Spiritual Maturity: The Journey

By Andrew P. Logan Sr.

All successful coaches will agree that winning athletes come from paying attention to the basics of their sport. Today churches are so focused on attracting visitors they fail to provide foundational education to enable successful relationships, careers, and personal growth. Spiritual Maturity: The Journey fills that gap for new believers as well as those who been believers for years with fundamental Biblical truths needed in a trouble-filled world today. Controversial topics that cause division or strife have deliberately been avoided in the text because they require a more in-depth foundation and understanding of Scripture, and are better served in another work.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Logan Christian Publishing Company
• Release date: Sep 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311359681

Andrew P. Logan Sr.

Andrew Logan is a passionate worshiper who has escorted others into the Presence of God for over twenty years. Andrew believes worship invites God to meet with us to bring lasting life transformation that won’t come any other way.Andrew developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ during a time of intense struggle in his personal life. Having a strong passion for music, he served the Lord in music ministries in several churches.**A few years later, the founder of Life Bible Ministries International, Dr. Harold Hagen ordained Andrew and asked him to lead worship there.**After a rewarding career of more than twenty years in Information Technology, Andrew transitioned into full-time Pastoral Ministry.

Book preview

Spiritual Maturity: The Journey

By Andrew P. Logan Sr.

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Published by Logan Christian Publishing Company at Smashwords. Copyright 2015

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Dake, Finis. The Holy Bible: Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible: Containing Old and New Testaments of the Authorized King James Version Text. Lawrenceville: Dake’s Bible Sales, 1963. Print.

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Remaining Scripture quotations are taken from American King James Version by Michael Peter (Stone) Engelbrite. Public domain.

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This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this eBook with another person, please purchase another copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this eBook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy at Smashwords.com. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Source and Accuracy of Scripture

Repentance from Dead Works

Faith Toward God

Baptisms

Laying On of Hands

Resurrection of the Dead

Eternal Judgment

Summary

Next Steps

Endnotes

About the Author

Additional Resources

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Introduction

No one will dispute that on September 11, 2001, a devastating event took place in the United States of America. Since then, a number of heinous crimes have been committed: senseless murders, parents deliberately killing children, a pre-meditated crash of an airliner loaded with people, deliberate terrorist attacks, even acts of nature have wreaked havoc on our world and our lives. This may be the reason we find it difficult to comprehend a Supreme Being (who I will call God) actually exists. Given the severity and frequency of these horrific events, is there any wonder what would happen if there were no God and evil was allowed to function without restraint? Whether we agree or not philosophically, the fact remains that God is holding back an extensive amount of evil that many of us cannot even fathom.

In these perilous days in which unforeseen events threaten us, we desperately need an immovable, steadfast foundation based on the Person of God, His statutes, His nature and the all sufficiency of His power. Each of us strives to mature in a physical sense early in life. Tragically, few of us strive to become spiritually mature. Even fewer know what constitutes spiritual maturity or how one attains it. Spiritual maturity comes through a deep, consistent personal relationship with Jesus Christ; Who is the Word made flesh. God’s Holy Spirit reveals the meaning in His Word.

A spiritually mature person’s life will reflect an understanding of seven basic foundational principles and accordingly the person’s actions will reconcile with that understanding. These principles are: Source and Accuracy of Scripture, Repentance from Dead Works, Faith Toward God, Baptisms, Laying on of Hands, Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgment. Embracing these truths helps lay a foundation for understanding God, helps develop and enhance a relationship with Him and helps us grow into spiritual maturity.

In Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, he encourages them to move past elementary principles in their lives with Christ. "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." (Hebrews 6:1-2) In doing so, Paul urges them to journey toward spiritual maturity. During the initial stage of our journey as a Christian believer, we must establish the fundamental principle of the Source and Accuracy of Scripture.

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Source and Accuracy of Scripture

Where did Scripture originate? Let us examine the first chapter in the Gospel of John. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) Scripture originated from God because He and His Word are One. God and His Word are Supreme, far above all else. Our thoughts, seemingly lofty in our eyes, are futile in God’s eyes. Job had to be reminded of this. "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. Who has laid