God’s Plan for Our Growth – Part 4

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By Joel Woodruff on November 2, 2015 , , ,

God's Plan for Our Growth - Part 4

Dr. Joel S. Woodruff shares that when a person is born again by confessing his sin and putting his faith in Jesus Christ, he becomes a child of God. But God’s work in that person’s life doesn’t stop there. He wants that child to grow into a mature disciple of Jesus Christ who looks more like Jesus in his thoughts, words, and deeds every day. Recent studies have shown that many in the church today are not growing into spiritual adults, but rather continue to live as spiritual infants – still stuck in the lifestyle and morality of the secular world around them. They are not experiencing the joy and fullness of life that comes from living a life of holiness and obedience in dedication to their Savior Jesus Christ. The Bible uses two terms to help us understand our position in Christ – justification and sanctification. An understanding of these two important words will help us understand God’s plan for our growth. For the Lord’s desire is that we know who we are, sinners who have been justified by Christ, and that we know our potential, saints who are living holy lives that honor and glorify God.

This resource is part of a series on Heart and Mind Discipleship. Click here to listen to the full series

Joel Woodruff

President, C.S. Lewis Institute

Joel Woodruff, President, C.S. Lewis Institute, has worked in higher education, “tent-making,” nonprofit administration, and pastoral ministries in Alaska, Israel, Hungary, France, and Northern Virginia. He served as Dean of Students, Chaplain, and Professor of Bible & Theology at European Bible Institute, where he helped train Europeans both for professional ministry and to be Christian leaders in the marketplace. Prior to joining the Institute, he was on the leadership team of Oakwood Services International, a nonprofit educational and humanitarian organization. He is a graduate of Wheaton College, earned his M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and has a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. As a Parish-Pulpit Fellow, he studied Biblical Backgrounds & Archaeology in Israel for a year.

 

COPYRIGHT: This publication is published by C.S. Lewis Institute; 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 301; Springfield, VA 22151. Portions of the publication may be reproduced for noncommercial, local church or ministry use without prior permission. Electronic copies of the PDF files may be duplicated and transmitted via e-mail for personal and church use. Articles may not be modified without prior written permission of the Institute. For questions, contact the Institute: 703.914.5602 or email us.

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