Understanding Christian Spiritual Growth Christian Perfection Matt 5

Understanding Christian Spiritual Growth

Christian Perfection: Matt 5: 48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ” “ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑμεῖς τέλειοι ὡς ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τέλειός ἐστιν. ” τέλειός = “complete, perfect, mature”

Relationship with God “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message , that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ” John 17: 20 -21

High-Level Overview ØSeasons of the Spiritual Life ØPre-Decision ØGod exists ØPurgative Way ØLearning About God ØIlluminative Way ØLearning to Hear God ØUnitive Way ØLearning to Rely on God

High-Level Overview: Pre-Decision ØDevoted to the question of God’s existence ØMarked by awakening, forgiveness, new birth ØSaved from the “power” of sin ØCharacterized by Self-focused petition ØYour focus is on letting God know what you are concerned about ØCulminates in Justification & New Birth ØVast majority of Christians get “stuck” here

Pre-Decision: God’s Existence ØMetaphysical. Arguments for the existence of God ØOntological ØTelelogical ØCosmological ØAtemporal Cosmological Argument ØContingency & Necessity ØIdealism and Perceived Reality ØOnly God knows “Actual” Reality ØYou only experience “Actual” Reality through God = Abundant Life

High-Level Overview: Purgative Way ØDevoted to learning about who God is ØAs you learn about who God is, God draws you away from the things that have separated you from God ØSaved from the “presence” of sin ØShift to God-Focused petition and meditation ØGod-Focused petition happens when you focus on desiring to know who God is

High-Level Overview: Illuminative Way ØDevoted to learning how to hear God ØMarked by a change from Meditation to Meditative-Contemplation ØCommunication with God happens in real time, for the first time ØOf the Christians that come to this season, many get “stuck” in the zeal that accompanies “hearing” God’s voice for the first time

High-Level Overview: Unitive Way ØDevoted to learning to rely on God ØMarked by a change from contemplativemeditation to simple contemplation ØMost subtle of all transitions – characterized by a time of deep spiritual peace ØIncludes the “Dark Nights” of the soul and spirit ØGod teaches us to rely on who God is, rather then the mediums through which we have come to know God

Pre-Decision Purgative Way Illuminative Way An xie God’s Existence Awakening Moral Law Saved from the power, but not the presence of sin Saved from the presence of sin Learning about God Learning to hear God s Moral Integration Mature Faith Trust Zeal Presence of God Struggle Temptation Trials Darkness Light Joy Peace dom ree F ce & a e P Prayer n. N eed Self-Centered Petition Glorification Sanctifying Grace rive Experience Focus ty-D Union God Focused Petition Meditative Contemplation Meditation Contemplative. Meditation Perfected (completed) in God, through Christ, by the Power of the Spirit Learning to rely on God Quiet Ecstasy Loss of Defenses Dark Night of the Spirit Natural Law Entire Sanctification Dark Night(s) of the Soul Justification—Justifying Grace Prevenient Grace Regeneration Salvific Overlay Initial Sanctification Unitive Way Transforming Union Simple Contemplation Prayer of Full Union Prayer of Passive Union Infused Contemplation

Pre-Decision Purgative Way Illuminative Way An xie God’s Existence Awakening Moral Law Saved from the power, but not the presence of sin Saved from the presence of sin Learning about God Learning to hear God s Moral Integration Mature Faith Trust Zeal Presence of God Struggle Temptation Trials Darkness Light Joy Peace dom ree F ce & a e P Prayer n. N eed Self-Centered Petition Glorification Sanctifying Grace rive Experience Focus ty-D Union God Focused Petition Meditative Contemplation Meditation Contemplative. Meditation Perfected (completed) in God, through Christ, by the Power of the Spirit Learning to rely on God Quiet Ecstasy Loss of Defenses Dark Night of the Spirit Natural Law Entire Sanctification Dark Night(s) of the Soul Justification—Justifying Grace Prevenient Grace Regeneration Salvific Overlay Initial Sanctification Unitive Way Transforming Union Simple Contemplation Prayer of Full Union Prayer of Passive Union Infused Contemplation