by Raul Collado

 

“The progressive Christian”, it’s likely you’ve come across the term. Different people would define the label different ways, but in our study today, we are going to let the Bible answer the question, what is a true progressive Christian?

 

First, let us look at what the word progressive means:

adj. “Moving forward; advancing.

adj. Proceeding in steps; continuing steadily by increments.

adj. Open to or favoring new ideas, policies, or methods.”(1)

We see that to progress is to move forward, to advance.

 

Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about true progress and moving forward in our Christian experience:

Philippians 3:13-14

“Brethren, 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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

What is the high calling of God?

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.”

Perfection of character, perfectly reflecting the image of Christ is the goal of the Christian, because God has promised it “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” Psalm 138:8.

 

In 2 Peter 1:1-12 the Bible outlines the steps for progress in the Christian and these are seven steps leading towards the fitness into the kingdom of Christ.

2 Peter 1:1
”Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:”

What was this precious faith obtained by the early Christians?

Those who obtained this like precious faith During the time of the apostles, were those who “believed, and turned unto the Lord” and “with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:21, 23). They cleaved unto the Lord Jesus because He is our way, our truth, and our life.

2 Peter 1:2
”Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,”

What is the grace and peace that is multiplied?

Titus 2:11-12

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

Philippians 4:7

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

2 Peter 1:3-4
According as His divine power hath given unto us all things [nothing is withheld] that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Note: It is important to remember that being a partaker of divine nature entails escaping or fleeing from the corruption that exists in the world due to lust.

 

What is all that is in the world?

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

(1 John 2:16-17)

 

What do these promises consist of?

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

Note: Those that overcome the world (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life) are born of God. And the victory that overcomes is faith, the good fight of faith.

 

So then, who is born of God?

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9)

 

What is the seed?

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:23)

Where can these promises be found? They are found in God’s word, but primarily they are listed in verses five through seven. These promises are the seven steps, which we will get to in a moment, but first let’s look at the beginning of verse five.

 

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith…

What is “giving all diligence”?

To give one’s undivided attention or effort.

What does it mean to “add”? To supply or contribute to.

Note: By giving all diligence to contributing or climbing up to a higher step, God works for us, but we also must “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13)

How did Jesus put it when one said to Him, “are there few be saved?”

Luke 13:24

“Strive [labor fervently] to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”

How is it possible to strive to enter?

Mark 10:27

“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

 

Here are the Seven Steps for Christian Progress:

2 Peter 1:5-7 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”

The bottom step is precious faith, and we add to it:

  • Virtue

Philippians 4:8

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he:” Proverbs 23:7

  • Knowledge

Where do we get our knowledge?

2 Timothy 3:14-17

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Colossians 1:9-10

“For 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; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Proverbs 24:13-14

“My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.”

James 3:13-18

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

Notice that those who have bitter envy and strife in their hearts because they have not continued to add virtue to their faith, therefore their thoughts of the heart are contrary to what is listed in Philippians 4:8.

  • Temperance or Self-Control

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And 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. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But 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.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 10:31

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Note: The first three words are “know ye not,” which shows us that the knowledge concerning temperance and our body is part of the knowledge of God’s will found in His word.

  • Patience or Endurance

Luke 21:19

”In your patience [endurance] possess ye your souls.”

2 Timothy 2:3-4

”Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Note: An intemperate man cannot become a patient man because temperance comes before patience.

  • Godliness

What is godliness? Piety, holiness

2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

  • Brotherly kindness or Fraternal Affection

Romans 12:9-15 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

  • Charity or Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love boasted not itself, is not puffed up, Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails:”

If these seven things be in me that means I am partaking of divine nature.

Finally, what would be the result if I possessed these things in me?

“For if these things be in you [partakers of them], and abound [increase], they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, GIVE DILIGENCE to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:8-11)