The process of Christian discipleship is a lot like growing into adulthood, I must add. Like developmental psychology, infant believers start as babies and go through the many developmental steps required to mature in the faith. Let me explain to you how some of us see it.
0. Pre-phase, The spiritual death age: At this stage, the subject is dead in the faith and is in total disbelief in God living in sin. Atheists fall under this category. Subjects in this phase are unaware about the nature of sin yet sin is a constant at this level. As we know from scripture, “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. The “unborn” Christian must first be “born again” by accepting Jesus, the Christ.
1. Infant stage, The need guidance age: It is the spiritual infancy phase. A person is alive in the faith is somewhat aware about the nature of sin he is unaware of the many consequences that being in sin may cause. Cultural Christianity often falls under this category. Many also choose to live a life for the world without knowing what is written in 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
2. Children Stage: The Self-focused age: The spiritual child can be spotted by knowing who God is but being unable to see that his faith actions are totally focused on his needs a lot like children. As pointed out in Galatians 4:19, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.”
3. Young adult stage: The Kingdom focus age: The faithful whose phase is to advance the word of God to the masses as his primarily goal. They know the father and the word of God is strong in them. They can be located in the Bible in the book of 1 John 2:14, “I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”
The next phase is the spiritual parent kind.
4. Parent stage: In the parent phase, a devoted Christian is able to serve as a disciple maker for the body of Christ, helping the church to having prepared disciples to make the faith move forward. Having guiders is good but having fathers is better. “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 4:15.
The last phase is the Grandparent stage.
5. Grand parent stage: Grandparents in the faith are Christians with the highest level of understanding about the faith, including much wisdom and understanding about how to train makers of disciples. They are the backbone of the church. They are known for having the endurance that a mature Christian must possess in order to mentor trainers of trainers. 2 Timothy 2:2 exemplifies the traits of grandparents in the faith quite well, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
Which stage of the Christian faith are you in? Did you believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, that He does for our sins so that we may have eternal life through grace?
Be with God, accept Jesus and open your Bible everyday. We, believers of the way, don’t cease to love Him and proclaim the gospel to the world. We don’t do the former to receive financial compensation, fane or riches like the false churches and the satanic cult.
We love Him because of His sacrifice for us. That the Lord be glorified now and forever more. Blessings to everyone, in His name.