My faith in God to believe He can do anything, is greater than your faith
in God, to believe He can't do it.
What Does Christian Maturity Look Like? - "... solid food is for the mature..." - Heb. 5:14
- Thread starter St. SteVen
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in God, to believe He can't do it.
Good question, I'm glad you asked. Thanks.
1) God loves his "enemies". He doesn't need you to hate them.
2) Other believers are certainly not the enemies of God.
3) Jesus taught us that it is godly behavior to love our enemies.
4) This is required of the children of our Father in heaven. And...
5) to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect. (vs 48 below)
Matthew 5:43-48 NIV
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?
Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?
Do not even pagans do that?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
/
That is how I can tell if God is the Father of you or anyone else.
By this I am never deceived by an imposter.
It appears you are insisting you no longer sin. You walk continuously in the Spirit. Your sin nature is dead, gone. Indeed, it would seem you are now incapable of sinning. You float above all carnal thoughts and desires.
REALLY?
It would be interesting to know how many of those who know you best would agree with this self-assessment.
You do provide an interesting example of Christian maturity.
St. SteVen said:
1) God loves his "enemies". He doesn't need you to hate them.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
St. SteVen said:
2) Other believers are certainly not the enemies of God.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
St. SteVen said:
3) Jesus taught us that it is godly behavior to love our enemies.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
St. SteVen said:
4) This is required of the children of our Father in heaven. And...
5) to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect. (vs 48 below)
My prayer for you stands. And soon you will as well.
I'll check on progress later.
/
1) God loves his "enemies". He doesn't need you to hate them.
1 John 2:2 NIV
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
St. SteVen said:
2) Other believers are certainly not the enemies of God.
John 13:34-35 NIV
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
St. SteVen said:
3) Jesus taught us that it is godly behavior to love our enemies.
1 John 4:8 NIV
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
St. SteVen said:
4) This is required of the children of our Father in heaven. And...
5) to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect. (vs 48 below)
I did what I could to help you. Goodbye.
My prayer for you stands. And soon you will as well.
I'll check on progress later.
/
Romans 6
How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law,
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
being made free from sin, and become servants to God,
1 John 3 & 5
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not.
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.
What do you say? (forum topic link below)
Does questioning Christianity lead to Atheism? (depends)
/
Does questioning Christianity lead to Atheism? (depends)
/
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.
[
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.
[
Heres a few
Ephes 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Ephes 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Ephes 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Ephes 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Which is putting on Jesus Christ who we are also to grow up unto (See Ephes 4:13, below)
Jesus speaks of the perfect here
Luke 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
James also shows us the perfect man here
James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
We are all to come unto a perfect man
Ephes 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ
And it says here
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
We are also perfected in love, it says
1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
And so likewise, If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephes 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Ephes 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Ephes 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Ephes 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Which is putting on Jesus Christ who we are also to grow up unto (See Ephes 4:13, below)
Jesus speaks of the perfect here
Luke 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
James also shows us the perfect man here
James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
We are all to come unto a perfect man
Ephes 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ
And it says here
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
We are also perfected in love, it says
1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
And so likewise, If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Lambano
Well-Known Member
Behold
Well-Known Member
Christian maturity looks like this...
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""for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."""
Exactly,
Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
I love these together also
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1 Peter 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
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.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1 Peter 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
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.
Ritajanice
Born-Again
Short commentary.
What is spiritual maturity? Paul in Ephesians 4:14-15 says: “Then we will no longer be immature like children… but growing in every way more and more like Christ.” Simply put the Apostle Paul's words in Ephesians 4 about spiritual growth and maturity say this: Spiritual maturity = being like Christ.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[b]
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
What is spiritual maturity? Paul in Ephesians 4:14-15 says: “Then we will no longer be immature like children… but growing in every way more and more like Christ.” Simply put the Apostle Paul's words in Ephesians 4 about spiritual growth and maturity say this: Spiritual maturity = being like Christ.
Ephesians 4
New International Version
Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[b]
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
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