What Does Christian Maturity Look Like? - "... solid food is for the mature..." - Heb. 5:14

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St. SteVen

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What Does Christian Maturity Look Like?​

1) What is the measure of maturity?
2) What are the signs? (fruit)
3) How long should it take to get there?
4) What percentage in the church are mature?
5) What are you doing to help get them there? (assuming)
View attachment 42179
Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV
We have much to say about this, but it is hard
to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers,
you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word
all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,
is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use
have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

[
 

Behold

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1) What is the measure of maturity?

The spiritual understanding of a fully mature Christian, as Paul explains it is..

= "As many as be Perfect"......having become "the fullness of the stature of Christ"........on this earth.

What does that look like?
Paul explains it as having come to the perfect understanding of the Knowledge of God, as your Faith........and regarding your behavior,
it this..


= "being always content and able to calmly handle any situation"
 

MatthewG

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Reflecting on the Old Testament through the Spirit @St. SteVen

It’s not uncommon for people to struggle with the portrayal of Yahavah in the Old Testament. Some view Him harshly—almost as a figure of judgment. However, from my perspective, He is a great and wonderful God, and my admiration for His character is unwavering.

That said, the journey into understanding the Old Testament is not one everyone chooses to take. It requires spiritual discernment and a willingness to seek truth through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The teachings of Jesus, particularly those that are complex and deeply layered, can be difficult to grasp for those not actively pursuing their meaning. This is often referred to as “meat”—spiritual truths that are not easily digested or understood without deeper reflection and maturity. Topics such as Eschatology and End Times fall into this category and are frequently avoided due to their complexity.

As a result, many gravitate toward simpler teachings, or sometimes, do not engage in teaching at all. But for those who are willing to press in—through study, prayer, and the Spirit—there is profound insight waiting to be uncovered.
 

Ronald Nolette

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1) What is the measure of maturity?
2) What are the signs? (fruit) @Episkopos
3) How long should it take to get there?
4) What percentage in the church are mature?
5) What are you doing to help get them there? (assuming)
View attachment 42179
Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV
We have much to say about this,
but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you
the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

/
You are asking questions that can only be answered by God and individuals. Maturity is a qulaity of character and it can range in time to a few years to decades.

I have taught for 35 years now, evangelized on four continents and discipled for 25 years. Every one grows at their own rate.
 

St. SteVen

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What Does Christian Maturity Look Like? - "... solid food is for the mature..."​


1) What is the measure of maturity?
2) What are the signs? (fruit) @Episkopos
3) How long should it take to get there?
4) What percentage in the church are mature?
5) What are you doing to help get them there? (assuming)
View attachment 42179
Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV
We have much to say about this,
but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you
the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
 

St. SteVen

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What Does Christian Maturity Look Like? - "... solid food is for the mature..." - Heb. 5:14​

1) What is the measure of maturity?
2) What are the signs? (fruit)
3) How long should it take to get there?
4) Have you reached maturity yet?
5) What percentage in the church are mature?
6) What are you doing to help get them there? (assuming)

Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV
We have much to say about this,
but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you
the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,
is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have
trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
 

Lambano

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1) What is the measure of maturity?
1000_F_589670799_cscbR8q4pAbFgPKQTgEHF2eKIsrVe9gE.jpg
 
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Taken

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My first red flag that started me looking into how to do this was when I realized it's the Catholics that teach we are sinners. They teach us to look at ourselves and our sin. I teach that we should look at Christ and to walk in his spirit.

Every Human is born a sinner…
Agree, some congregations seem to focus and remind men of their faults…

While God reminds them…of His salvation, accepted, categorizes a man from “sinner” to “forgiven sinner”, “who sins no more”.

Glory to God,
Taken
 

Jack

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1) What is the measure of maturity?
2) What are the signs? (fruit) @Episkopos
3) How long should it take to get there?
4) What percentage in the church are mature?
5) What are you doing to help get them there? (assuming)
View attachment 42179
Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV
We have much to say about this,
but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you
the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
You said you don't trust the Bible!
 

Behold

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Peter writes about Christian Maturity.

2 Peter 1:5-7
KJV

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.​

 
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St. SteVen

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Peter writes about Christian Maturity.

2 Peter 1:5-7​

KJV​

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;​

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;​

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.​

That's a good outline for a study.

faith > virtue > knowledge > temperance > patience > godliness > brotherly kindness > charity
 

Behold

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That's a good outline for a study.

faith > virtue > knowledge > temperance > patience > godliness > brotherly kindness > charity

Yes.

Start with each of those as the Topic of Study..
For example..
Start with Faith.

So, we study the Abrahamic (faith) covenent, .. "Abraham believed God and (his faith) was counted by God as Righteousness".

Thats the same way it works today, but now we have an "eternal sacrifice" given by God for us....so, that means our Salvation once gained while we are still alive is eternal.... and its all based on initial faith in Christ.

One of the greatest revelation a Believer will ever experience, and not that many find it is......

God who began salvation in the believer will HIMSELF be FAITHFUL.......to complete it..

Phil 1:6

And we study Romans 3:21-28 for a while.......until its become a part of our faith.
See, its the scriptures that enlighten our understanding and are the foundation for and of our faith.
The Scriptures are alive with the Light of God who "exists in Light".
We FEED on the Scriptures to receive more of God's Holy Spiritual Nutrtion.
This is why the NT explains that the scriptures are "MILK".
= Babies need milk.. (baby Christians).


We initially have to learn why God only accepts our faith to save us, and will not accept our works to accept us or save us.

We can turn to Genesis and see that Cain's works were not accepted by God, and Able was accepted because He offered "BLOOD".
So, this is related to what was coming as the NEW Covenant.
Jesus is THE BLOOD COVENANT.........He is the Blood Atonement......... He is the New Testament written in His own Blood that established it as eternal truth and eternal Salvation..
Christians are "blood bought".
 
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St. SteVen

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We can turn to Genesis and see that Cain's works were not accepted by God, and Able was accepted because He offered "BLOOD".
I don't think that is why Cain's offering was unacceptable.

The text says that Abel brought FAT PORTIONS while Cain brought SOME of his harvest.
Cain's attitude was wrong. He gave out of obligation, not joy.

If Cain offered blood, it wouldn't be an offering of his produce. (work)
 

Pavel Mosko

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1) What is the measure of maturity?
2) What are the signs? (fruit) @Episkopos
3) How long should it take to get there?
4) What percentage in the church are mature?
5) What are you doing to help get them there? (assuming)
View attachment 42179
Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV
We have much to say about this,
but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you
the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

/

I may only touch on half of these things. Off handed I believe the passage historically would be about Torah Keeping for Salvation and Sanctification and making that be the primary direction of one's spiritual energies compared to the subject matter taught by Jesus and the Apostles. This phenomenon is important because teaching like the Resurrection of the Dead were still somewhat new and controversial in 2nd Temple Judaism, besides all the other issues are Halacha and Torah keeping that would be a distraction if they were basically fulfilled in Christ.


Some of the other aspects in your questions have to do with the fruit of the Spirit and having the Character of Christ as well as having an unofficial ministry in the body of Christ that we do. I think on maturity it is "easier said than done". It is hard to measure and quantify to piety and saintliness. I think it is a minority thing, but that is because of the Existential nature of faith, and the immediate rewards that come from the World vs. more subtle and long term ones from the Holy Spirit and the long term life of Faith.
 
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quietthinker

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What Does Christian Maturity Look Like? - "... solid food is for the mature..." - Heb. 5:14​

I'd say they've got good teeth, a resilient digestive system and not ashamed or hesitant to recognise waste, passing it.....into the dumpster
 
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