Spiritual growth in the christian life requires a relationship with God who is the fountain of spiritual life, a relationship that brings a new seed or root of life. As in nature, unless there is some seed or root of life within an organism, no growth can take place. So also unless there is a root of life within the believer (i.e., some core of spiritual life), growth is impossible. There is nothing to grow.That is why Paul's theology is all based on our position in christ.
" As you therefore have received christ jesus the lord, so walk in him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in him" (Col. 2:6,7, emphasis added). To build up believers ( progressive sanctification), they must first be firmly rooted in christ ( positional sanctification) . To grow and bear fruit, Christians, their marriages and their ministries must all be organically centered in christ.
