The Believer's Growth in Grace

John Newton wrote three letters on the stages of growing in grace. He used Mark 4:28 as the general guide to his letters. “First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” He develops three stages from this verse, the blade, the ear, and the full corn. The blade is the beginning of conversion, a young convert; the ear represents a convinced believer, though he is not seasoned; and lastly, the “full corn” or “full grain” represents the seasoned believer.