What Do Believers Understand When They Are at the First Level of Spiritual Growth?

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Spiritual growth begins the moment a person is born again through faith, repentance, and baptism, receiving the forgiveness of sins and entering into a covenant relationship with God. This initial stage—often described as spiritual infancy or the first level of spiritual growth—is marked by foundational understanding. While believers at this level lack spiritual depth, discernment, and experience, they do possess genuine faith and essential knowledge. This knowledge, though basic, is vital for further growth. In 1 John 2:12–14, the apostle John identifies the first stage as that of “children,” stating, “I am writing to you, children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake,” and again, “I write to you, children, because you know the Father.” These two truths—the assurance of forgiven sins and the knowledge of the Father—define what believers understand when they first begin their walk with God.

Forgiveness of Sins: The Foundational Understanding

The most immediate and essential understanding that a believer gains at the first level of spiritual growth is the certainty that their sins have been forgiven. John writes, “Your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake” (1 John 2:12). This statement summarizes the initial joy and relief that accompanies salvation. The Greek word for “forgiven” is ἀφέωνται (apheōntai), which is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action with ongoing results. This means that the cleansing of sins through Christ’s atonement is not temporary or incomplete—it is decisive and enduring. The believer begins the Christian life not in fear of judgment but in confidence that their past guilt has been removed.

This forgiveness is “for his name’s sake”—that is, on the basis of Christ’s merit, not the believer’s worthiness. The name of Jesus represents His character, authority, and sacrificial work. Acts 4:12 declares, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” The new believer understands that salvation is a gift of grace, received through obedient faith, and that no human effort could ever earn this forgiveness.

At this early stage, believers grasp that they have been justified—declared righteous by God—not because of what they have done, but because of what Christ has done. They may not yet fully comprehend doctrines like propitiation, reconciliation, or regeneration, but they do know this: their sins are no longer counted against them. This knowledge frees the conscience, brings peace with God, and provides the secure foundation for a new life of growth and service.

Knowing the Father: The Relationship Is Real and Personal

The second aspect of a believer’s understanding at the first level of spiritual growth is relational knowledge of God as Father. John writes, “I write to you, children, because you know the Father” (1 John 2:14). This knowledge is not academic but experiential. The Greek word ἐγνώκατε (egnōkate), “you have known,” again in the perfect tense, indicates a completed entrance into a relationship that continues and deepens over time.

This knowledge is not merely belief in God’s existence; it is an intimate awareness of His role as a personal Father—loving, providing, correcting, guiding. Romans 8:15 confirms this new identity: “You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” The infant Christian may not understand the full implications of divine sovereignty, providence, or sanctification, but they do know that God is near, attentive, and caring. They now belong to His household.

This relationship begins at the moment of baptism, where the believer is “born again” (John 3:3–5) and becomes a child of God (Galatians 3:26–27). As a newborn child instinctively looks to a parent for protection and provision, so too the new Christian instinctively looks to the Father with trust and dependence. They feel His presence through the Word, experience His correction through conscience and instruction, and begin to understand His goodness through answered prayer and fellowship with other believers.

This early awareness of the Father’s love motivates the new believer to pursue righteousness and resist sin, not out of fear, but from gratitude and devotion. The relationship, though still immature, is genuine and life-transforming.

Simplicity of Faith, Not Simplicity of Truth

It’s important to note that while the faith of spiritual infants is simple, the truths they understand are profound. Forgiveness of sins and knowing the Father are not superficial ideas—they are foundational to all Christian doctrine and must be preserved with accuracy. In fact, many false teachings target new believers by distorting these core truths, which is why early instruction in sound doctrine is so essential.

Believers at this stage are vulnerable to confusion and error, not because they lack sincerity, but because they lack maturity. Ephesians 4:14 warns against remaining as “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine.” The solution is to grow up in truth. But growth cannot happen unless the foundation is first laid. And that foundation is precisely what John affirms: sins forgiven and relationship with the Father.

The simplicity of a child’s faith is beautiful and pleasing to God, as Jesus taught: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). But childlike trust must mature into tested loyalty and discerning wisdom. Remaining in the child stage forever is not God’s will. Hebrews 5:12–14 rebukes those who should be teachers by now but still need milk instead of solid food. Still, no believer should despise the day of small beginnings. All must start somewhere, and this first stage—knowing one’s forgiveness and embracing God as Father—is the necessary beginning of a fruitful life.

The Foundation for Growth and Assurance

Understanding forgiveness and relationship with God creates the spiritual environment where growth becomes possible. With guilt removed and the heart opened to divine fellowship, the believer is positioned to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). Without this foundation, the soul remains paralyzed by fear, legalism, or alienation. But once established, the child of God can now begin to learn deeper truths, resist temptation, apply Scripture, and serve others with joy.

Assurance of salvation and intimacy with God are not rewards for maturity; they are gifts granted at the very beginning. The mature believer does not have “more” forgiveness or a “closer” adoption—only a deeper understanding of the same truths. This should encourage new believers who may feel overwhelmed by the knowledge and strength of others in the church. If their faith is genuine, their sins are fully forgiven, and their relationship with the Father is just as real. What they need now is not another foundation but continued growth built on what they already possess.

Conclusion: A Sure and Secure Beginning

At the first level of spiritual growth, believers understand two great and irreplaceable truths: that their sins have been forgiven through Christ, and that they now know God as their Father. These truths are not simplistic—they are foundational. They define what it means to be born again and form the basis for all further development in the Christian life. From this point, believers are called to grow—to become strong in the Word, to overcome the evil one, and to eventually become wise and stable in their knowledge of God.

But all growth must begin with a sure foundation. The one who knows they are forgiven and who walks in fellowship with the Father is on the right path. Let no one despise their small beginning, and let every believer press forward from this solid start toward full maturity in Christ.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).