"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

As a new creation there is to be a change in our character; our attributes.
Last week we looked into Scripture to see how these are to be manifested in our relationship to other Christians and to the world. Today let's see what Scripture tells us as to the manifestation of faith in our spiritual
growth--
Into Christ:
"...We should no longer be children tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by  which they lie in wait to deceive, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ." Ephesians 4:14-15

In fruitfulness:
"Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness." 2 Corinthians 10:9

In love:
Paul speaking in 1 Thessalonians 3:11-12, "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."

Unto perfection:
"Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection..." Hebrews 6:1

Growth upon growth:
As Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:5-8
"...Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control; to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

In grace and knowledge:
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen"  2 Peter 3:18

These character changes are to manifest internal graces-- In kindness:
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." Ephesians 3:12-13

In humility:
"...Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.'"
1 Peter 5:5

In gentleness:
"Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." James 3:17

In love (Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13):
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails..." Vs. 4-8

These internal graces can be summed up in Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is not law."
Paul goes on to tell us,
"And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Sprit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

Have we each reckoned our old self dead and now alive to Christ? That is our position! Let us examine ourselves before the Lord; allow Him to make any adjustment; and continue to grow in God's grace. Amen