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TIME. How much time is necessary to grow from “Babyhood” to “Maturity?”. Justification We all enter into God’s plan as “Babies”. God’s Plan. Phase I. Glorification Final stage of becoming like Christ. God’s Plan. Phase III. Ultimately Like Christ. Ultimately
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TIME How much time is necessary to grow from “Babyhood” to “Maturity?”
Justification We all enter into God’s plan as “Babies” God’s Plan • Phase I
Glorification Final stage of becoming like Christ God’s Plan • Phase III
Ultimately Like Christ Ultimately Like Christ Babyhood God’s Plan What happens between Phase I and Phase III? Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, . . . Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, . . . . Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, . . .
Maturity 100 Ultimately Like Christ Sanctification Growing into the likeness of Christ o Babyhood God’s Plan • Phase II
Time – How Much? • Does God tell us how much time this transformation process will take? • Are we able to discover any answers in scripture? Galatians 1:17-18 . . . . . I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, . . .
What happened? • Paul was in training for the ministry under the personal instruction of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but {I received it} through a revelation of Jesus Christ. • For three years Jesus Christ was “revealing” to Paul with the purpose of preparing him for ministry.
Total training time? • 3 years – 24 hours every day – 26,208 hours • 3 years – 8 hours every day – 8,736 hours • 3 years – 12 hours every day – 13,104 hours
Total training time? If Paul studied 12 hours every day for the three years he was instructed by Jesus Christ, his Teacher, it took 13,104 hours • to renew Paul’s mind,(Romans 12:2) • for Paul to grow from “babyhood” to Christian Maturity,(Hebrews 6:1) • to prepare Paul for the ministry God the Father had set in His plan for him in eternity past.
Should we expect any less? Day Week Year 13,104 hours 3 hrs. 21 hrs. 1092 hrs. – 12 years 2 hrs. 14 hrs. 728 hrs. – 18 years – 36 years 1 hr. 7 hrs. 364 hrs. – 84 years 3 hrs. 156 hrs. 2 hrs. 104 hrs. – 126 years 1 hr. 52 hrs. – 253 years
The Body of Christ • What would you say is the maturity level of the Body of Christ as a whole?
The Body of Christ • Is it any wonder 95% PLUS of those who call themselves Christian today are wandering around aimlessly in spiritual bankruptcy?
The Body of Christ • If you were to be honest with yourself, where are you on the “Zero” (babyhood) to “100” (maturity) scale? Add up your hours.