Spiritual growth, means of

God has provided various means by which believers may grow spiritually.

God supplies the resources for spiritual growth

Philippians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:3 See also John 1:16, John 4:14, John 15:2, John 15:5; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 9:10; Galatians 5:22–23; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 2:19; James 1:17, James 4:6; Jude 1:24

For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

God's people must make efforts to grow spiritually

Philippians 2:12; 2 Peter 1:5–9 See also Romans 6:19; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 5:16, Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:15–16, Ephesians 6:11–13; 1 Timothy 4:7, 1 Timothy 6:11–12; 2 Timothy 1:6; 2 Peter 3:14; 1 John 3:3; Jude 1:20

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Specific means of spiritual growth

Death to self-interest

Colossians 3:5 See also Matthew 16:24 parallels Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23; Romans 6:6, Romans 6:12, Romans 8:13; Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9; 1 Peter 1:14, 1 Peter 2:11

Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

The Scriptures

2 Timothy 3:16–17 See also Joshua 1:8; Psalm 19:7–8, Psalm 119:9–11; John 17:17; Ephesians 6:17; Colossians 3:16; 1 Peter 2:2; 1 John 2:14

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

Prayer

Matthew 6:13 parallel Luke 11:4Colossians 4:2 See also 1 Chronicles 16:11; Matthew 7:11 parallel Luke 11:13; Matthew 26:41 parallels Mark 14:38, Luke 22:46; John 16:24; Acts 4:29–31; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 1:5

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,

Focusing on Jesus Christ

Hebrews 3:1 See also Matthew 11:29; John 13:15; Romans 15:5; Philippians 2:5; Hebrews 12:2–3; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

The role of the Holy Spirit in spiritual growth

Ephesians 3:16–18 See also Ephesians 1:13–14, Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 2:19–22

I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth

Christian leadership

Ephesians 4:11–13 See also 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 1:25, Philippians 3:17; Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:2–3

And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

Faith in God

Ephesians 6:16 See also Hebrews 11:6; 1 John 5:4

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Suffering and testing

Romans 5:3–4 See also Job 23:10; Psalm 119:67; Zechariah 13:9; Hebrews 12:10–11; 1 Peter 1:6–7; James 1:2–4

Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Perseverance

Hebrews 12:1 See also Philippians 3:12–14; 1 Timothy 4:15

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

Cultivating wholesome thinking

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think on these things.

God will bring the spiritual growth of believers to completion

1 John 3:2 See also Ephesians 5:25–27; Philippians 1:6; Jude 1:24–25; Revelation 21:2

Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.