Life is the condition which distinguishes plants and animals from inorganic objects. Plants have life, but rocks do not – until that life is taken from those plants. Animals have life, but clouds do not – even though clouds move, grow and change shapes. People have physical life, but fire hydrants do not. And people, who are born again have spiritual life, while the unsaved are spiritually dead & inert. Living things have several general characteristics: Plants and animals can, to varying degrees, adapt to their environments. A rock sits still and makes no changes, whatever the weather might be. Plants and animals eat and metabolize their particular choice of food. They reproduce themselves, but mailboxes cannot do that. And generally speaking, living things grow – some of them mature– they even grow old. Some of them grow very large while others grow very little in size. Nevertheless, all living things grow to some degree.
Now, we are told that the Lord Jesus came into this world that we might have life. John 3:14-17, 36 – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 10:9-11 – “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
Let’s assume that all of us possess the life which the Lord died to bestow. The question is: “How well do we display the characteristics of that life?” Let’s think of four aspects of growth which display our eternal life.
First of all, life in Christ can be seen in DOWNWARD GROWTH – rooted in Christ.
Doesn’t the Bible teach that all our strength, fruitfulness and effectiveness as Christians depend on the strength that we derive from the Lord? “As the root so goes the fruit.” Some of you are still feeling the impact of the wind storm of last Fall. Near hurricane force winds blew down hundred-year-old trees as if they were match sticks. But while hundreds of trees fell, thousands of others did not. The problem with the fallen trees was usually in the shallow root system. When a 40 or 80 foot tree has roots which only reach 5 feet into the dirt, problems arise. But when the root is deep enough then the plant will likely withstand, not only heavy winds, but also drought as well.
A few years ago, I was talking to a friend whose mother-in-law, had swallowed the lies of the New Age movement. That third woman questions the authority of the Bible and rejects just about every Bible doctrine. She claims to have a “spirit guide” who goes by the name “Jesus” – obviously a demon. But one of the saddest parts of the story, is that is woman was raised in a Baptist church. She is where she is today, because she was never rooted in Christ. I wonder if any of our children will end up like this woman?
Our fruitfulness depends on our living rooted in Christ. John 15:1-8 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” No shallow-minded, self-willed, half-headed, half-dead Christian is ever going to do much for the Lord. “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Except the Lord grow the branch, it will never produce fruit for His glory.
Our Christian fruitfulness depends on our rootfulness in Christ. Nothing is more pitiable than to see the ungodly under the affliction of death, or disease, or poverty. What can we say that can really help? “Cheer up; don’t worry; maybe tomorrow will be better”? We can’t say that with any real assurance. On the other hand, the Christian’s hope and strength depend on Christ, whether in death, poverty or any other kind of affliction. But will that Christian forget his weakness long enough to reach out to the Lord? Not far from Cannon Beach, Oregon is the Tillamook Light House. It is on an island just a few hundred yards off the coast. It is one those picturesque lighthouses for which Oregon is famous. I have seen small waves crashing onto the island, and I’ve seen pictures of huge waves smashing the building itself. Today this lighthouse has been abandoned, but it still stands, because it was well rooted into the rock. Despite it’s loneliness and neglect it still stands because of its foundation – just like Jesus’ illustration
After the downward growth of the root, there is the UPWARD GROWTH of the shoot.
Now this is impossible to see in English, but the word “built” is a PRESENT passive participle. In other words it is talking about a continual “building up.” But the word “rooted” is a PERFECT passive participle – you might say that it is past tense. Our grammar teacher would have a fit if we said, “I went to the store and will constantly buy some bread and milk, ” but that is the way that Paul makes this statement. And it is perfectly correct theologically. Our position in Christ is complete, and the results of that salvation are constantly producing new blessings and results. Our root in Christ is perfect, but our growth is on-going.
There are two different kinds and ways to build something. There can be internal and external growth. There is a mechanical growth and an organic growth – and this is organic. When people build a house the materials come from a multitude of sources and are added on to what has already been started. But the growth of a disciple is more like that of a body. “As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.” Babies and Christians grow from the inside out
And the Bible teaches us that it is our duty to desire that kind of growth. God is not interested in perpetual babies. In my opinion, the baby girl who visited here last Sunday was one of the cutest I have seen in a long time, but I sincerely hope that she doesn’t look the same in ten years. Just as we want our children to grow, if we want our church to grow then it necessitates our own spiritual growth. We can’t expect our church to prosper, if we are only looking for visitors and new members. Not until we grow in knowledge, concern, compassion and similar traits, will we not have the tools with which to serve God and to bless others. So ask yourself, “If all saints were just like me what will become of my church in ten years?” Better yet, ‘If all saints were just like me what will become of Christianity in another twenty years?” It is our duty to desire growth.
After upward growth then there is a DIFFERENT kind of INWARD GROWTH.
You might say that this involves the Spirit and our faith. There is inward growth (#1) and there is inward growth (#2). There is a faith which is the gift of God and is in reference to salvation. There is a faith which is a simple trust in God for daily necessities. And then there is a faith which is can be taught – a system of things which we are to believe.
True spiritual growth includes mental and doctrinal growth as well as trust in God. There is a common attitude in the world that specific knowledge and belief in the Bible is unnecessary. But God expects us to know the Word and “to be ready to give an answer, with meekness and fear. to every man that asketh us a reason for the hope that is within us.” And that requires diligence and work.
Our recent examination of “Bible Trivia” should have pointed out what little we know about God’s Word. It would be good if once a year we took a Bible knowledge test – it might be very revealing. It would probably shock most of us at our Biblical ignorance. It would probably reveal the surprisingly little that we have really learned, or perhaps how quick we are to forget. Inward growth is the establishment of our hearts in the truth.
And then there is a special kind of OUTWARD GROWTH – Thanksgiving.
Of course, this is just one aspect of the outward evidence of God’s inward grace. In Paul’s prayers, one of the things so impressive is the abundance of expressions of thanksgiving to God. “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.” “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.” “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.”
These are just the beginning of Paul’s expression and exhortation towards thanksgiving. And what instruction there is in these examples. How often do we spend time in prayerful thanksgiving? Monday, I did something that I have neglected to do for a long time. I wrote an email to our distant members and a few of my closest preacher friends. I described the blessings of last Sunday and gave God praise for bringing it all together. I also confessed my neglect in doing that more often. How much of our prayers this evening will be filled with thanks?
Living things metabolize oxygen, and as a result they show some sort of breathing. The breathing of a saint of God includes both the ingathering and processing of the Lord’s blessings. Following that there must be the exhaling of our genuine thanksgiving for His gracious gifts.