DETERIORATION-DEVELOPMENT
DETERIORATION-DEVELOPMENT
(A) DETERIORATION, a tendency of the sinful life
Isa 1:22; Jer 7:26; Jer 16:12; Eze 16:47; Hos 13:2
Luk 11:26; 2Ti 3:13; 2Pe 2:20
–SEE Dross, DROSS
(B) BACKSLIDING, (Select Reading Mal_3.7-18. Gal. Gal 4)
Mal 3:7-10; Gal 4:1-31
Results of
Selfish Absorption
Pro 14:14; Isa 1:4; Jer 14:7; Hos 11:7
Religious Indifference
Mat 24:12
Unfitness for the Kingdom
Luk 9:62; Gal 1:6
Bondage to Forms
Gal 4:9
Divine Displeasure
Heb 10:38; 2Pe 2:20
Loss of Spiritual Enthusiasm
Rev 2:4
–SEE Apostasy, UNFAITHFULNESS
& UNFAITHFULNESS
Forsaking God, UNFAITHFULNESS
& UNFAITHFULNESS
(C) BACKSLIDERS, causes which tend to produce
Absence of Spiritual Leaders
Exo 32:1; Exo 32:8; 1Sa 15:11
Evil Associations
1Ki 11:4
Worldly Success
2Ch 25:2; 2Ch 25:14; Psa 78:57; Hos 6:4; Zep 1:6
Shallowness
Luk 8:13
Emptiness of Life
Luk 11:24; Luk 11:25; Luk 11:26
Lack of Spiritual Insight
Joh 6:63; Joh 6:64; Joh 6:66; 1Ti 5:15
Love of the World
2Ti 4:10
–SEE Apostates, UNFAITHFULNESS
Covenant-breakers, UNFAITHFULNESS
Wanderers, ESTRANGEMENT
(D) SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT, (Select Reading, Heb_5.11-14, 6.1-16)
Heb 5:11-14; Heb 6:1-16
(E) SPIRITUAL GROWTH, Enjoined
In Fruitfulness
2Co 9:10
Into Christ
Eph 4:15; Col 1:10
In Love
1Th 3:12; 1Th 4:10
Unto Perfection
Heb 6:1
Through “The Word”
1Pe 2:2
By Accretion
2Pe 1:5; 2Pe 1:6
In Grace and Knowledge
2Pe 3:18
–SEE Divine Perfection, PERFECTION
(F) EXAMPLES OF GROWTH
The boy Samuel
1Sa 2:26
John the Baptist
Luk 1:80
The Boy Christ
Luk 2:40; Luk 2:52
Paul
Act 9:22
The Thessalonians
2Th 1:3
(G) SPIRITUAL MATURITY, how Secured
By Putting away Childish Things
1Co 13:11
By Cultivating the Understanding
1Co 14:20
By Striving after the Christ Ideal
Eph 4:13; Eph 4:15
By Partaking of the Deeper Truths of the Gospel
Heb 5:14
By Overcoming Temptation
1Jo 2:14
–SEE “Be Strong”, BATTLE OF LIFE
(H) SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY
Inability to Receive Strong Doctrine
1Co 3:1; 1Co 3:2; 1Co 14:20
Necessity for Tutelage
Gal 4:1; Gal 4:2; Gal 4:3
Instability of Faith
Eph 4:14
Continuance in the Primary Department
Heb 5:12; 1Pe 2:2
(I) SPIRITUAL PROGRESS
(1) A Characteristic of the Righteous
Job 17:9; Psa 84:7; Psa 92:12; Pro 4:18; 2Co 3:18; 1Ti 4:15
–SEE Christ’s Perfection, PERFECTION
(I) SPIRITUAL PROGRESS
(2) The Larger Life
2Sa 22:37; 1Ki 4:29; 1Ch 4:10; Psa 18:36; Psa 118:5; Isa 54:2
Joh 10:10; 2Co 6:11; Eph 3:17; Eph 3:18; Eph 3:19