1. Spiritual Growth 1 Peter 1:22 – 2:3 1

2. Man’s Spiritual Condition  Sin brings death, Rom. 6:23  All have sinned, Rom. 3:23  Only hope for reconciliation to God is blood of Christ, 1 Pet. 1:18-19 (Col. 1:19- 20)  Until then we remain dead in our sin, Eph. 2:1-3; Col. 1:21-22 2

3. Man’s Spiritual Condition  Cannot draw closer to God while living in sin, Eph. 4:17-19, 22  Reconciled must “continue in the faith” Col. 1:23; Eph. 4:11-16  We all need spiritual growth, 2 Pet. 3:18 3

4. Spiritual Growth…Spiritual Rebirth John 3:3-8  Sinner must be born again, 1 Pet. 1:22- 23  Plan of salvation, Acts 16:30-31; Mk. 16:16; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 2:38  New creatures who begin to grow, 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Pet. 2:1-2 4

5. Spiritual Growth…Ongoing Process 2 Peter 3:18  Faith is the foundation for spiritual growth, 2 Pet. 1:3-5 (1 Pet. 1:5)  Growth is personal responsibility of faith  Growth requires personal diligence, 2 Pet. 1:5, 10 (1 Pet. 1:13); Lk. 9:23 5

6. Giving All Diligence – 2 Peter 1:5-7  Knowledge: True knowledge of God & His will  Virtue: Moral courage  Self-control: Self-discipline, submission of self  Patience: Endurance, staying power  Godliness: Active reverence toward God  Brotherly kindness: Warm concern, courtesy  Love: Actively seek the welfare of others 6

7. Resist Sinful Desires 1 Peter 1:14-16; 2:11  Obedient children in all holiness  Partake of God’s holiness (Heb. 12:10; Col. 1:22)  Do not participate in worldliness (Jas 4:4)  By spiritual growth we discern good & evil, Heb. 5:14 7

8. Resist False Doctrine Ephesians 4:14  The saved escaped “those who live in error” 2 Pet. 2:18  False teachers (error) enslave again, 2 Pet. 2:19  Warned against false teachers with their destructive heresies, 2 Pet. 2:1-3 8

9. Resist False Doctrine Ephesians 4:14  Such errors include…  Evolution & modernism…Moral relativism  Immoral lifestyle choices  Religious errors  Hold fast to truth, 2 Tim. 1:13; 2:15 9

10. Spiritual Growth is Rewarded  Heavenly inheritance, 1 Pet. 1:4-9  Incorruptible: Not liable to decay, imperishable  Undefiled: Unsoiled, no contamination (Rev. 21:27)  Does not fade away: Perennial; unending  Reserved in heaven for you: Kept, guarded, preserved 10

11. Spiritual Growth is Personal  Your growth is up to you, Heb. 5:12  Diligently obey with full assurance of hope, faith & patience, Heb. 6:9-12  Be strong in the Lord, Eph. 6:10 11