Spiritual growth

Spiritual growth is increasing in grace, in the knowledge of Christ, and in maturity of faith. This page lists verses on growing in grace, moving from milk to solid food, growing up into Christ, pressing on, bearing fruit, the call to be perfect, and God completing his work in believers.

Growing in grace and knowledge

• 2 Peter 3:18
  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
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• 2 Peter 1:5-8
  ⁵And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; ⁶And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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• Colossians 1:9-10
  ⁹For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
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• Philippians 1:9-11
  ⁹And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
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• 2 Thessalonians 1:3
  We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.
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From milk to solid food

• 1 Peter 2:2
  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
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• Hebrews 5:12-14
  ¹²For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. ¹⁴But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
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• 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
  ¹And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. ²I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready, ³For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?
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• Hebrews 6:1
  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God,
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Growing up into Christ

• Ephesians 4:13-15
  ¹³Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. ¹⁴That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
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• Colossians 2:6-7
  ⁶As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, ⁷Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
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• 2 Corinthians 3:18
  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
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• Romans 12:2
  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
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Pressing on

• Philippians 3:12-15
  ¹²Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.
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• Hebrews 12:1-2
  ¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. ²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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• 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
  ²⁴Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. ²⁵And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. ²⁶I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. ²⁷But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
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• Proverbs 4:18
  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
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Bearing fruit

• John 15:1-5
  ¹I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. ²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. ³Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. ⁵I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
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• Psalm 1:1-3
  ¹Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. ²But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. ³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
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• Psalm 92:12-14
  ¹²The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. ¹³Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. ¹⁴They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,
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• Galatians 5:22-23
  ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
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Be perfect

• Matthew 5:48
  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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• James 1:2-4
  ²My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, ³Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
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• Colossians 1:28
  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
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• 2 Corinthians 7:1
  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
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• 2 Corinthians 13:11
  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
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God completes the work

• Philippians 1:6
  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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• Philippians 2:12-13
  ¹²Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
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• 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
  ²³And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
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• Hebrews 13:20-21
  ²⁰Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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• 1 Peter 5:10
  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.
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See also

• Sanctification
• Discipleship
• Fruit of the Spirit
• Grace
• Walking with God

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.