DETERIORATION-DEVELOPMENT

(A) DETERIORATION, a tendency of the sinful life Isa 1:22; Jer 7:26; 16:12; Eze 16:47; Ho 13:2 Lu 11:26; 2Ti 3:13; 2Pe 2:20 --SEE Dross, DROSS (B) BACKSLIDING, (Select Reading Mal 3.7-18. Gal. Gal 4) Mal 3:7-10; Ga 4:1-31 Results of Selfish Absorption Pr 14:14; Isa 1:4; Jer 14:7; Ho 11:7 Religious Indifference Mt 24:12 Unfitness for the Kingdom Lu 9:62; Ga 1:6 Bondage to Forms Ga 4:9 Divine Displeasure Heb 10:38; 2Pe 2:20 Loss of Spiritual Enthusiasm Re 2:4 --SEE Apostasy, UNFAITHFULNESS UNFAITHFULNESS Forsaking God, UNFAITHFULNESS UNFAITHFULNESS (C) BACKSLIDERS, causes which tend to produce Absence of Spiritual Leaders Ex 32:1,8; 1Sa 15:11 Evil Associations 1Ki 11:4 Worldly Success 2Ch 25:2,14; Ps 78:57; Ho 6:4; Zep 1:6 Shallowness Lu 8:13 Emptiness of Life Lu 11:24,25,26 Lack of Spiritual Insight Joh 6:63,64,66; 1Ti 5:15 Love of the World 2Ti 4:10 --SEE Apostates, UNFAITHFULNESS Covenant-breakers, UNFAITHFULNESS Wanderers, ESTRANGEMENT (D) SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT, (Select Reading, Heb 5.11-14, 6.1-16) Heb 5:11-14; 6:1-16 (E) SPIRITUAL GROWTH, Enjoined In Fruitfulness 2Co 9:10 Into Christ Eph 4:15; Col 1:10 In Love 1Th 3:12; 4:10 Unto Perfection Heb 6:1 Through "The Word" 1Pe 2:2 By Accretion 2Pe 1:5,6 In Grace and Knowledge 2Pe 3:18 --SEE Divine Perfection, PERFECTION (F) EXAMPLES OF GROWTH The boy Samuel 1Sa 2:26 John the Baptist Lu 1:80 The Boy Christ Lu 2:40,52 Paul Ac 9:22 The Thessalonians 2Th 1:3 (G) SPIRITUAL MATURITY, how Secured By Putting away Childish Things 1Co 13:11 By Cultivating the Understanding 1Co 14:20 By Striving after the Christ Ideal Eph 4:13,15 By Partaking of the Deeper Truths of the Gospel Heb 5:14 By Overcoming Temptation 1Jo 2:14 --SEE "Be Strong", BATTLE OF LIFE (H) SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY Inability to Receive Strong Doctrine 1Co 3:1,2; 14:20 Necessity for Tutelage Ga 4:1,2,3 Instability of Faith Eph 4:14 Continuance in the Primary Department Heb 5:12; 1Pe 2:2 (I) SPIRITUAL PROGRESS (1) A Characteristic of the Righteous Job 17:9; Ps 84:7; 92:12; Pr 4:18; 2Co 3:18; 1Ti 4:15 --SEE Christ's Perfection, PERFECTION (I) SPIRITUAL PROGRESS (2) The Larger Life 2Sa 22:37; 1Ki 4:29; 1Ch 4:10; Ps 18:36; 118:5; Isa 54:2 Joh 10:10; 2Co 6:11; Eph 3:17,18,19