It's Day 24, and today we will get into the topic of spiritual maturity. Over the last few days, we have talked about some very deep topics that will take time to truly develop and implement in your life. For the believer, what is spiritual maturity, and how do we mature? In Colossians 1:28, it says, "He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ." In addition, 1 John 2:14 identifies three stages of spiritual maturity: children, young men, and fathers. These verses right here are the driving force for After Salvation, because we exist to develop and equip every believer to reach their full potential (maturity) in Christ. In Hebrews 5:12-14, it shows us the importance of spiritual maturity and relates it to milk and solid food, distinguishing the importance and our goal.
Hebrews 5:12-14 distinguishes between milk and solid food in the spiritual life. What is the passage teaching us about spiritual maturity?
How Do We Define Christian Spiritual Maturity
Someone who is spiritually mature does not strive to be perfect in the practice of his or her understanding, execution, and approach to life; striving for that kind of perfection produces a religious person. Below are some great quotes from other believers about spiritual maturity.
Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of the years, but by obedience to the will of God.
Maturity comes not with age but with the acceptance of responsibility. You are only young once but immaturity can last a lifetime!
We can all see God in exceptional things, but it requires the culture of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail.
The path to spiritual maturity is a journey of faith that takes time, patience, and a willingness to learn and grow from our experiences.
Maturity in Christ is not measured by how much you know about the Bible, but by how much of the Bible is manifested in your life.
Spiritual maturity is becoming like Jesus in the way we think, feel, and act.
Spiritual maturity is not a destination; it's a lifelong journey of becoming more Christ-like in our thoughts, words, and actions.
My Definition of Spiritual Maturity
Spiritual maturity is a life that is centered on Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. As we deepen our Relationship with God, participate in Christian Community (the local church), live on Mission, and stay firmly Committed, our faith is strengthened and maturity in Christ takes root.
1. ConsistencySpiritually mature believers are consistent in everything they do, not perfect in everything they do. They understand that consistency within their connection to God, His church, and His mission will make a difference in their spiritual growth. This is one of the hardest spiritual disciplines to develop within our lives, but it is a key to the mature believer.
2. AwarenessAs we mature (naturally speaking), we become more aware of the world around us, and we should be able to understand how to work within the context of the culture we find ourselves in. The same should be understood about the spiritual life. We should become more aware of our need for God and the power of His Holy Spirit and of the spiritual and fleshly battles that take place within and around us. Awareness is what separates children from adults, both in the natural sense and spiritual sense, and we become aware by processing knowledge, life events, and practice (obedience).
3. Relentless ResistanceWithin the mind of spiritually mature people, they make commitments to die to themselves daily. They resist the devil and his temptations with a relentless and unwavering mental and physical commitment. This goes back to putting on the full armor of God; it is up to us to put on the armor of God daily. They understand the seriousness of sin and the destruction it causes. We have the power of the Spirit, which manifests the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, and the last fruit that is listed is self-control. Sin slows the progress of maturity and can sometimes completely paralyze the believer's spiritual life if they allow sin to overtake them.
4. God's WillAs we mentioned yesterday, to really know God is to know God's will. The mature believer has a kingdom-focused mindset, understanding the importance of a one-track mind in Christ. This doesn't mean we aren't allowed to have fun, as not everything has to be ministry-related. This means that God is at the center of their world, and everything they have and everything they do is for His glory. They understand that the most important thing is being obedient to God's direction and purposes in their life.
The reading lists four additional areas of focus for maturity: Consistency, Awareness, Relentless Resistance, and God's Will. Which of these four is currently the hardest to understand and/or follow?
Scripture Concerning Spiritual Maturity
"until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."
"He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ."
"Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God."
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
James 1:2-4 says the testing of our faith produces perseverance, which produces maturity. How can trials actually shape our maturity in Christ?
"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me."
"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation."
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"
Over the last 5 weeks, we learned the 4 core areas of After Salvation. They are Relationship, Community, Mission, and Commitment. How do these work together, and what should they produce within us?
"He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ."