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What if We Don't Grow?
A lack of individual growth in godliness suggests a false
conversion.
- This is not to say that genuine Christians are always perfect
Christians. We know that indwelling sin is tenacious - even in the most mature
believers - and that we will not be completely freed from the presence of
sin in our lives until we are glorified with Christ in heaven. This significant
remainder of indwelling sin is why the Christian life is characterized by
Paul as a battle (Rom 7:14-25; Eph 6:12-18).
- But it is to say that the most reliable indicator of true conversion
is the Spirit-produced fruit of an increasingly godly lifestyle. God's purposes
in us are purposes of holiness, of increasing conformity to the image of His
son. This increasing conformity to the image of Christ is our biblical destiny
as truly converted Christians - it WILL happen (Rom 8:29).
- So if we are not able to discern increasing conformity to the
character of Christ, then we have reason to examine whether or not God has
even commenced the work of conformity in us by truly converting us. In other
words, our failure to grow in godliness suggests that we may never have been
truly converted at all, because increasing godliness is the destiny of everyone
who is truly converted.
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