How to Grow in Grace
What the Bible Teaches About Walking With God
Atonement is a cornerstone doctrine for Christians. When the word is taken apart, its full meaning becomes much clearer – "at-one-ment."
Many Christians believe that God’s desire for oneness with believers was made possible through Christ’s sacrifice. As the basis for this belief, Christians point to Romans 5: 11 which states, “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
Living in Peace With God
Having been reconciled to God by the remission of sins, the Christian is free to live in peace with God and cultivate Christ-like traits of character. The Bible offers much guidance to Christians desiring to have an intimate relationship with God. Here are some points to consider.
- Walking with God means being spiritually minded. Christian believers point to Romans 3: 6-8 to support this belief, as it states, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
- Walking with God means turning away from the world. Believers point to James 4:4 to support this belief, as it says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
- Walking with God means transformation of mind. Christians point to Romans 12: 1,2, where it states, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
- Walking with God means fixing the mind upon God. Isaiah 26:3 is offered by Christians as evidence of this, as it says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
- Walking with God means loving heavenly things. Colossians 3:2,5 admonishes Christians to “Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth…So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry.” (New Living Translation)
- Walking with God means growing in grace. Believers point to 2 Peter 3:18, which says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
- Walking with God means taking on the Divine nature. Christians point to 2 Peter 1:4, which states, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the diving nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
- Walking with God means continuous spiritual growth. Believers point to 1 Peter 2:2, which says, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk for the word, that ye may grow thereby.”
Christians who desire an intimate relationship with God believe that this is also God’s desire for Christ prayed to that effect in these words as recorded in John 17: 20, 21, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou has sent me.”
Christian grace
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