Spiritual Growth #0 – In Part or Full?

The next series of blogs will touch on Scriptures where many of us Christians see only half of a Scriptural verse, while others see its entirety. Thus, for various reasons, we have heated arguments among us. The various reasons?

1. How’s about Christians who walk in “works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21), versus Christians who “walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16, 22, 23)?
2. How’s about Christians whose philĕō-love is like the ebb and flow of the tide, versus Christians whose agapē-love holds constant no matter the situation? 
3. How’s about Christians who manifest spiritual gifts and thus can only “know in part” (1 Cor. 13:9), versus Christians who are “perfect” (tĕlĕiŏs, complete in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.) and for whom that which is “in part” has been “done away” (1 Cor. 13:10)?

More reasons exist, however, Scripture sums up the difference between the two types of Christians in this way:

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (1 Cor. 13:11-12 NIV).

Simply put, Christians are to grow up!

When the Body of Christ makes “every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3 NIV), then we will “all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13 NIV).

Let’s look at some popular Scriptures where we, as children, have only seen and understood them “in part”; and then apply the entire or “full” verse, so we may put behind us childish behaviors and thoughts!

=============================================================

Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, Cambridge 1769. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked “NIV” are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved