Biblical Stages of the Christian Life
written by Ken Walker
This study has just gone through a major
revision which will appear on http://www.goodnews.org.au/fullness/index-2008.html
On
Introduction
This is the second article written
by the author on the subject of fullness of life in Christ. The first article Searching
for the Promised Fullness of God is listed on the Internet at http://www.vicnet.net.au/~gnaust/life/index-gr.html being one of the articles on that page. That article examined how a
correct understanding of Romans 7 opens the doorway to both and full and proper
understanding of the Gospel and the operation of faith in a
believer. It
is hoped that this present article will unfold another aspect of the Biblical
stages of development of the believer.
When reading Norman
Grubb’s last book, Yes I Am, written in 1984 I noticed constant reference to
mentions of stages of development in the Christian life. These references to
stages by Grubb asserted that the Bible itself outlined the three stages of
development, an idea I had not heard of previously. I had read of stages in the
sense of second blessings and baptism of the Spirit, and similar descriptions.
However, the wide range of views on those and related subjects within
Christendom had left me unsatisfied as to the accuracy of their interpretation
and to what God had intended as His full Gospel.
Using Grubb’s writings
on this topic and using the terminology provided, I searched for Biblical
references to elements of these 3 stages and found plenty of support. What was
even more encouraging to me was that these 3 stages were described from a
variety of points of view, ten in all, these complementing each other and
providing a more complete understanding of each stage. As spiritual insights
sometimes come when information is laid out in logical format, I began to
assemble the information in a concise fashion. The following chart resulted.
Description of chart
Horizontally, the chart
below shows these three stages highlighted by Grubb as being in scripture. The ten
elements shown in each of the three stages are closely related rather than
being considered identical. Also, it should be understood that the stages most
often overlap and do not necessarily represent three sequential steps.
Moreover, substantial movements from one stage to another are spiritual
movements brought about by the Holy Spirit, full appreciation and understanding
for the believer coming from Him alone.
The first stage is variously described as, or includes the new birth, as children,
Christ taking hold of us, Christ for us, Jesus formed in us, our justification
and our crucifixion. The second stage is variously described as, or
includes the promised rest, as young men, Christ indwelling us, Christ in us
and unity with Him.
The third stage is variously described as, or includes us being Priest’s of God, as
fathers, Christ fruiting through us, Christ as us, we sacrificed through Him,
co-operation with and completion through Him. Further descriptions - Behavioral
characteristics of these stages are provided below the chart.
Vertical elements of
chart
Vertically, varying
descriptions of the three stages are mentioned 10 times in this writing. The
scriptural basis of these is shown in column 3. I have grouped these 10 description into 5 aspects of the Work of Christ
1 Our rescue and
placement 2 Our spiritual formation 3 Our spiritual unification
4 Our identification and
status 5 Our suffering and self-sacrifice
Summary of Work of Christ in relation to Stages of the
Christian Life. (short version)
|
The Work of Christ |
First Stage |
Second Stage |
Third Stage |
|
Our rescue and placement (Grubb referencespp
148, 153, 154) |
The New Birth John 3:5-6 (NKJV) Galatians 1:4 (NKJV) |
The Promised Rest Hebrews
4:9-11 (NKJV) |
As Priests of God 1
Peter 2:5 (NKJV) 1
Peter 2:9 (NKJV) |
|
Christ - Taking hold of us. Galatians
4:4-5 (NKJV) |
Christ - Indwelling us Ephesians
3:17-18 (NKJV) |
Christ - Fruiting through us.
John 15:4-5 (NKJV) |
|
|
Our Spiritual Formation (Grubb referencespp
150, 151) |
Christ - FOR us John |
Christ - IN us Galatians
Romans |
Christ AS us (Christ our life)
Colossians 3:3-5 (NKJV) |
|
God’s Spirit is within us. Galatians 4:6-7 (NKJV) Titus 3:5 (NKJV) |
Christ revealed and being
formed in us Romans Galatians
|
We, as living sacrifices. Romans
12:1 (NKJV) 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NKJV |
|
|
Our spiritual unification and sanctification (Grubb referencespp 146, 148) |
Justification by Faith 1
Corinthians Galatians
Romans |
Unification – the state of
unity Ephesians
Ephesians
4:3 (NKJV) Romans
6:5 (NKJV) John
15:5 (NKJV) |
Co-operation John
John |
|
Justification – By His grace Romans Romans |
Sanctification John John
15:2 (NKJV) 2
Timothy 1
Thessalonians 1 Peter 1:2 (NKJV) |
Completion Colossians
Colossians
Corinthians 3:5 (NKJV) |
|
|
Our Identification
and status. (Grubb references pp 148 ) >>>>>>> Primary three steps of spiritual development
>>>>>>> |
Crucifixion Romans
6:6 (NKJV) Colossians 3:3 (NKJV) |
Resurrection Romans 6:5-6 Romans Philippians 3:10 |
Ascension Ephesians 2:6 (NKJV) |
|
Identification with Him Romans
6:4 (NKJV) Romans
6:5 (NKJV) Romans
6:8 (NKJV) Romans
7:4 (NKJV) |
Risen with Him Romans Ephesians 2:6 (NKJV) |
Seated with Him Ephesians
2:6 (NKJV) |
|
|
Children 1 John 1
John |
Young Men 1 John 1
John |
Fathers 1 John 1
John |
|
|
Our suffering & self-sacrifice (Grubb referencespp
154) |
Suffering in our law-inspired condition Galatians
3:5 (NKJV) Galatians
3:3 (NKJV) Galatians
|
Suffering in our more mature
but still striving condition. 2 Peter
1
Corinthians |
Suffering in our self-giving condition. 1
Peter Philippians
3:8-10 (NKJV) 2
Corinthians 1:6-7 (NKJV) 1
Peter 4:13-16 (NKJV) |
Behavioral
characteristics of these three stages.
A reminder is necessary
here. It should be understood that the stages most often overlap and do not
necessarily represent three sequential steps. Moreover, substantial movements
from one stage to another are spiritual movements brought about by the Holy
Spirit, full appreciation and understanding for the believer coming from Him
alone - as he cooperates with the Lord in this process. Also bear in mind that
these characteristics are not formulas or descriptions that would apply to all
believers, but just suggestions or characteristics as to the nature of our
preparation for the work that God has for all believers.
Stage One.
Born
again - As children - Christ taking hold of us - Christ for us - Christ initially
formed in us - Christ for us - Justification - Crucified - Identification with
Him - Suffering in our sinful condition
The Bible seems to
describe Stage One as being born again and having a knowledge
of salvation as it applies to going to heaven. Jesus Christ is recognized as Saviour but not necessarily Lord.
The Christian at this
stage may not (and some may never ) realize the full
import of the truth of “Christ in you” which is needed to develop a lifetime of
real faith and trust in Jesus Christ. This being so some may
never develop an awareness of, or be witnessed to by the Spirit as to the full
indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ may well be considered as
being out there (in heaven) rather than within the human soul and body.
Although the first flush
of salvation may produce authentic initial works of service, such service does
not develop to what is possible when the Lord is able to lead the believer
toward the full application of the Cross in their life. Although the believer
belongs to Christ they still have that tendency towards being self oriented for
self for self’s sake, being as yet unaware of the full nature of the gospel and
the role of true faith.
All this is not so
surprising given that the new believer is a babe in Christ. Even Paul allowed
for it, suggesting a milk diet instead of meat. However, given true
interpretations of scripture and a right attitude before God, any believer at
this first stage can move on with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Stage Two
Christ
in us - Christ revealed in us - Christ
Indwelling us
- As young men - Resurrection - Unification - Sanctification - Risen with Him -
The Promised rest - Suffering in our mature condition.
The Spirit of God has now
witnessed to our Spirit that Christ does indeed dwell within us. There is a
real experiential knowing that the old self is dead and gone and that he is
resurrected into the newness and fullness of the Christ life in him. There is
full knowledge and experience that a resurrection of the Christ life has taken
place within the believer. Galations
The promised rest spoken
of by Joshua and in Hebrews begins to be experienced. However, there may still
be some old self striving as though the old man is still there, with resultant
suffering because the believer has not yet fully learned his full position in
Christ by not yet having learned the fullness of faith that is both necessary
and possible.
There will almost
certainly be struggles and wars in our internal trenches that seem pointless
and unjustified. They are however, God’s way of bringing us to where He needs
us to be to fully participate as a follower in service as He defines it. In the
midst of the apparent hopelessness and never ending traumas of life, the
believer has to stand firm in his knowledge of God and in full trust and faith
in His care and godly wisdom that reigns far above anything that man could
consider or devise. Having been perfected in this stage, the believer may well
now be faced with God’s call for true sacrificial service, which has nothing to
do with self desired works.
Stage Three
Christ
our life - Completion - as Fathers - Cooperation with Him - Ascension - Seated
with Him
Priests of God - Sacrificing through Him - Christ fruiting through us.
Having reached the
promised rest and fully experiencing who we are in Christ, we now reach the
stage where Christ can use us fully in His service. Christ can now use His
witness of Himself in our lives to bring about a fuller reliance on Him for
everything - for every part of our daily lives.
We begin to apply the
sort of faith and trust in Him that pleases God and lessens or eliminates our
self-striving. We become priests of God, complete in Him and cooperating with
Him bringing fruit from His life in us. We fully know and utilize the fact that
although we have spirit, soul and body, Christ communicates His life through
our Spirit - He is Christ our life. We have ascended with Him and are seated
with Him in the heavenly realms and we do His will.
Suffering for others in
our self-giving becomes the normal life where we participate with Him in the
fellowship of the sufferings of Christ. The Lord uses His presence in our being
to use us as His vessels and branches to draw the people’s of the world to
Himself, using His death to our life and His life in our life to bring life to
others, just as Jesus Himself did when He was on earth. Death
to us but- life to others.
This is the true and
right self for a child of God whose sanctification has reached a new level -
one where the Potter’s hand has made him a useful receptacle to be filled and
used by the Spirit of God - a present tense reality on this earth before the ultimate
state in heaven.
Possible uses for this
understanding
How can a believer use
this analysis of scripture in respect of their life in Christ?
1 We can know that
God’s Word itself describes three stages and the characteristics of each stage,
therefore providing clues as to how we may co-operate with the Lord to move
through them.
2 We can analyze
the various aspects of the stages
2.1 To
see what is possible in the Christian life
2.2 To
see where we are in Christ
2.3 To
help us explain our experience of the Christian life and the difficulties we
may have.
2.4 To
see what work God might be doing in us.
2.5. To
see how we can better co-operate with Him in fullness of faith
3 We can analyze an
individual Christian life or the life of a church from its stated beliefs,
teachings and quality of true fellowship.
4 We can look at
the difficulties of an individual Christian life, or the life of a church.
5 We could use
these understandings to plan teaching, preaching, study or any other learning.
6 We could look at
what is possible at each stage of the Christian life and the fullness that is
possible through Christ, so as to expect what should be true for each stage of
the Christian life.
7 Finally, it would
help a counsellor, bible teacher,or pastor to assess and guide a believer, who is not
sure why he or she is not progressing in the Christian life. An understanding
of the three stages would also be of great use in being realistic about where
we are in our Christian walk, so as not to expect to perform in the higher
stages before God has equipped them.
Conclusion
This is a very brief
summary of what amounts to what I am now believing to
be biblical teaching of the full gospel of Jesus Christ. It is meant to
introduce believers to what may well amount to be new ideas of how to bring
about the fullness of God in their life.
When I wrote this
article in 2001 I was very much a learner in these things and did not profess
any great degree of knowledge, wisdom or experience in these things, apart from
what the Holy Spirit has granted me by His grace. It is now 2005. Since this
writing, and in consequence of a continuing and growing faith, I can say that I
have observed that these things now seem to be true and I am very glad I have
taken the pathway I have.
Even if these ideas do
nothing else than provide an alternative to the limited Gospel as it has been
taught in churches of my experience - and perhaps yours - it will perhaps
provoke deeper searches into the mysteries that have been revealed since Paul’s
revelations in New Testament times.
A good start into the
subject would be to meditate on the deeper meaning of three central scriptural
verses, which are:
"I have been
crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in
the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me,
and delivered Himself up for me. (Gal 2:20)
"Of this church I
was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for
your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,
that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations;
but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known
what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ
in you, the hope of glory."
When Christ, who
is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in
glory.(
Ken Walker
kgww @tpg.com.au (leave out space before @ to make address effective.
June 2001
Updated March 2003
Updated October 2005
Updated August 2008