Title: Growing in Knowledge
grow in knowledge
2005-07-31
“This is so that we no longer become children, that we should not fall into the tricks of men and the deceitful temptations of men, and be driven and tossed by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14)
I. Text Commentary
The most important mission of the church is to raise up the saints as perfect people, and for this purpose, God has given many offices to the church. In order to raise the young believers who are susceptible to the temptations of the world to the maturity level, it is necessary to take care of them so that they grow in knowledge and love in the church.
II. Enemies of Spiritual Growth
A. Man's sorcery
When you are a young believer, your faith will be shaken as the people around you who do not believe shake you, but if you have a mature faith, you will not be shaken by the circumstances around you.
B. Cunning Temptation
Temptation hides its consequences and deceives our thoughts. Temptation comes sweetly and tries to knock us down, hiding the price to be followed. However, mature believers have the ability to discern and discern the end of temptation by the words of many knowledge, and have the grace to resist temptation.
C. Winds of world lessons
When we sin, a feeling of guilt arises, and when we accept sin, the feeling of guilt gradually dulls and diminishes. Moreover, when it comes to sins that are common to many, it is easier to feel guilty about it. The winds of the world laugh at our beliefs and live according to their own will. So, when faith is young, it is easy to slip according to the trend. But as our faith grows, we can discern the right path and move forward firmly on that path.
Ⅲ. Grow in knowledge - the knowledge of God
A. The image of God: the intellect
God's 'image, likeness' does not refer to the outward appearance, but to God's spiritual characteristics, that is, the soul of God. Human beings are made of dust and have been given various functions just like animals, but they have a soul and do not disappear even when the body dies. But there is a strict distinction between the Spirit of God and our soul. That is, the completely pure Spirit of God and our soul with the characteristics of the Spirit are not united and harmonized. In order for mutual communication to take place, a medium is needed, which is intelligence.
B. Reason and intelligence
The intellect is divided into reason and intelligence, and reason is the ability to grasp and understand things and infer the laws between things. With the help of reason, science and technology have developed. When I first received the power of reason, I could understand both the natural and the divine. However, as they sinned, darkness entered the soul and they lost the ability to grasp spiritual things. Science and other things are constantly advancing due to natural reason, but it is difficult to enjoy the happiness that comes from knowing spiritual things, even though the quality of human life has improved due to getting farther away from God. Thus, the Bible views human reason pessimistically. Because it is foolish to know God through natural reason. Intelligence refers to intuitive insight into things, not the result of learning. “Wisdom” that comes from fearing and loving God refers to intelligence. When we are in the grace of God, our reason is right and our understanding is pure.
C. Faith and Reason
Faith is rationally accepting the unbelievable. God speaks universally through the human intellect. The creation of the heavens and the earth, the birth of Jesus from the Virgin Mary, etc. cannot be detected by natural reason, but is accepted by faith beyond reason. When faith does not stand still in the state of faith, but when we reflect with reason, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, grace is renewed. So before, you believed to know, and now you know because you know.
D. Knowledge and Experience
Knowledge of the divine world is always acquired through experience. The light of the Holy Spirit illuminates our intellect and opens our reason to see the divine world that we could not see with natural reason. Accumulating the knowledge acquired in this way is the growth of the believer. This is how we stand as mature believers who serve God without being shaken by the world. To know God is to learn the doctrine of living toward God. However, the problem with the church today is that it does not grow by longing for the Word of God. If you are a believer, you must constantly desire to grow in the knowledge of God.
IV. Application: Who will help the young