Growth in Life unto New Jerusalem
On our course to New Jerusalem, repentance to receive forgiveness is necessary. With forgiveness we receive the eternal life, which also is necessary. After receiving the life, we need to grow and mature in this life.
What is growth in the divine, eternal life? Eternal life is Christ Himself. Growth in this life is more of Christ and less of our self.
Growth is more of Christ and less of our personality manifested in our living. This is Galatians 2:20, “…it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me…”
This growth is not by our natural effort to change our behavior. Rather, we need to be nourished with Christ as spiritual food for our growth, just like a human child needs nourishment to grow.
Along with the nourishment, we need to deny ourself. This is ongoing; Jesus told us, “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily” (Luke 9:23). To deny the self is to turn our heart to the Lord (2 Cor. 3:16-17), looking away from all things around us and “looking away unto Jesus” (Heb. 12:1-2*).
More of Christ and less of self is our path of growth unto maturity for New Jerusalem. When the city appears, it will fully express Him through all His mature believers.
* A song from Hebrews 12:1-2 is at www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/1206.
Posted by Don on July 9, 2021
