Topical Bible: Spiritual Life: Has Its Infancy

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The concept of spiritual life having an infancy is a profound theme within the Christian faith, illustrating the journey of believers from spiritual birth to maturity. This idea is rooted in the understanding that just as physical life begins with birth and progresses through stages of growth, so too does spiritual life.

Biblical Foundation

The Apostle Paul frequently uses the metaphor of infancy to describe the early stages of a believer's spiritual journey. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 , Paul addresses the Corinthian church, saying, "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready." Here, Paul acknowledges the initial stage of spiritual life, where new believers require foundational teachings, akin to milk, before they can digest more complex doctrines.

Similarly, the Apostle Peter encourages believers to crave pure spiritual milk in 1 Peter 2:2 : "Like newborn infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." This passage emphasizes the necessity of spiritual nourishment for growth, highlighting the importance of the Word of God as sustenance for new believers.

Characteristics of Spiritual Infancy

Spiritual infancy is characterized by a need for basic instruction and guidance. New believers often exhibit a strong desire for learning and understanding the fundamental truths of the faith. This stage is marked by a dependence on more mature believers for teaching and support, as seen in the early church's practice of discipleship and mentorship.

The writer of Hebrews also addresses the issue of spiritual immaturity in Hebrews 5:12-14 : "Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food! For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil." This passage underscores the expectation of growth beyond spiritual infancy, urging believers to progress toward maturity.

The Role of the Church

The church plays a crucial role in nurturing spiritual infants. Ephesians 4:11-14 outlines the purpose of church leadership in equipping the saints for the work of ministry and building up the body of Christ: "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. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming."

This passage highlights the importance of sound teaching and the communal aspect of spiritual growth, where the church functions as a nurturing environment for believers to mature in their faith.

Challenges and Encouragements

Spiritual infancy, while a natural and necessary stage, presents challenges such as vulnerability to false teachings and a tendency toward spiritual stagnation. The New Testament writers consistently encourage believers to pursue growth and maturity. In Philippians 1:6 , Paul expresses confidence in God's ongoing work in believers: "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

The journey from spiritual infancy to maturity is a dynamic process, requiring diligence, perseverance, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Believers are encouraged to engage with Scripture, participate in the life of the church, and seek the guidance of mature Christians to foster their spiritual development.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 10:21
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in your sight.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Corinthians 3:1,2
And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ.
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1 John 2:12
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
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Library

The Mission of Little Children
... "Gentle and undefiled, with blessings on its head ... has it indeed become a very angel
of God for us, and is it calling us to a more spiritual life, and does ...
/.../chapin/the crown of thorns/the mission of little children.htm

Thomas Traherne and the Spiritual Poets of the Seventeenth Century
... has {332} its "dreggy parts," that it has been "muddied ... to be made instead to see
the spiritual glory of the earth and sky, the beauty of life, the sweetness ...
/.../chapter xvii thomas traherne and.htm

The Beams of Our Houses are of Cedar and Our Carved Ceilings are ...
... by human authority, and forgetting everything that has its origin in ... union, under
the veil of this spiritual modesty, by ... leads upon the earth the life that the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/16 the beams of our.htm

Eternal Life.
... creep sometimes over the brightest faith has already received ... death to the natural
man destroy the spiritual? Shall death, or life, or angels, or principalities ...
/.../drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/eternal life.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree.
... to perceive that the number three has any necessary ... Besides the life and faculties
which we possess in common with others, we have spiritual privileges which ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xx the barren fig-tree.htm

Mortality.
... In plant, animal, and spiritual life mortality is greatest in ... smallest insect feeding
upon one of its tiny roots ... After it has formed more roots and they have ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/mortality.htm

Of Two Degrees of Perfection with which this Commandment May be ...
... He was dead, said his father, and is come to life again, [448] he has revived. ... with
excess; as also our vocations, be they never so spiritual: our exercises ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iv of two degrees.htm

Growth in Grace
... stake in the hedge will not grow; but a plant that has a vegetative life grows ... a
Christian grows in grace, the more he comes to his spiritual complexion, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/9 growth in grace.htm

The New Nature
... If that does not teach that the spiritual nature which ... The babe has not yet the glory
of full ... glory and becomes a tottering imbecile before life becomes extinct ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/the new nature.htm

Encouragement for the Depressed
... The day of small things has its beauty and its excellence ... are getting dainty now
perhaps; but in those first young days of spiritual life, what appetites ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/encouragement for the depressed.htm