Onward to Maturity for New Jerusalem

The prior post presented us as the many sons of God who are being conformed to Christ, who, in resurrection, is the Firstborn Son of God. We have been born of God so we have His eternal life. But it is not enough merely to have this life; we must let this life grow in us.

Hebrews 6:1 exhorts us “let us be brought on to maturity.” This is the fullness of our growth. Growth will cause a change in our behavior but a change in behavior is not necessarily growth; it might be only our natural effort to improve ourselves.

Christ is our life; growth is the increase of Christ in us. Ephesians 3:17 describes this growth as “Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith.” For this we need “to be strengthened with power through His Spirit into the inner man” (v. 16). Our ability and effort are not effective; we need the Father’s strengthening.

Galatians 4:19 expresses this growth as “Christ being formed in us.” And 2 Corinthians 3:18 says we “being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit.” We need Christ formed in us by the work of the Spirit in us. This requires our turning our heart to the Lord and beholding Him! (v. 16, 18).

This growth, the forming of Christ, His making home in us, and our conformation to His image is the preparation of New Jerusalem.

Tagged 2 Corinthians, beholding and reflecting the Lord, born again, Christ formed in us, Christ may make His home, Christ our life, conformed to the image of God’s Son, Ephesians 3, eternal life, Galatians, growth, Hebrews

Posted by Don on July 28, 2025

https://newjerusalem12.wordpress.com/2025/07/28/onward-to-maturity-for-new-jerusalem/