SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIAN GROWTH (characteristics)

Salvation is absolutely free in

  1. the merciful character of God
  2. the finished substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus
  3. the drawing, wooing of the Spirit

But this free gift (cf. Rom. 3:24; 5:15,16; 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9) is meant to issue into a cost-everything Christian life. Receiving Jesus is not the end, but the beginnig! We were saved

  1. to Christlikeness (i.e., Rom. 8:28-30; 2 Cor. 3:18; 7:1; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4; 4:13; 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:3,7; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:13; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 1:15)
  2. the health and growth of the Body of Christ (i.e., 1 Cor. 12:7)

These are the different NT lists of Christian virtues (see SPECIAL TOPIC: VICES AND VIRTUES IN THE NT):

  Romans 5:3-4 Galatians 5:22-23  James 1:3-4  2 Peter 1:5-7
Tribulation Causes
 * perseverance
 * proven character 
 * hope (cf. v. 2)



 Fruit of the Spirit
 * love 
 * joy 
 * peace 
 * patience 
 * kindness 
 * goodness 
 * faithfulness 
 * gentleness 
 * self-control		 Testing Produces
 * endurance 
 * maturity 
    1. steadfastness 
    2. complete 


 Applying Diligence
 * moral excellence
 * knowledge
 * self-control
 * perseverance
 * godliness
 * brotherly kindness
    (philadelphia)
 * Christian love
    (agapē)

SPECIAL TOPIC: SANCTIFICATION

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