Spiritual Maturity_what is it?

[JB_Reformed Baptist]

When we consider maturity do we think of spiritual gifts, like the Corinthians? Or Just how should we determine our growth in maturity?

1 Corinthians 13:11​

​

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.​

Marks Of Spiritual Immaturity (Hebrews 5:11-14)



INTRODUCTION

1. Just because one has been a Christian for many years, does not mean
they are "mature"
a. They may be like the person who had been teacher for twenty-five
years...
1) When she heard about a job that would mean a promotion, she
applied for the position. However, someone who had been
teaching for only one year was hired instead.
2) She went to the principal and asked why. The principal
responded, "I'm sorry, but you haven't had 25 years of
experience as you claim; you've had only one year's experience
25 times."
-- During that whole time the teacher had not improved!
b. So it may be with many Christians; they have not grown, but
simply repeated their first year of spiritual life many times!

2. The lack of spiritual growth (i.e., spiritual immaturity) is a
dangerous thing...
a. For there may be blessings to be enjoyed in Christ that only the
mature Christian can truly understand and appropriate
b. If one remains spiritually immature, they do not come to fully
appreciate their standing and blessings that they have in Christ!
-- Deprived of a greater understanding, they are more susceptible to
the wiles of the devil

3. The author of the book of Hebrews found himself faced with this
problem...
a. He had much to say about Christ as our High Priest
b. But the spiritual immaturity of his readers made it difficult
-- And so he thought it necessary to temporarily digress - He 5:
11-14

4. How about you?
a. Are you growing as a Christian?
b. Or are you repeating your first year over and over again,
remaining spiritual immature?
-- Do you know how to determine whether you are spiritually mature?

[In our text we find some of the identifying "Marks Of Spiritual
Immaturity", indicators that reveal when one is in need of "growing up"
spiritually. For example, one mark of spiritual immaturity is...]

I. DULLNESS OF HEARING (11)

A. THE HEBREWS HAD BECOME "DULL OF HEARING"...
1. This prevented the writer from continuing with his argument at
the moment
2. While the material he had to share was "hard to explain"...
a. It wasn't so much the difficulty of the material itself
b. As it was their own inability to receive it!
3. That they had "become" dull of hearing may imply a
regression...
a. At one time they were not "dull of hearing"
b. They may have been like the Bereans at one time, "who
received the word with all readiness" - Ac 17:11
c. Indeed, most converts are truly "sharp" in their listening
at the first
1) They are excited about what they are learning
2) They listen with great "readiness", and spiritual growth
occurs
d. But it is not uncommon for apathy to set in, making one
"dull of hearing"
-- When one becomes "dull of hearing", they begin to regress
to a state of spiritual immaturity

B. ARE YOU "DULL OF HEARING"?
1. Ask yourself these questions:
a. Is the Bible dull?
b. Are the Bible classes dull?
c. Are the sermons dull?
d. Is anything that is spiritual in nature (like singing,
praying) dull?
2. If so, then you have become "dull of hearing"!
a. If you listen at all, it will be to those who are willing
to "tickle your ears"
b. And you will be susceptible to being mislead - 2Ti 4:3-4

[When one is "dull of hearing", it is only natural that the next "mark
of spiritual immaturity" will be evident...]

II. THE INABILITY TO TEACH OTHERS (12a)

A. THE HEBREWS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TEACH OTHERS...
1. They had been Christians for some time ("by this time you
ought to be teachers")
a. They had time to learn, to grow
b. A natural response to growth is to bear fruit
c. One way we bear fruit is by teaching others
2. In one way or another, they should have been able to teach
others
a. Perhaps not in a formal sense, for not all are gifted in
that way - cf. 1Co 12:29; Ep 4:11; Jm 3:1
b. But all can share the good news and hope they have with
others - cf. Ac 8:4; 1Pe 3:15; Tit 2:3-5
-- Their need for someone to teach them again "the first
principles" demonstrated their spiritual immaturity

B. ARE YOU ABLE TO TEACH OTHERS?
1. Assuming that sufficient time has passed, are you teaching
others?
a. Either formally as a teacher instructing others in the
faith?
b. Or informally by sharing your faith with others?
2. Do you find yourself saying "I don't know what to say?"
a. Then it sounds like you have forgotten "the first
principles"
b. And you need to have someone teach you again!

[If one has not progressed to the point where they are somehow teaching
others about Christ, then they are still spiritually immature! One
reason why this may be true is also another indicator of spiritual
immaturity...]

III. A DIET OF "MILK" (12b,13)

A. NOW, A DIET OF "MILK" IS OFTEN NECESSARY...
1. Certainly it is needed for those who are "babes in Christ"
- e.g., 1Co 3:1-2
2. Also for those who have regressed (as with the Hebrews) - cf.
He 5:12b
3. Such a diet includes what is described as "the first
principles of the oracles of God" (later called "the
elementary principles of Christ" in He 6:1-3)

B. BUT OUR DIET MUST ONE DAY INCLUDE "SOLID FOOD"...
1. Just as a physical baby must graduate to solid foods in order
to grow to maturity
2. So a "babe in Christ" cannot mature unless the diet goes
beyond the "first principles"
3. Wiersbe offers an interesting explanation as to what may be
the difference...
a. "milk" refers to what Jesus did on earth: His birth, life,
teaching, death, burial and resurrection
b. "solid food" refers to what Jesus is now doing in heaven:
e.g., His priesthood
4. If our diet remains "milk only"...
a. Then we will be "unskilled" (lit., without experience) in
the word of God
b. We will remain "babes" in Christ - cf. He 5:13

C. WHAT HAS YOUR "DIET" BEEN LATELY?
1. Has it been limited to "milk"?
a. Has it even included "milk"?
b. Some Christians may not even be getting the "milk" of the
Word!
2. Are you getting any "meat"?
a. Studying portions of God's Word that challenges your
understanding?
b. Stay with us in this study in Hebrews, and you will be sure
to get some!

[A "milk only" diet leaves one immature, and by default one who is
"unskilled in the word of righteousness". This will in turn produce
another trait of spiritual immaturity...]

IV. THE INABILITY TO DISCERN (14)

A. NORMAL SPIRITUAL GROWTH EXERCISES THE SENSES...
1. Even the "milk" of the word is designed to train one's
faculties
a. By exposing us to the difference between right and wrong
b. In this way our spiritual sense is "exercised"
2. Then "by reason of use" we learn to "discern both good and
evil"
a. With clear examples set before us in the Scriptures, we
learn right from wrong
b. We thereby develop the ability to "distinguish" between
good and evil
c. We become able to apply general principles to specific
situations
1) Specific condemnation of a practice is not always
necessary
2) We can discern when something is more like the good, or
more like the bad

B. SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY LACKS THIS ABILITY TO DISCERN...
1. A babe in Christ often has difficulty discerning the
difference between:
a. Good teaching (truth) and bad teaching (error)
b. Good conduct (righteousness) and bad conduct (wickedness)
2. Inability to discern leaves them open to being...
a. "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of
doctrine" - cf. Ep 4:14
b. Like "a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind...a
double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" - Jm 1:6-8

C. DO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISCERN?
1. Can you apply general principles to a specific situation, or
do you require a clear "Thou shalt not" to determine if
something is wrong?
2. Are you able to recognize when a doctrine is true to God's
word?
3. Or are you dependent upon someone else...
a. To "spoon feed" you?
b. To "take you by the hand and lead" you?
-- I.e., to tell you what is right and wrong, what is truth
and what is error

CONCLUSION

1. But in our present text we have focused our attention on the four
presented here...
a. Dullness of hearing
b. The inability to teach others
c. A diet of "milk"
d. The inability to discern
-- All of these should serve as "warning signs" that something is
amiss in our lives as Christians, for they are truly "Marks Of
Spiritual Immaturity"

by Mark A. Copeland

Note: This is by way of introduction and there are clearly more things to be added. Maybe you can think of some?

 

[Justin Mangonel]

Dear B,

I think that spiritual maturity is measured by how much you are like Christ.
To the degree that you manifest His traits you are spiritually mature.
Specifically speaking this means that you both hear and do the will of the
Father. Many in today's church are disconnected from hearing God voice
and thus do not even know the will of the Father other than what they follow of
the general principles of the scriptures. They live more by the knowledge
of good than by the will of the Spirit.

True spiritual maturity can only be attained by being with God. Only
in His presence can we change into His likeness. Everything else is
simply man trying to be like Him.

Blessings,

Justin

 

[JB_Reformed Baptist]

Dear B,

I think that spiritual maturity is measured by how much you are like Christ.
To the degree that you manifest His traits you are spiritually mature.
Specifically speaking this means that you both hear and do the will of the
Father. Many in today's church are disconnected from hearing God voice
and thus do not even know the will of the Father other than what they follow of
the general principles of the scriptures. They live more by the knowledge
of good than by the will of the Spirit.

True spiritual maturity can only be attained by being with God. Only
in His presence can we change into His likeness. Everything else is
simply man trying to be like Him.

Blessings,

Justin

What's the will of the "father", to you?

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

What's the will of the "father"...

This is the work of God: that you believe into the one [the father] set apart. John 6:29

 

[101G]

Greeting in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Good topic,
CONCLUSION
1. But in our present text we have focused our attention on the four
presented here...
a. Dullness of hearing
b. The inability to teach others
c. A diet of "milk"
d. The inability to discern
-- All of these should serve as "warning signs" that something is
amiss in our lives as Christians, for they are truly "Marks Of
Spiritual Immaturity"

is the call or the will of God is just to believe?.
James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"

Hebrews 6:1 "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come".

No Spirit, no power.
a. Dullness of hearing.
if one have the Spirit, there will be no dullness of hearing. because there is to much to our Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ to know. he said, Mark 16:17 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues". new tongues, notice the "s" at the end of tongues. this don't mean a new language, or another tongue/language, No. a new tongue means, a new facet of revelation of our Lord and Saviour. this is what the eschatology topics section should be about. believe, I agree, but, the same old Sunday school lesson year after year. and the same sermon, year after year. no wonder the people is dull of hearing. nothing new to hear?. I think not, there is something you haven't hear, or understood before about our Lord. as the apostle said, Hebrews 6:1 "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come". (words and Deeds). see again, Mark 16:17. not only in words, but in deeds also. as the old saying goes, "I hear you talking, but I don't see anything". the Kingdom of God is not just in words only, but in POWER, HOLY GHOST POWER. THERE IT IS, "THOSE who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost". if you have the Spirit, then, 1 Corinthians 2:12 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God". HOW DO ONE KNOW?. "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual".


there is work to be done after, (see the vineyard worker), work, not to be save. but works, because you're saved.

Love and Peace
101G

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Is the call or the will of God is just to believe?.

James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"

Believing that GOD is one is faith without works. Believing into the son of GOD is works.

This is the work of God: that you believe into the one [the father] set apart. John 6:29

 

[101G]

true, but you don't stop with belief. as the topic states, "Spiritual Maturity_what is it?" do you beileve that spiritual Maturity is just to believe, only?.

 

[Justin Mangonel]

Dear J,

The will of the Father is revealed to each one of us and we are open to hear
it. The specifics of His revealed will are different for each of us
although the way in which we receive His directives are the same (i.e. the
Spirit of Truth.) In general, though, the will of the Father is to come
unto unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ.

What then is the measure and stature of Christ?

Jesus said,

"I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment
is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which
hath sent me."

John 5:30

This is spiritual maturity. A spiritually mature person will seek to
do the will of the Father. They do nothing of their own selves. The will
of the Father can be revealed through many different ways if we are open to
hear His voice. This is the core of being Christ like and everything else
flows from this wellspring.

Spiritual maturity is a process that depends on hearing and doing the will
of the Father. Problem is that many people want to be accepted by man
more than they wish to be acceptable to God. The Holy Spirit is not
accepted by most in the church and therefore those who truly follow Him will
find that they are unacceptable too. So those who wish to be spiritually
mature find themselves outside the normative and this is a hard road to choose
to travel.

We rarely submit to God. Rather we demand that God submit to our
doctrine because it makes us feel like we are in control. There is a kind
of mass delusion that by being part of a church we are automatically acceptable
to God. However, upon examination, this proves not to be the case because
the majority has almost always been wrong.

Spiritual maturity is to take up your cross (whatever that is) and to follow
him. It is to choose God's will over you will.

Blessings,

Justin

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

true, but you don't stop with belief. as the topic states, "Spiritual Maturity_what is it?" do you beileve that spiritual Maturity is just to believe, only?.

read what i wrote

 

[101G]

2 ChristRoseFromTheDead,
that verse is misleading, when it comes to Spiritual maturity. remember we're talking about "MATURITY", not simple basic doctrine of salvation. example the disciple believe in Jesus, but yet they couldn't cast out a Demon. it takes more that just belief to mature. it take WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE FROM ABOVE.

2 Justin, GINOLJC
Well said,
that's the problem with most congregations, sit and sleep and get burp,
1 Peter 5:10 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you".
here's the strenght of God in us.
2 Peter 1:2 "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 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. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ".

Most Christians get that baby bottle stuck in their mouth and never let go. and Satan do everything he can to keep it in your mouth.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

[Justin Mangonel]

Dear 1.

Amen

Blessings,

Justin

 

[jiggyfly]

Spiritual Maturity_what is it?

Simply put, it is more of Him and less of me.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

2 ChristRoseFromTheDead,
that verse is misleading, when it comes to Spiritual maturity. remember we're talking about "MATURITY", not simple basic doctrine of salvation. example the disciple believe in Jesus, but yet they couldn't cast out a Demon. it takes more that just belief to mature. it take WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE FROM ABOVE.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him: Colossians 2:6

 

[Arnie Manitoba]

Know what I think is a sure sign of Christian immaturity ?

Christians who spend most of their lives finding faults in .... "all the other Christians"

 

[Justin Mangonel]

Dear A,

I do agree that a critical spirit is not Godly. However, many have grown so accustomed to the mess that they no longer notice the garbage. While I do not think it is generally proper to find fault in individuals it is sometimes necessary to point out where the church, as whole, has erred.

Unfortunately, the leadership of different churches have become accustomed to being respected and deferred to regardless of what they do or say. They can become quite ruffled if they are ever seriously questioned. In fact they can become down right intimidating if they feel that their particular viewpoint does not carry the day.

Sometimes, christian maturity can be measured in how willing one is to stand up to such spiritual bullies. These minor pontiffs may deride you as being immature because you find fault with their doctrine or their compromise. If you refuse to come in line with their belief system they may seek to brand you as unteachable. However nicely and scripturally you may try to explain to them that the Holy Spirit will not let you follow their dictates in a particular area they may throw you out of their church and speak ill of your to your friends and family. It may take everything within you to listen to God rather than to submit to their tyranny. John Knox knew this and paid a tremendous price to obey God rather than man. The church is little different today that it was when it condemned him to the gallay. Clergymen of today laud Knox as a reformer but in realty would probably throw someone of the same ilk out the doors of their church if they dare take a stand against them...especially publicly.

In fact, I may go so far as to say, that most people who start to mature in Christ will find themselves at odds with the leadership of most churches because they will no longer submit to error, greed, and ungodliness. Since spiritual maturity is to do your Fathers will you will naturally come to odds with those who don't. While most pastors label any strong disagreement, especially in doctrinal issues, as rebellion those who start to mature in the knowledge of the son of man will be cast out for His names sake.

One pastor I spoke with told me "most pastors are control freaks." I tend to agree with this and have observed that since many do not submit to the Holy Spirit they must resort to earthly means of coercion to keep the sheep in line. You can never speak to them about such ungodly tactics without risking a very unpleasant blow up because they believe they have a perfect right to use any means necessary to preserve the salvation of those in their care, I guess they no longer trust that the Holy Spirit can lead His sheep or take care of His church.

I think this verse is relevant,

"Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them."

Ezekiel 34:10

Blessings,

Justin

 

[Arnie Manitoba]

I will say one thing ...... Hebrews 5&6 is being used in its proper context for a change (immaturity)

And its about time.

 

[Episkopos]

Spiritual maturity is that which maintains spiritual purity in a fallen world.

 

[jiggyfly]

Simply put, it is more of Him and less of me.

I need to rephrase this a bit, spiritual growth is more of Him and less of me and continued it develops into spiritual maturity, which is no longer I that lives but Christ living in me which leaves me with no trust in self but only trusting in Christ's works to make me acceptable to Father. This state would be the complete absence of any religious practices and traditions.
Those who are still bound by religious liturgy and tradition have not fully matured in the spirit, the need for good works is proof of such. In the christian religion today many call themselves elders (pastors, prophets and so on) yet in light of their actions, religious practices and teachings it is very obvious that most are mere adolescent at best. Many seem to mistake the carnal man-made clergy/laity system for true spiritual authority and this is the result of immature teachers. there is indeed genuine spiritual authority at work but you will not witness it testifying of anyone other than Jesus the Christ.

In Christ's own words "the one who is chief among is the least and the servant of all.