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