Part 3 · Belief 11 — The Doctrine of Salvation
Growing in Christ
What we believe
By His death on the cross Jesus triumphed over the forces of evil. He who subjugated the demonic spirits during His earthly ministry has broken their power and made certain their ultimate doom. Jesus' victory gives us victory over the evil forces that still seek to control us, as we walk with Him in peace, joy, and assurance of His love. Now the Holy Spirit dwells within us and empowers us. Continually committed to Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we are set free from the burden of our past deeds. No longer do we live in the darkness, fear of evil powers, ignorance, and meaninglessness of our former way of life. In this new freedom in Jesus, we are called to grow into the likeness of His character, communing with Him daily in prayer, feeding on His Word, meditating on it and on His providence, singing His praises, gathering together for worship, and participating in the mission of the Church. We are also called to follow Christ's example by compassionately ministering to the physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of humanity. As we give ourselves in loving service to those around us and in witnessing to His salvation, His constant presence with us through the Spirit transforms every moment and every task into a spiritual experience.
Coming to Jesus is a beginning, not an ending. Just as a newborn child is meant to grow, a new life in Christ is meant to grow too — not to earn His love, but because we already have it. The wonderful news is that we do not grow by gritting our teeth and trying harder; we grow by staying close to the One who already won the victory for us. The same Jesus who broke the power of evil at the cross now lives in us by His Spirit. This week we look at how that growth actually happens, day by ordinary day, and how a life joined to Christ slowly comes to look like His.
Free, because He already won
We do not fight for victory; we live from a victory already won. At the cross, God "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them" (Colossians 2:14, 15). He "has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13, 14). That means the chains of your past are broken — the guilt, the fear, the old patterns no longer have to rule you. And we are guarded: "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). You can walk in peace, not because you are strong, but because He is.
Growing by staying close
How does a Christian grow? Not by trying harder alone, but by spending time with Jesus. The blessed person is the one who delights in God's Word and "meditates day and night" on it (Psalm 1:1, 2). We are told to "pray without ceasing," giving thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). As we behold the Lord, the Spirit changes us: "beholding the glory of the Lord, [we] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another" (2 Corinthians 3:17, 18). And His character takes shape in us — "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness" (Galatians 5:22-25), the fruit His Spirit grows in a surrendered heart.
Growing by serving others
Life in Christ is never just about us. Jesus said, "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant... even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve" (Matthew 20:25-28). He taught that whatever we do for the hungry, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned, we do for Him: "As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:31-46). When we give ourselves in love, our faith grows strong. The presence of His Spirit then turns even small, daily tasks into worship, and our whole life becomes a witness to His salvation.
Search the Scriptures
1 Chron. 29:11; Ps. 1:1, 2; 23:4; 77:11, 12; Matt. 20:25-28; 25:31-46; Luke 10:17-20; John 20:21; Rom. 8:38, 39; 2 Cor. 3:17, 18; Gal. 5:22-25; Eph. 5:19, 20; 6:12-18; Phil. 3:7-14; Col. 1:13, 14; 2:6, 14, 15; 1 Thess. 5:16-18, 23; Heb. 10:25; James 1:27; 2 Peter 2:9; 3:18; 1 John 4:4.
Reflect
Growing in Christ is less like climbing a ladder and more like a branch staying joined to the vine. You do not have to manufacture change; you have to stay close, and let Him do it. This week, choose one small habit of nearness — a few honest minutes of prayer, a paragraph of Scripture, one act of kindness — and watch how, over time, His life quietly reshapes yours.
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