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

(B) Backsliding, with a select reading from Malachi and Galatians Mal 3:7-10; Ga 4:1-31

Backsliding brings selfish absorption Pr 14:14; Isa 1:4; Jer 14:7; Ho 11:7

Backsliding brings religious indifference Mt 24:12

Backsliding brings unfitness for the kingdom Lu 9:62; Ga 1:6

Backsliding brings bondage to forms Ga 4:9

Backsliding brings divine displeasure Heb 10:38; 2Pe 2:20

Backsliding brings loss of spiritual enthusiasm Re 2:4

See Apostasy; Forsaking God

Backsliding follows the absence of spiritual leaders Ex 32:1,8; 1Sa 15:11

Backsliding through evil associations 1Ki 11:4

Backsliding through worldly success 2Ch 25:2,14; Ps 78:57; Ho 6:4; Zep 1:6

Backsliding through shallowness Lu 8:13

Backsliding leaves an empty life Lu 11:24,25,26

Backsliding through lack of spiritual insight Joh 6:63,64,66; 1Ti 5:15

Backsliding through love of the world 2Ti 4:10

See Apostates; Covenant-breakers; Wanderers

(D) Spiritual development, with a select reading from Hebrews Heb 5:11-14; 6:1-16

Growth in fruitfulness 2Co 9:10

Growth into Christ Eph 4:15; Col 1:10

Growth in love 1Th 3:12; 4:10

Growth unto perfection Heb 6:1

Growth through the Word 1Pe 2:2

Growth by accretion 2Pe 1:5,6

Growth in grace and knowledge 2Pe 3:18

See Divine Perfection

Growth of the boy Samuel 1Sa 2:26

Growth of John the Baptist Lu 1:80

Growth of the boy Christ Lu 2:40,52

Growth of Paul Ac 9:22

Growth of the Thessalonians 2Th 1:3

Growth by putting away childish things 1Co 13:11

Growth by cultivating the understanding 1Co 14:20

Growth by striving after the Christ ideal Eph 4:13,15

Growth by partaking of the deeper truths of the gospel Heb 5:14

Growth by overcoming temptation 1Jo 2:14

See "Be Strong"

Spiritual childhood: inability to receive strong doctrine 1Co 3:1,2; 14:20

Spiritual childhood: necessity for tutelage Ga 4:1,2,3

Spiritual childhood: instability of faith Eph 4:14

Spiritual childhood: continuance in the primary department Heb 5:12; 1Pe 2:2

(1) Growth as 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

(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