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Why is Growth in Godliness Important?
Growth in godliness is the only sure sign of spiritual life.
 Numerical growth is no sure sign of spiritual life.
- Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing
magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone
great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him,
saying, "This man is what is called 'the Great Power of God.' And they
were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with
his magic arts. But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about
the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized,
men and women alike (Acts 8:9-12).
- Simon got a lot of attention and gathered a pretty big crowd
by doing some impressive magic tricks that attracted, astonished and entertained
people. But those people were not saved until they repented and believed
in the preached gospel.
- A church can grow to gargantuan proportions simply on the panache
of a charismatic leader without ever experiencing real spiritual growth…perhaps
without even being composed primarily of true converts…thus perhaps without
even being a true church at all.
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