I will preface this blog with a statement of fact...I'm not a pastor-teacher, theological/Biblical scholar, nor claim to be some spiritual giant. So, here we go...
Our viewpoints in life change over time through experience, education, physical abilities, and interactions with others. Hopefully, as we age, we become wiser and our viewpoints are more tolerant of the nonessential differences (e.g. ethnic, political) and less tolerant of essential differences (e.g. law and order, respect for privacy). We should also become more gracious in our treatment of others. The same should be true when it comes to our our spiritual maturity. The more we learn from our Bible studies and grow in grace, the less we should be concerned with the flaws of those around us and the greater our focus should be on God and on sharing the gospel.
As we grow spiritually, we also grow into a deeper understanding of God’s original intent in
His communication (the scriptures). That being said, I believe God’s word can take on a broader more encompassing meaning which I think of in terms of hues, similar to the way we think of color hues. God's word can cast various hues of meaning depending on the viewpoint of the reader. This viewpoint is affected by numerous aspects of the Christian life including: level of spiritual maturity, circumstances of life (e.g. prosperity vs, suffering), whether applying it to a group or an individual, and dispensational distinctions (e.g. Israel vs. the Church). So, often the apparent change in meaning is often simply a broadening of application or changing of the hue, if you will. To me, this highlights God’s ability to communicate His will for our life in a highly efficient way; one verse. one interpretation, and multiple applications.
As an example of this change of hue or broadening of understanding is the subject of faith in God. It became one of the most influential discoveries for me. The idea that faith was more than the path to our positional, imputed righteousness (salvation) but it also counted to us as experiential righteousness (Christian walk). The positional truth of being “in Christ” means we share his perfect righteousness which allows God to give us eternal life in His presence. In addition, exercising our faith in God and His promises in our experiential life as a Christian is counted to us by God as righteousness.
As an example of this change of hue or broadening of understanding is the subject of faith in God. It became one of the most influential discoveries for me. The idea that faith was more than the path to our positional, imputed righteousness (salvation) but it also counted to us as experiential righteousness (Christian walk). The positional truth of being “in Christ” means we share his perfect righteousness which allows God to give us eternal life in His presence. In addition, exercising our faith in God and His promises in our experiential life as a Christian is counted to us by God as righteousness.
One illustration is given to us by the apostle Paul in his letter to the believers in Rome. Abraham’s post salvation (salvation identified by his circumcision) faith in God’s promises was counted to him as righteousness (Romans 4:5). It was at this point of doctrinal recognition, that faith in God (Him, His Word, and His Grace) became my mantra and Hebrews my book of choice.
At some point along the way, I Corinthians 13:13 drew my attention. Since the time I had begun to focus primarily on faith and grace in my own life, I had subsequently come to believe that hope was merely a stronger exercise of faith. A more absolute form of faith, or full trust in God if you will, and one that assured actionable conduct (e.g. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac while continuing to believe God would create a great people through him). If that is the case, hope being a stronger version of faith, then Paul’s list of three, putting Love at the top as Christ specified in Matthew 22: 37-39, led me to believe the three constituted echelons or stages of Christian maturity.
At first blush love doesn’t seem to fit as a form of faith, since faith seems to be passive and love is thought of as active. The more I considered the three “stages,” the more I realized their progression was a natural one. While faith requires no human effort, it’s growth becomes hope, which spurs action, and eventually becomes a manner of living, expressed by love. So it is faith in God and His grace that allows us to obey His commandments to Love God and love others.
In keeping with the idea of passive and active, we should consider the roles in the Christian life that stem from our two positions, as a believer priest and as an ambassador for Christ. The strength of our positive witness to the world, both seen and unseen, is wholly dependent on the level of our spiritual maturity. Our priesthood allows us to grow in grace and faith through our intimate relation with God. Our ambassadorship is our charge, by God, to be a beacon of light in this darkened world. The growth wrought of our priesthood and the faith exercised in it becomes a brighter light of ambassadorship in Satan’s world.
Another interesting "discovery" helped reinforce my belief in these as stages, or progressions, of spiritual maturity came from the order and subject of the books Hebrews through John’s epistles. Hebrews preaches faith, James talks of faith strong enough to incite action, Peter describes faith tested (i.e. strengthen to its strongest), and John speaks of the resulting love.
At some point along the way, I Corinthians 13:13 drew my attention. Since the time I had begun to focus primarily on faith and grace in my own life, I had subsequently come to believe that hope was merely a stronger exercise of faith. A more absolute form of faith, or full trust in God if you will, and one that assured actionable conduct (e.g. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac while continuing to believe God would create a great people through him). If that is the case, hope being a stronger version of faith, then Paul’s list of three, putting Love at the top as Christ specified in Matthew 22: 37-39, led me to believe the three constituted echelons or stages of Christian maturity.
At first blush love doesn’t seem to fit as a form of faith, since faith seems to be passive and love is thought of as active. The more I considered the three “stages,” the more I realized their progression was a natural one. While faith requires no human effort, it’s growth becomes hope, which spurs action, and eventually becomes a manner of living, expressed by love. So it is faith in God and His grace that allows us to obey His commandments to Love God and love others.
In keeping with the idea of passive and active, we should consider the roles in the Christian life that stem from our two positions, as a believer priest and as an ambassador for Christ. The strength of our positive witness to the world, both seen and unseen, is wholly dependent on the level of our spiritual maturity. Our priesthood allows us to grow in grace and faith through our intimate relation with God. Our ambassadorship is our charge, by God, to be a beacon of light in this darkened world. The growth wrought of our priesthood and the faith exercised in it becomes a brighter light of ambassadorship in Satan’s world.
Another interesting "discovery" helped reinforce my belief in these as stages, or progressions, of spiritual maturity came from the order and subject of the books Hebrews through John’s epistles. Hebrews preaches faith, James talks of faith strong enough to incite action, Peter describes faith tested (i.e. strengthen to its strongest), and John speaks of the resulting love.
I realize this example of an apparent hue change, to I Corinthians 13:13, is rather drawn out. It might behoove me to offer another example of broadening understanding without too much commentary from me. So here it goes...one promise that pops into my head that always seems to mean more as we progress in our spiritual understanding. That promise is the one clearly stated in Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." We've all claimed this promise with a short term view however, as he held securely to that promise, I know Jacob couldn’t see Christ’s birth when Laban saddled him with Leah yet, the entire world celebrates the descendant of Judah no less than twice a year.
