1. THE CALLING OF GOD.
The journey with God begins with the calling of God through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the sinful world (Matthew 28:19-20). This is the critical stage through which God reaches out to sinful men by His saving grace in the blood of Jesus Christ. The church is charged with the noble task of preaching Christ crucified. Every believer has an obligation to witness for the Risen Christ to draw men to Him.
2. SALVATION IN CHRIST.
The next step involves the repentance of the sinner who turns from sin to Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts sinners when they hear the gospel proclaimed. This is the entry point for admission to God's household of faith. Paul's response to the jailor concisely captures the sinner's appropriate response to the gospel: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ....,“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household (Acts 16:30-31).
In coming to Christ, the believer is assured of his identity in God's household as a child of God (John 1:12). Salvation is by God's grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
3. CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
The young believer should be inducted on the basics or fundamental truths of God's word. This includes their instruction on basic Christian doctrine. Paul adjudged the Corinthians as spiritually immature because they had not been adequately weaned through this important foundation as a Christian community. Notice Paul's lament in 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 in response to the sectarianism in Corinth.
4. CHRISTIAN SANCTIFICATION.
This is a critical stage in the life of the believer. It centres on Christian obedience and growth. The believer is edified and adequately equipped through solid instruction in the truths of God's word in order to grow in the knowledge and discernment of the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 3 3:5-17; Hebrews 11; Ephesians 4:22-16). The consciousness of the believer's special relationship with Christ and his separation from the sinful world continues to grow in earnest.
The process of Christian sanctification progresses throughout the believer's journey on earth. No believer outgrows the Christian sanctification stage. They continue to be build up in the holy truths in Scripture. They consistently submit to Christ in love, supplication, Christian fellowship, and devotion.
5. CHRISTIAN SERVICE.
Every believer who has attained a reasonable level of Christian maturity should be introduced to Christian service under initial supervision. They should be afforded an opportunity to serve God with their spiritual gifts and talents and fulfil God's purposes for their life in Christ (Acts 6-11; 13; 1 Corinthians 12-13). Those who stand out in Christian service should be empowered to lead and mentor others. The call to Christian service is a call to Christian empowerment, stewardship, and accountability (Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2)
6. CHRISTIAN GLORIFICATION.
Christian glorification is the final stage that concludes the believer's life on earth. Our time on earth is for a defined period that God permits. Psalm 90:10-12 recognizes the brevity of the earthly journey and exhorts us to prudence and diligence while the window of God's grace is open.
When the believer dies, he will have fulfilled God's purposes for his life on earth. The authority of Hebrews 9:27 is theologically conditional to the believer dying before Christ's coming. This is because Scripture elsewhere reveals that those who will be found alive at Christ's coming shall not taste death. They shall be transformed into glorified beings at the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52).
Being glorified is being united with Christ upon the resurrection of the dead in Christ or the transformation or rapture of believers who shall be alive at the sounding of the last trumpet, whichever be the case. This is the exit stage for the church. For believers who die before Christ's coming, their souls are preserved by God in heaven (2 Timothy 4:7-8). They shall be united with Christ upon the resurrection of saints (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
Elsewhere in Scripture, we learn that God is glorified by the deaths of His saints. Psalm 116:15 says "precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints." Believers do not experience premature death when the time comes to depart this world. God takes them to be with Him at His appointed time (cf. Acts 13:22,36). Those who die in Christ are therefore celebrated by their Master (cf. Revelation 6:10).
7. ETERNITY WITH CHRIST.
This is the final stage of our Christian journey. The resurrected or raptured believer is adorned with a glorified body and is ushered into the glorious presence of God and of Christ in heaven. This is the final state of the bride of Christ, the redeemed church, before the presence of God and of the Lamb of God (1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 20:11-15, 21-22).
Which steps or stages define your present positioning in your journey with Christ? We should keep pressing on towards our ultimate goal to the glory of God (Philippians 3:14).
Shalom
