, you are called to be a “living” sacrifice. This means that every day, you consciously place your members, your eyes, your hands, your mind, under the authority of Christ. You grow when you stop trying to “use” God for your well-being and start “offering” yourself for His holiness.
The Renewing of the Mind
True growth is internal before it is external. Romans 12:2 commands, “be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The word for “transformed” is metamorphoō, the same word used for the Transfiguration of Jesus. This transformation happens through the “renewing” (anakainōsis) of the mind. As you saturate your mind with the Logos, the Holy Spirit physically and spiritually changes your “mindset” (Metanoia). You begin to see sin as God sees it and the Cross as your only hope. This is why daily immersion in the scriptures is non-negotiable; you cannot grow beyond the level of the Truth you know and believe.
Walking in the Spirit
In Galatians 5:16, the scripture says, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” The verb “walk” is peripateite, which refers to one’s daily conduct and habit of life. It is a present tense command, meaning it is a moment-by-moment dependence. Growing in the faith means learning to “keep step” with the Spirit. When the Spirit prompts you through the Word to be silent, you are silent. When He prompts you to speak, you speak. This is the practical application of Shuv (turning)-constantly adjusting your direction to stay in alignment with God’s path.
Exercising Yourself unto Godliness
Growth requires spiritual discipline. 1 Timothy 4:7 says, “exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” The Greek word for “exercise” is gymnadze, from which we get the word “gymnasium.” It implies rigorous training. This includes the “means of grace”:
Prayer (Proseuchomai): Not just asking for things, but communion with the Father.
Fellowship (Koinōnia): The “cutting” and sharpening that happens when the Approved (Dokimoi) gather together.
The Lord’s Supper: Re-centering the soul on the finished work of the Cross.
Abiding in the Vine
Finally, and most importantly, you grow by “abiding.” Jesus says in John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” The word “abide” (menō) means to remain or stay attached.
Growth is the natural byproduct of a branch staying connected to the source of life. You don’t “work” to produce fruit; the fruit is the result of the life of Christ flowing through you. You grow in faith by constantly reminding yourself of 2 Corinthians 5:21-that you are “the righteousness of God in Him.” When you rest in that finished work, the power of the Spirit naturally produces the growth that God requires.
J.
For me its responding to what I’ve read in the Bible. Even if I don’t feel like it. Even if it seems to hard. For example: I once had a verbal confrontation with a man and it really annoyed me. I was angry and wanted to respond. But I remembered what Jesus said. “pray for those who spitefully use you.”
”But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” Matthew 5:44
So I did. I prayed for him and at first it was just words, but God used my obedience to change my heart and soon I meant every word. I find that when we step out in what He says, we find He is faithful. He can’t be anything but faithful. It’s a win win. And then as I find in my experience how faithful He is, my faith in Him grows.
You are a good disciple of the lord Jesus Christ. I hope one day I became as you did in those situations. Amen.
Thank you Keith. I mentioned a time when I was successful. I didn’t tell you about the times I’m not. I still got a lot of growing to do.
2 Likes
Let God move. Learn to listen. I have found that God can teach us through everything that happens in our lives, from both the big events and the most mundane, if we humble ourselves like small children, as hungering students, and engage each happening with thoughtfulness, pondering as the Virgin Mary did when she learned she was with child. With an understanding that the Mystery is Vast, far greater than us. But we are still called into it.
Not that we willfully shut out every thought that seems frightening or challenging to us in some degree. But to allow our minds to be engaged with the Holy Spirit who provokes us to become kinder, more LOVING, braver in some instances, to grow in both depth and Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness., in all the ways we engage the world and in how God engages the world through us.
God does teach us, provokes us toward difficult subject matter for which there are no easy or simple answers. And maybe in this, we glean a healthy empathy and respect for these complexities which leads us to focus more on the healing aspect of our calling than the kinds of harsh judgements and rulings that ultimately cut people off from life. Instead of flatly telling people they are going to hell and putting up a wall between us, them and God, we might lower the walls and walk with them and let God’s Spirit move and do what It has come to do. Inspire, Restore, Heal, Forgive, Convict, and Save, Bringing the Dead to Life, and Giving Birth to a New Creation.