Where Are You in Spiritual Growth?

Growth is built into everything God created. A seed doesn’t stay buried in the soil—it breaks through, sprouts, and matures into a tree that bears fruit. A baby doesn’t remain an infant forever—it grows into a child and then into a mature adult. The same principle applies in our spiritual life. Yet, far too often, we stay stuck—blinded or deceived—never moving beyond the starting point of faith. But God’s design is for us to grow: from babes in Christ, to children, and ultimately to sons and daughters who carry His will and reflect His heart.

We become a child of God once we have Faith in Jesus [Galatians 3:26 NIV] 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,

Infants and Babes in Christ

[1 Corinthians 3:1-4 NIV] 1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly--mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

• Paul longed for the Corinthian church to grow into spiritual maturity—to focus on what mattered to God.

• But instead of living as Spirit-led believers, they were acting like the world—still immature, divided, and fleshly.

• Though saved, they were living no differently than unbelievers.

• Infants need milk, not solid food—they are not ready for deeper truths.

• Paul says “…you are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.”  - They chose not to grow in maturity, staying stuck in their old ways.

• Paul says he fed them with milk, but they refused to move on to solid food. They ignored the teaching and nurturing God gave through His servants.

• Instead of love and unity, they fought and compared themselves, acting like unbelievers. “For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?”

Take a moment to examine yourself: Are you seeking God only for material and worldly needs, or are you pursuing Him to fulfil His call and purpose in your life? If your relationship with God is limited to asking for earthly things, you are still in the stage of being a babe—an infant in Christ.

Child of God in Christ

1.        Born Into God’s Family

• We do not enter God’s family by adoption in the human sense—like a homeless child joining a new household. The only way into God’s family is by regeneration, by being born again.

• [John 3:3 NIV] 3 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

2.        Children of God by Faith

• [John 1:12-13 NIV] 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

• [Romans 8:14 NIV] 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

• Faith in Christ brings new birth. By that new birth, you are God’s child.

3. The Stage of Spiritual Childhood

[Galatians 4:1-2 NIV] 1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.

• But Paul reminds us that a child, though an heir, is still underage. This means: You are an heir of all God has promised, but you are still under guardianship.

• In this stage, you may have the gifts of God, but you are not yet able to walk fully in His will.

• Like a minor who legally owns an inheritance but cannot yet enjoy it, a spiritual child still lives with limitations.

3.        Bondage vs. Freedom in Christ

[Galatians 4:3 NIV] 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.

• As a child, there is a desire to do God’s will, but often a lack of maturity to carry it out.

• Old patterns, lingering attachments, and the elemental forces of the world can still pull you back into a form of slavery. You are not yet walking in full freedom in Christ.

• Until you grow, you may live divided—partly for Christ, but partly tied to the world.

Take a moment to examine yourself:

• Are you born again, yet still drawn to worldly pleasures?

• Do you constantly rely on others to pray for you?

• Do you know God’s calling for your life—and are you walking in it?

• Or is the old slavery of sin still holding you back from His purpose?

If so, you may be a child of God, but God is calling you to grow up in Christ. True maturity comes when you surrender those lingering chains and step into the freedom of Christ, free from the old slaves that keep you from doing his will that he has called you.

Sons and Daughters of Christ

[2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV] 18 And, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

• When Christ sets you free from the old bondages of sin, you are no longer just a child—you become a son or daughter of God.

• This is more than just a title. As sons and daughters, we are given full rights and privileges as heirs of God.

• [Galatians 4:6-7 NIV] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

• As sons, God also places His seal of ownership on us by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). This seal guarantees that we belong to Him. [2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV]  21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to

• This seal is given to us thru his own Holy Spirit to work with the blessed trinity (Trinity - God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit).

• Being a son or daughter means we are empowered to live in freedom, walk in our Father’s authority, and carry out His will—bringing people from darkness into His marvellous light.

• The son has the same nature as the father. When we trust Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us; and this means we are "partakers in the divine nature"  [2 Peter 1:4 NIV] 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

• The Spirit works in the heart of the believer to quicken and increase his love for God. "The fruit of the Spirit is love" (Gal. 5:22). As the love for God increases they start to work to satisfy the desire of Father than the self, that’s how you grow in Christ.

• This spirit of sonship loves to surrender to Cross and do the will of the father as Christ did in the cross. [Galatians 5:24-25 NIV] 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Spiritual maturity is a journey—from being a babe in Christ to growing into a child, and ultimately a son of God. This growth comes as we stay deeply rooted in His Word, remain faithful in prayer, and walk daily in fellowship with Him. Only His presence can transform us, breaking every chain of old bondages and leading us into true freedom as sons and daughters. But growth requires hunger—unless we earnestly cry out for the solid food of His truth, we will remain immature. God longs to shape us, cleanse us inside and out, and raise us into the fullness of His calling.