𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗧𝗛

In the specialized field of spiritual forensics, a rigorous audit of the Pauline epistles reveals a critical distinction between the immutable judicial standing of the believer and the fluctuating experiential state of the same individual. This investigation into the four stages of spiritual growth begins with the foundational premise that while the New Creation is a finished work in the eyes of the Almighty, the manifestation of that reality in time and space is a matter of progressive development. Within the current Administration of Grace, the investigator must differentiate between “position,” which is what the believer is in Christ, and “condition,” which is how the believer walks on the earth. The baseline for this inquiry is established in Colossians 2:6, which states: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.” This administrative order confirms that the grace which saves is the same grace that facilitates growth, yet the transition from spiritual infancy to maturity is not an automated process. It requires a systematic application of rightly divided truth to the human experience.

The first category of this forensic report addresses the Natural Man, identified as the starting point of every descendant of Adam. 1 Corinthians 2:14 provides the diagnostic summary: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” This individual is characterized by a state of spiritual death, being “dead in trespasses and sins” according to the data in Ephesians 2:1. The investigator finds that the natural man is physically alive but spiritually unresponsive to the Divine. Lacking the indwelling Holy Spirit, he possesses no mechanism for understanding spiritual truth; the cross of Christ is viewed as an absurdity rather than the power of God. This state is further defined by a reliance on self-effort or religious ritual, a phenomenon Romans 10:3 describes as being “ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness.” Without the indwelling Spirit, as Romans 8:9 confirms, he is “none of his,” residing under a judicial sentence of condemnation. Romans 8:8 provides the final verdict on this stage: “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

The transition from the first stage to the second occurs through the New Birth, a miracle of grace that produces the Babe in Christ. This stage is marked by a legitimate judicial change, yet it is accompanied by a profound lack of experiential training. 1 Corinthians 3:1 identifies this group: “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” The investigator notes that while the babe is “in Christ”—a position of total perfection and eternal security—his condition is one of dependency and vulnerability. This stage requires a specific nutritional intake, described in 1 Peter 2:2 as “the sincere milk of the word,” which is necessary for growth. However, the babe is characterized by a lack of discernment. Hebrews 5:13 notes that “every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.” The forensic record indicates that while the babe has been “made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21), he has not yet learned the “word of righteousness” that allows him to navigate the complexities of the Christian walk. This foundation stage is essential, yet it is never intended to be a permanent residence.

A significant anomaly in the growth process is the Carnal Believer, an individual who has transitioned from death to life but remains governed by the old nature. 1 Corinthians 3:3 provides the evidence: “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” This investigative find reveals that a saved person can exist in a state where their condition contradicts their position. The carnal believer is not “Spirit-led” but “flesh-led,” a state described in Romans 8:5 as being “mindful of the things of the flesh.” This results in frequent internal and external conflicts, manifesting in the “works of the flesh” such as envy and division. The investigator observes that the conscience of the carnal man is often weakened or defiled because “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). This stage is particularly damaging to the testimony of the Body of Christ, as it causes the name of God to be “blasphemed among the Gentiles” (Romans 2:24). The audit also confirms that while eternal security remains intact, the carnal believer is subject to divine correction, for “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Hebrews 12:6).

The objective of the Pauline ministry is the production of the Spiritual Man, the fourth and mature stage of growth. 1 Corinthians 2:15 defines this individual: “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” This is the Spirit-controlled life, characterized by a consistent “walk in the Spirit” as commanded in Galatians 5:16. The investigator finds that the hallmark of the spiritual man is a profound love for sound doctrine and a commitment to 2 Timothy 2:15, “rightly dividing the word of truth.” Unlike the babe, the spiritual man has developed discernment; he is no longer “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). His service is productive and fruitful, fulfilling the mandate of Colossians 1:10 to be “fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” The spiritual man is not a “super-Christian” but is simply a believer who has allowed the inner man to be “strengthened with might by his Spirit” (Ephesians 3:16). This stage represents the alignment of condition with position, where the believer’s life reflects the reality of their standing in Christ.

The summary of this forensic audit concludes that growth is not a requirement for salvation, but it is the intended result of it. Position is fixed by the blood of Christ; condition is changed by the word of Christ. Ephesians 4:13 identifies the goal of this progression: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” The investigator notes that grace does not provide an excuse for remaining in infancy or carnality; rather, it provides the power to transcend those states. The transition from milk to meat, and from strife to stability, is the path of the workman who is “approved unto God.”

A call to action is issued for the reader to identify their current coordinates on this spiritual map. If you are found in the “natural” state, the directive is to believe the Gospel of grace: that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). For the believer, the mandate is to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). This growth requires a daily commitment to study the Word and to walk in the Spirit, ensuring that the flesh is not permitted to sabotage the testimony of the new man.

Final thoughts on this investigation reveal that salvation is a moment, but maturity is a movement. Carnality is a choice, not a necessity. The “depths of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10) are available only to those who move beyond the elementary principles of Christ and go on unto perfection. Grace fuels the transformation, but truth determines the direction of the growth. Where are you walking today? The audit shows that grace is leading you toward the image of the Son. The question is whether you will cooperate with the Architect of your soul to complete the work He has begun.

The investigative data regarding “Spiritual Discernment” shows that it is the primary differentiator between the mature and the immature. The babe and the carnal man are “unskilful” and “walk as men,” but the spiritual man “judgeth all things.” This discernment is not a psychic ability but is the result of the mind being renewed by the Pauline revelation. Romans 12:2 instructs: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The investigator concludes that the quality of a believer’s walk is directly tied to the content of their thoughts. A mind saturated with the “mystery” of the Body of Christ will naturally produce a spiritual walk, while a mind saturated with the “tradition of men” (Colossians 2:8) will produce carnality or religious infancy.

Furthermore, the investigation into “Productive Service” reveals that the spiritual man is the only one capable of building “gold, silver, precious stones” upon the foundation of Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 warns that the carnal man’s work—characterized as “wood, hay, stubble”—will be burned in the day of judgment. The investigator finds that the motive and the source of the service are as important as the service itself. Work done in the flesh, even if religious in appearance, is of no forensic value in the heavenly court. Only work produced by the Spirit through a heart aligned with sound doctrine will endure the fire of the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The forensic audit of “Eternal Security” within these stages confirms that a believer’s movement into carnality does not revoke their position in the Godhead. Ephesians 4:30 states: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” The seal is provided by the Spirit, not by the quality of the walk. However, the investigator notes that “grieving” the Spirit results in a loss of fellowship, power, and reward. The carnal believer is “saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15). This distinction between “union” and “communion” is essential for the student of grace to understand; our union is permanent, but our communion is dependent on our walk.

The investigation concludes with an analysis of “Progressive Transformation.” In 2 Corinthians 3:18, the Apostle provides the mechanism for this growth: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” The investigator finds that growth is not achieved by looking at oneself or one’s failures, but by “beholding” the glory of Christ as revealed in the Pauline epistles. As the believer fixates on the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8), the Holy Spirit performs the work of transformation, moving the individual from one level of glory to the next.

The summary of the four stages is final:

1. Natural Man: Dead, blind, and condemned (1 Cor 2:14).
2. Babe in Christ: Saved, but unskilled and milk-dependent (1 Cor 3:1).
3. Carnal Believer: Saved, but flesh-led and world-conformed (1 Cor 3:3).
4. Spiritual Man: Saved, Spirit-led, and doctrinally stable (1 Cor 2:15).

The forensic evidence is clear. Maturity is the goal of the Dispensation of Grace. The workman who rightly divides the Word will find that truth is the catalyst for the transition from stage to stage. The investigation is complete. Let the believer walk accordingly, “increasing in the knowledge of God” and “strengthened with all might” until the day of Christ.