Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith OF Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
In the above scripture, we see the first step in our growth in Christ. It is the faith OF Christ that we can even believe. He said if He was lifted up from the earth, He would draw all men unto Himself. He draws, we receive. Passover fully came at the cross. (Salvation) Passover is all about Him. He initiates it and demonstrates it. There was a cataclysmic change in our Spirit when Christ drew us unto Himself; we became one Spirit with the Lord. We cannot become something, or be good enough for Him to draw us. He is the Author AND Finisher of our faith.
Luke 3:15-16 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John (The Baptist) might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Acts 2: 2-4a And when the day of Pentecost was “fully come”, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The above scripture has the same initiator in Pentecost as it does in Passover. It is Jesus Christ. What were the people doing? They were waiting for God to move. They could not do anything to get the day of Pentecost to fully come. God’s timing is His decision. This outpouring of the Spirit of Christ gave believers a deposit of their inheritance. God initiated it and demonstrated it. It is the second stage of growing in Christ. A cataclysmic change happened within our soul. We received the firstfruit of the Spirit – a portion of our inheritance.
So we have a precedence in 2 major moves of God They were both about Him. His ability and power demonstrated for all to eventually believe and receive. No man can take this honor unto Himself by any ability, fruit, or power of His own, but God alone initiates and demonstrates.
So our third and final stage of growth in Christ will follow the aforementioned – “WAYS” of God.
Romans 8:23 Berean Literal Bible
We also groan within ourselves, awaiting divine adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
Our lives, now hid in Christ, are being conformed to His image. The 3rd and final stage of being conformed to His image is referred to in the bible as Tabernacles. For God will Tabernacle a people with a redeemed body and bring the knowledge of the glory of the Lord to all the people of the earth.
The precedent was set in Passover and Pentecost. God alone will initiate and demonstrate this. As in all other stages of growth, we cannot be good enough or knowledgeable enough for God to complete this work in us. We wait (joyfully expect) HIM. It is about HIM, not about us! We cannot add one whit to our stature. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
We long for the cataclysmic change that will take place in the body of the firstfruits of the final crop Israel celebrated known as the Feast of Tabernacles, that the firstfruits will then turn and fill the earth with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.
1st Cor. 15:22a Every man shall come in his own order!