Search Me, O Lord—A Spiritual Evaluation of Growth and Conformity

Search Me, O Lord—A Spiritual Evaluation of Growth and Conformity

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Self-examination is not merely an act of introspection—it is an act of surrender. We stand before the Lord, asking Him to search our hearts, to test our faith, to refine our walk. This is not a fleeting exercise but a continual process of proving ourselves in the faith, as 2 Corinthians 13:5 exhorts: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves..."

The fruitfulness of our labour, our obedience to the Word, and our connection to God must be evaluated. Galatians 6:4 reminds us: "But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another." But let this evaluation not be grounded in external results—our works, our efforts—but rather in our growth and commitment to studying God’s Word.

Spiritual Growth is from Heart to Mind to Heart (Part 1)

Spiritual Growth is from Heart to Mind to Heart

How does the bible describe the internal workings of biblical salvation? This thought occurred to me the other day, so I went to the source to find out exactly what happens. 

Consider Lydia, a woman from Thyatira, whose encounter with the message of Paul is recorded in Acts 16:14: "One of those listening was a certain woman, whose name was Lydia, the seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul." I heard an expression a while back that fits the context perfectly. "We are all blind until the Lord opens our eyes". This is so true! We wouldn’t even know the salvation that the Lord offers until His grace reaches us and we choose to receive it. Lydia’s heart, closed to the truth for all those years, was divinely opened by hearing the grace gospel, and it is in that very moment of faith that salvation took root within her. This example in Acts confirms a core principle: Christianity originates within the heart.

From that very moment a believer responds in faith and believes the grace gospel, they are justified and are saved from the wrath of God and from an eternal doom. From that moment on, nothing, absolutely nothing, can change that instantaneous and permanent standing with God. Paul confirms this perfectly in Romans 5:1-2 when he writes, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Notice how we can rejoice in hope of the glory of God! The hope expressed here is not a fear of an uncertain outcome, but an optimistic expectation and confident anticipation of its assured realization. Justification is permanent. God’s decree states that those how have faith in His Son are counted as righteous, an eternal promise He made to Abraham 4000 years ago, Romans 4:3: a promise that stands eternal and that guarantees peace with God, Romans 4:9-11.

Embracing Correction and Truth

Embracing Correction and Truth

Spiritual maturity is a journey—a transformative process that challenges us to move beyond our own understanding and align our hearts and minds with the truth of God's Word. This growth often involves reproof and correction, two elements that may feel uncomfortable but are essential for shaping us into the image of Christ. As believers, we are called to renew our minds through Scripture, allowing God's wisdom to displace our own, and in doing so, we begin to understand the deeper truths of God’s word, His will and His judgements. 

The Galatian saints struggled with this, relying on their own efforts and clinging to the law of Moses instead of embracing the faith-centered doctrine that Paul taught. Their error lay in attempting to perfect themselves through fleshly endeavours rather than submitting to the transformative power of God's Word. This serves as a lesson for all believers: true transformation comes not from our own wisdom or actions, but from the renewing of our minds by Scripture alone. We cannot layer God's truth on top of our flawed thinking and expect to grow; instead, we must allow His Word to reshape us entirely. 

Acknowledging our need for correction is critical in this process. Paul warns in 2 Timothy 2:25-26 that those who oppose themselves are caught in the snare of the devil, unaware that they are walking in false doctrine. The first step to freedom is recognizing and admitting our errors. This attitude of humility helps us to change our mind and leads us back to the path of truth. Like the Galatians, we may sometimes find it difficult to accept correction, especially when it challenges deeply held beliefs or exposes areas of weakness. Yet, this willingness to embrace reproof is vital for spiritual growth. 

Romans 7: Growing Towards Sanctification

Romans 7: Growing Towards Sanctification

The journey of a believer begins with justification through faith in Christ, as described in Romans 5:1. However, justification is not the end—it is merely the beginning. Many believers, due to a lack of spiritual knowledge, mistakenly believe they can live for God while still being carnal and yielding to sin. This was the issue with the Corinthian church. Though saved and called saints, they remained entangled in sin and immaturity.

As explored in our previous post on Romans 6, Paul taught the Corinthians that the first step to spiritual growth was to reckon themselves dead to sin and yield to the Word of God, which produces fruits of righteousness. Now, in Romans 7, we discover the next logical step in our spiritual journey: being delivered from the law. This is a critical moment of spiritual growth, where we learn to rely not on our human efforts but on the transformative work of God’s Word and Spirit within us.

Delivered from the Law: The Next Step in Spiritual Growth

When a believer recognizes that they cannot live for God while yielding to sin, as Romans 6 teaches, human nature often tempts them to take matters into their own hands. The inclination is to attempt to overcome sin through self-discipline, rules, and law—believing this will produce righteousness. But this is a grave mistake! As Paul teaches in Romans 7, the law cannot save us; it only reveals our sin and, paradoxically, increases its hold due to the law of sin in our flesh.

Comparative Overview of Paul's Epistles

Comparative Overview of Paul's Epistles

This comparative list of Paul's epistles highlights key aspects such as the date of writing, growth stage, type, format, progress, realm, key words, and the intended audience for each letter. Dates are approximate. By presenting these details in a structured manner, this list serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to analyse and compare Paul's teachings across different communities and contexts. It enables readers to discern patterns, similarities, and differences in Paul's doctrine, offering a comprehensive perspective on his apostolic mission and the mystery doctrine he penned by inspiration. By examining Paul's epistles in sequence, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual growth and knowledge of God gained by the early believers.

Romans (Rom)

• Date Written: AD 57
• Growth: Foundation
• Type: Doctrinal
• Format: Milk, Meat
• Progress: Work of faith
• Realm: Sight/Carnal, Faith/Spirit
• Key Words: Salvation, Spirit, Israel, Appeal to Transform/Walk
• Audience: Christians in Rome

In preparation for the overview of the 9-church epistles

In preparation for the overview of the 9-church epistles

INTRODUCTION:

In his epistles, Paul uses a few analogies that indicate progression. Consider, milk and meat. Also consider babes, to children, to sons. How about from carnal to spiritual, from the outer man to the inner man and from the natural to the spiritual. All these examples can be applied to the 9-church epistles which make up the curriculum for the grace believer. Using these analogies helps to clarify the fact that the curriculum is indeed progressive and importantly, it should be recognised, studied, and understood in this manner to.

In this post, I’d like to draw your attention to this progressive concept by working through an overview of the 9-epistles, and assigning these analogical classifications to them, so you can identify the primary theme of the epistles and start to understand their position within the curriculum.

Before we get into the epistles however, it is necessary to define some terms that are used within the epistle comparisons. Please take note of these terms and consider them when working through the rest of this post.

Epistle Format

• Doctrine: The set of principles or teachings laid out in Paul’s letters that we are to know and obey (not by our own power, but by the Spirit working within us).
• Reproof: Identifying and expressing disapproval or criticism of a mistake or fault.
• Correction: Providing guidance or actions to rectifying or improving a mistake or fault.
• Instruction: Providing knowledge, information, or direction to help someone learn and grow.

What does 'if ye continue in the faith' mean in Col.1:23?

What does 'if ye continue in the faith' mean in Col.1:23?

A lot of people read the verse below and think that it means they can lose their salvation, or more specifically, their reconciliation with God, which is specified in verse 22. Let's take a look at what this passage of scripture is saying.

Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he RECONCILED  (22)  In the body of his flesh through death, TO PRESENT YOU holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:  (23)  IF YE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;  ...  (28)  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may PRESENT every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Note: I have capped certain key words for emphasis. Now, let's work through what Paul wrote and look at the proper context to learn what is really being said here.

"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he RECONCILED."

The growth and perfecting of the saints through Paul's doctrine

The growth and perfecting of the saints through Paul's doctrine

1Th.3:12-13  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:  (13)  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

What makes you unblamable and holy before God is for love to increase and abound in you toward each other and toward all men. The greatest thing for you to know is the love of Christ. Now abideth faith, hope, and love, 1Co.13:13. When Paul wrote Romans, he says, "your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.", Rom.1:8. Then he comes to Ephesians and says: “Since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints.”, Eph.1:15. And then he comes to Thessalonians and said: “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope.”, 1Th.1:3. Do you see the progression up the curriculum? What you are seeing here is the growth and perfecting of the saint. God is doing a work of faith in us. That work of faith is to teach us the love of Christ, that we may labor outwardly in that love, and then in patience of hope, endure all things in this present world in earnest expectation of the glory that is to come. God gave you our doctrine, Paul's curriculum, to get you ready for that calling" the calling of "us", being the Body of Christ, who is the fulness of him that filleth all in all, Eph 1:20-23.

2Ti.1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,