69 Bible Verses about Growth

till being united in a perfect belief, and acknowledgment of the son of God, we grow up to that full state of maturity required by Christ: that we should be no longer children, fluctuating, and carried about with every empty doctrine, by men vers'd in sleight and the crafty arts of deceit: but being sincere in mutual love, may be entirely united to Christ, who is the head:

However, I could not speak to you, my brethren, as to the spiritual, or as to the dispassionate, but as to novices in christianity. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, nor have you yet sufficient strength.

when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I reasoned as a child: but when I became a man, I laid aside my childish ways.

Brethren, be not childish in understanding: be as innocent as babes, but use your understanding like men.

for though by this time you ought to be capable of teaching others, you want to be instructed anew in the first principles of the divine oracles; and are in such a state as to stand in need of milk, rather than of solid nourishment. now he that is disciplined like a child, is not prepared for the doctrine of justification: such solid nourishment is only fit for such as are arriv'd at their full growth and strength, whose senses have been exercis'd in distinguishing what is good, and what is prejudicial.

which is without any mixture, and will make you thrive. Since you have tasted how good the Lord is,

the ground over-run with thorns denotes such as have embraced the doctrine, but are so immerst in the business, enjoyments, and pleasures of life, as not to improve it to any real advantage. but by the good ground is meant such persons as have received the doctrine with simplicity and sincerity, abide by it, and practise it with perseverance.

he that is meant by the thorny ground, where other seed fell, is one that heareth the word: which by cares of this life, and the deceitful love of riches, is soon stifled, and becomes unfruitful: but the ground that received the grain, represents those, who hear the word, and consider it, who all become fruitful, some in one degree, and some in another.

but the cares of this life, the deceitful love of riches, and a crowd of different passions, stifle the word, and it becomes unfruitful. they who receive seed as on good ground, are such as hear the word and entertain it, and bring forth fruit, some in one degree, and some in another.

now he that furnishes seed to the sower, and bread for food, shall furnish and multiply what you sow, and increase the fruits of your liberality.

I am therefore glad when I am disarm'd by the strength of your integrity: and this is what I pray for, even your perfection.

he it is that we preach, exhorting, and instructing men in every part of divine knowledge, that they may all be perfectly acquainted with the doctrine of Christ Jesus.

have cordially reliev'd me. Epaphras a servant of Christ, and your countryman, salutes you, who is always very earnest in his prayers, that you may be perfectly acquainted with, and constantly observe,

I don't assume to myself the credit of other men's labours in another province, but hope, that when your faith is increased, the bounds now prescribed will be enlarged by you yet farther; so that I may preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not assume the credit of things ready prepared to my hand, in another man's province.

We are oblig'd, my brethren, to render thanks to God continually upon your account, as it is but just; since your faith still improves, and your mutual love is always increasing.

on the contrary, may you increase in the favour, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! to him be glory both now and for ever. AMEN.

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, whereby ye may know him: an enlightned understanding, that ye may see what great expectations he has called you to, and what abundant glory it is to the saints to be the lot of his inheritance.

that by his immense power he would strengthen the faculties of your minds by his spirit: so that your souls may be possess'd with faith in Christ. Be ye rooted and grounded in social virtue, that you may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of this mystery:read more.
and be sensible of his exceeding love, in giving you the knowledge of Christ, that you may be filled with all the supplies of divine bounty.

that your conduct may be worthy of the Lord, in every respect agreeable to him, being friutful in every kind of virtue, and increasing in divine knowledge:

It is thus his divine power has given us every thing conducive to life and piety, by making us acquainted with him, who has called us by his illustrious power;

this indeed you practise towards all our brethren in Macedonia; and we only exhort you to advance more and more therein:

and the favour I ask of him is this, that your kindness to me may be crown'd with farther improvements in knowledge and all prudence;

may the Lord make you increase and abound in mutual love, in love towards all men, as we do towards you:

to piety, fraternal affection: and to fraternal affection, universal benevolence. for if you are possess'd of these virtues and improve therein, they will prevent the knowledge you have of our Lord Jesus Christ from being useless to others, and unprofitable to yourselves.

not adhering to the head, from which all the parts of the body derive its nutrition, and being firmly united together by its joints and ligaments, receives a divine increase.

I have planted, Apollos watered: but God gave the increase. so then, neither is he that planted any thing, nor he that watered: it is God only that gives the increase.

he who has begun this good work in you will bring it to perfection against the appearance of Christ. it is but just

Renouncing therefore every kind of malice, and knavery, hypocrisy, envy, and detraction, as new-born infants desire that mystical milk,

for if you lead a sensual life, you will be miserable: but if through the spirit you mortify the affections of corrupted nature, you will be happy. as many as are actuated by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

since then, we have these promises, my dear brethren, let us cleanse our selves from all impurity, whether of body or mind, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

now they who belong to Christ, have crucified the animal nature with the affections and passions thereof.

to quit the vicious habits of your former conversation, corrupted by deceitful passions: and to be renewed in your mind, by living like men formed anew, after the image of God, in justice, sanctity, and truth.

Mortify therefore your sensual appetites, fornication, impurity, irregular passions, wicked desires, and that licentiousness practised by idolaters. these are vices which draw down the divine vengeance upon unbelieving nations; among whom you had your conversation, when you followed their practices.read more.
but now renounce them all, as well as anger, animosity, malice: let calumny and obscene discourse be banish'd from your lips. let there be no fraud among you, since you have discarded your former habits and practices, and are become new men, improv'd by knowledge into a resemblance of him, who made this change:

Therefore omitting for the present the principles of the christian doctrine, we shall proceed to something more sublime, without mentioning those fundamental articles of repentance from destructive vices, and of divine faith: the doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment:

On this head we have many things to say, not easily to be comprehended, because of your prejudices. for though by this time you ought to be capable of teaching others, you want to be instructed anew in the first principles of the divine oracles; and are in such a state as to stand in need of milk, rather than of solid nourishment. now he that is disciplined like a child, is not prepared for the doctrine of justification:read more.
such solid nourishment is only fit for such as are arriv'd at their full growth and strength, whose senses have been exercis'd in distinguishing what is good, and what is prejudicial.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to you, that you present your bodies a living victim, holy, acceptable unto God, as the service of a rational being.

but constancy should be brought to its perfection, that you may be entirely accomplished, without any defect.

Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obey'd the gospel, not only when I was with you, but much more now while I am absent, continue the work of your own salvation, whatever persecutions you apprehend:

for I am not yet secure of the prize, I have not yet finish'd my course: but I press to obtain the reward, which Jesus Christ invited me to.

Do you on your part employ all your care in adding to your faith, fortitude: to fortitude, knowledge: to knowledge, temperance: to temperance, patience: to patience, piety: to piety, fraternal affection: and to fraternal affection, universal benevolence.read more.
for if you are possess'd of these virtues and improve therein, they will prevent the knowledge you have of our Lord Jesus Christ from being useless to others, and unprofitable to yourselves.

It is he then that made some, apostles: some, prophets: some, evangelists: and others, pastors, and teachers: thus fitly qualifying his servants for their respective offices, in order to build up the body of Christ:

Cultivate social virtue; then desire spiritual gifts, but chiefly that of explaining the prophetical writings. for he that speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks not to men, but to God: for no man can understand the mysteries he delivers by the spirit. but he that expounds, speaks to the edification, exhortation, and comfort of men.read more.
he that speaks in an unknown tongue, edifies himself alone: but he that expounds, edifies the church. I wish you all had the gift of languages, but rather that you expounded: for greater is he that expounds, than he that speaks unknown languages, except he interpret what he says, that the church may be edified by it.

till being united in a perfect belief, and acknowledgment of the son of God, we grow up to that full state of maturity required by Christ: that we should be no longer children, fluctuating, and carried about with every empty doctrine, by men vers'd in sleight and the crafty arts of deceit: but being sincere in mutual love, may be entirely united to Christ, who is the head:read more.
from which the whole body fitly framed, and compacted by the entire adherence and contribution of every part performing its respective function, increases and improves itself by the mutual concern of the parts.

in the mean time Jesus increas'd in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Now the child continued to grow, and greatly improv'd in sense; and was in the desarts till the time, when he was to be manifested to Israel.

however Saul still gain'd ground, and confounded the Jews of Damascus, proving that Jesus was the Messias.

which is not only come to you, but to all the world; where it produces its effects, and increases, as it does also among you, ever since you sincerely embrac'd the divine favour,

He propos'd another parable to them, which was this; the gospel-state is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took to sow in his field. 'tis one indeed of the smallest grains: but when it is grown, it is the largest of the pulse kind, and becomes a tree: so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches. Another of his parables was this; the gospel-state is like unto leaven, which a woman took and mixt with three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Again he said, to what shall we compare the state of the gospel? or by what parable shall we represent it? it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which when sown in the earth, is less than any other grain that is sown there. but after it is sown, it grows up, and becometh larger than other plants of the pulse kind, and shooteth out its branches so high, that the fowls of the air may lodge under its shadow.

Then he said, what does the kingdom of God resemble? to what shall I compare it? it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his garden: it grew, and became so large, that the birds of the air built their nests in its boughs. again he said, to what shall I compare the kingdom of God?read more.
it is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leaven'd.

Again, he said, the state of the gospel is like that of the grain, which a man sows in his land: however he takes his repose by night, or is employ'd by day, the grain shoots up and grows without his inspection. for the earth spontaneously produces, first the blade, then the ear, after that the grain of corn in the ear.read more.
but as soon as the fruit is ripe, the sickle is applied, because the harvest is come.

however, many who heard Peter's discourse, believed, to the number of about five thousand people.

then they that embraced his doctrine, were baptized: and there were about three thousand converts made that very day.

did not venture to approach near them. the number of those who believed in the Lord, both men and women, increas'd more and more.

thus the word of God was spread; and the number of disciples encreased very much at Jerusalem; and a numerous body of priests embrac'd the faith.

Then the churches in all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, were unmolested and establish'd, and by their religious conduct, and the assistance of the holy spirit, grew more extensive.

and as the divine assistance accompany'd them, a great number of persons believed and became converts.

Being arriv'd at Iconium, they went both together to the Jewish synagogue, where they discours'd in such a manner, that a great number both of Jews and of Greeks believed.

thus were the churches established in the faith, and daily grew more numerous.