The Assurance of Spiritual Life

Ephesians 1:13-14 says, In Him (we) also trusted, after (we) heard the word of truth, the gospel of (our) salvation; in whom also, having believed, (we) were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Our inheritance is eternal life. There is no eternal life without spiritual life which is fellowship with God. He made us, who were DEAD  in sin, alive in Him, Christ. That life is forever. A spiritual life of fellowship with God is guaranteed. What is not guaranteed  is our spiritual perfection in Him... our growing into the mature man, to the measure (standard of judgment; determined extent, which is lofty) of the stature of the fullness of Christ; which is our spiritual completeness in Him. It’s not guaranteed because that part is up to us, and apparently there are some believers in the world who either don’t know that we have to grow  into it (ignorance of the word), or have decided it’s not necessary (complacency).

Colossians 4:12 says, Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. This is the “measure (the determined extent) of the stature (an attained state of maturity) of the fullness (that which is filled with the presence, power, agency, and  riches) of Christ.”

Ephesians 2:1-6 says, We all had our manner of living in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Sounds like spiritual life to me!

“Quickened” is a word in the KJV and similar translations meaning “made alive” who were dead. The spiritual life with Christ is not only eternal life, imparted and guaranteed to believers at their conversion, but believers are also guaranteed a spiritual life here and now. 
Colossians 3:4 says, Christ, is our life. 

What is not guaranteed is “perfecting” that spiritual life, or maturing fully into Christ. You know that believers are “born again” as babes in Christ. But after forty years I do not want to still be a babe. Paul says to the Corinthians, I, brethren, am not able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal—as to babes in Christ; 1 Corinthians 3:1.  Paul speaks to Christians!

Spiritual growth is expected of the believer. Paul reprimands the Hebrew believers for "no longer trying to understand" in Heb. 5:11, Concerning this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull and sluggish in your spiritual hearing and disinclined to listen.

In verse 12, he says, by this time you ought to be teachers, but you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the scriptures of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. But everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are mature, that is, those who by reason of practice have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Paul calls them “babes” in verse 13.

Hal Lindsey once said, “We need to go from Pablum to Porterhouse.”

In fact, believers should also be diligent to NOT “fulfill the desires of the flesh and of the mind” anymore, because to do so, is to sin. Believers cannot have it both ways. Fulfilling desires of the flesh, grieves the Holy Spirit, and “kills” the spiritual life. The flesh results in separation and disconnection, while the Spirit results in experiencing life and peace. It is the contrast between living in obedience to God, in newness of life... or fulfilling desires of the flesh. And I’m not talking about vile, perverted sins of the flesh, but the subtleties like covetousness, or jealousy, or pride that creep in because we tell ourselves, “We are going to sin” instead of listening to Jesus Who says “SIN NO MORE!” We should not ask, “How does this apply to my life?” ...but rather, “How do I apply this to my life?”

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God, by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The “righteousness of the law” IS  Christ, which God our Father wants to “fulfill” in us here and now.

In Colossians 2, Paul writes to believers everywhere, (How greatly I strive for you) That your hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto the riches that come from the full assurance (most certain confidence) of understanding, resulting in a true and more intimate knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ; in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Ephesians 1:22-23,  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all.

Christ "completes" the Church, and the Church “completes” Christ!

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.

Ephesians 3:10 His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

Ephesians 4:11-13 And He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying (building up) of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man.

John 10:28, Jesus said, I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

We will not perish ...because we have been born again, from above, of God’s will. That’s what Jesus did for us, but He’s not going to force us to grow into a mature spiritual man... and we are NOT to stay babes on milk.
Peace and Grace to you.

Our Father in heaven, we worship You today because You have made us who were dead, alive again in Christ Jesus because You love us. We have been born into eternity with Jesus Who paid that horrible penalty which was due me. But you spared me because You love me. But You did not spare Your beloved Son Jesus in Whom You were well pleased. According to Your will, it was necessary for Him to suffer and to rise the third day. And this He did for the joy set before Him. In your presence we will have fullness of joy. In Your Holy name, Amen.