1 TIME How much time is necessary to grow from “Babyhood” to “Maturity?”

2 God’s Plan Phase I Phase I Justification We all enter into God’s plan as “Babies”

3 God’s Plan Phase III Phase III Glorification Final stage of becoming like Christ

4 God’s Plan Babyhood Ultimately Like Christ What happens between Phase I and Phase III? Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son,... Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,.... Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity,... Ultimately Like Christ

5 God’s Plan Phase II Phase II Babyhood Ultimately Like Christ o 100 Sanctification Growing into the likeness of Christ Maturity

6 Time – How Much? Does God tell us how much time this transformation process will take? Does God tell us how much time this transformation process will take? Are we able to discover any answers in scripture? Are we able to discover any answers in scripture? Galatians 1: I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas,...

7 What happened? Paul was in training for the ministry under the personal instruction of Jesus Christ. Paul was in training for the ministry under the personal instruction of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but {I received it} through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For three years Jesus Christ was “revealing” to Paul with the purpose of preparing him for ministry. For three years Jesus Christ was “revealing” to Paul with the purpose of preparing him for ministry.

8 Total training time? 3 years – 24 hours every day – 26,208 hours 3 years – 24 hours every day – 26,208 hours 3 years – 8 hours every day – 8,736 hours 3 years – 8 hours every day – 8,736 hours 3 years – 12 hours every day – 13,104 hours 3 years – 12 hours every day – 13,104 hours

9 Total training time? If Paul studied 12 hours every day for the three years he was instructed by Jesus Christ, his Teacher, it took 13,104 hours to renew Paul’s mind, (Romans 12:2) to renew Paul’s mind, (Romans 12:2) for Paul to grow from “babyhood” to Christian Maturity, (Hebrews 6:1) for Paul to grow from “babyhood” to Christian Maturity, (Hebrews 6:1) to prepare Paul for the ministry God the Father had set in His plan for him in eternity past. to prepare Paul for the ministry God the Father had set in His plan for him in eternity past.

10 Should we expect any less? DayWeekYear13,104 hours 3 hrs. 21 hrs.1092 hrs. 2 hrs.14 hrs. 728 hrs. 1 hr. 7 hrs. 364 hrs. 3 hrs. 156 hrs. 3 hrs. 156 hrs. 2 hrs. 104 hrs. 2 hrs. 104 hrs. 1 hr. 52 hrs. – 12 years – 18 years – 36 years – 84 years – 126 years – 253 years

11 The Body of Christ What would you say is the maturity level of the Body of Christ as a whole?

12 The Body of Christ Is it any wonder 95% PLUS of those who call themselves Christian today are wandering around aimlessly in spiritual bankruptcy?

13 The Body of Christ If you were to be honest with yourself, where are you on the “Zero” (babyhood) to “100” (maturity) scale? Add up your hours.