My Journey to Life, Step 17—Growing in Christ

5. How can we tell if there is spiritual growth in our lives?

The best test of spiritual growth is to see if we are bearing the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits will be evident when we are born again by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that guides us into all truth, convicts us of sin, and enables us to live out the principles of the kingdom of God. JTL17 7.1

Paul goes on to list what will NOT be in our lives if we are growing in the Spirit: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like (Galatians 5:19-21). JTL17 7.2

Jesus loved His Father and therefore willingly did His Father’s will on earth. Likewise, Jesus anticipates a love foundation for His own disciples. “Abide in me,” He says, “as I abide in you. JTL17 7.3

Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me” (John 15:4). Fruit-bearing, obedience, and living in accordance with God’s will as a response to His grace, are essential signs of spiritual growth. The absence of fruit indicates the absence of abiding in Christ. JTL17 7.4