Don't confuse progression in righteousness with a progression in holiness. The bible talks about instruction in righteousness...but no one can be instructed in holiness. One is either holy or not. One is either abiding in Christ, or not. One is either walking free from sin, or else walking in the power of the flesh. The flesh and the Spirit war against each other. When that is taking place within a believer, that one is not IN the Spirit. That one is outside of holiness...struggling to keep righteousness.
However, in holiness one doesn't struggle in righteousness (at least not until tempted by the devil like Jesus was in the desert) since that one is COVERED by God's righteousness so as to walk exactly as Jesus walked.
He that says he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
People miss the depth of this because they assume they are already understanding the depth of the gospel by comparing their present walk to a diminished interpretation of the word that they feel justifies them. But that is a test of faith. Many will say on that day...Lord Lord...
We only retain a righteous standing with God when we remain humble and fear God...not lowering God's standard to what we can do in our human efforts. The temptation to declare ourselves righteous by naming and claiming is just too great for some.
What does that scripture I mentioned mean to you? Any time I have mentioned it, you have never addressed it.
Yes we are to walk as Jesus walked, in the Spirit. Each one according to their measure. And even growing into the full stature of Christ will appear different for each individual....there are greater and lesser in the kingdom of God.
And on the subject of faith.....the faith we have is already not of our own (for those who are born of Him and have received His Spirit). The Lord gave me discernment to see it was not of my own at the time i came to faith, I knew it came from outside myself so to speak, before I even knew that scripture. It was the free gift of God, a completely unmerited miracle. That is my testimony and witness, which agrees with the word, and nobody can tell me it was my own faith any more than they could deny Jesus to me. I just know that would not be true because I have personally seen and experienced and witnessed otherwise.
I was given a measure of faith, as the Lord willed, and I believe from scripture that God judges us according to the measure we have received. "The gift is acceptable according to what we have, not according to what we do not have." As we see in the parable of the talents.
But also, as we see in that parable, we need to grow in what we have received....apprehending, getting hold in real time of what we have received in spirit, as we obey/follow the Lord, until we hopefully apprehend/manifest the fullness of what God gave us according to His will. As we are faithful in a little, investing/exercising our faith, that measure grows hopefully into its full potential. Which is a different potential for each one. We are apprehending/bringing down to our "earth" what has been laid up (already imputed) for us in heaven. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
The Lord may use different scriptures to teach each one individually, but I see this as that we are walking through the veil, following Jesus, who is our forerunner....through the veil of our own slain flesh nature, little by little as we die to ourselves. As per the earthen pot with fire in it that passed through the pieces of slain flesh in Abraham's vision. That earthen pot was Jesus and it also represents each of us. It is an ongoing work that the Lord is leading us in as we follow/obey Him, until that work is finished. Our faith is exercised as we trust and obey and keep following Him along all the way through to the end....to the death of ourselves.