7 Qualities of Mature Believers

2 Peter 1:5-7

Subject: Spiritual Growth 

Theme: diligently apply yourself to sustain spiritual growth.

Introduction:

In order to sustain growth, we must apply serious, concentrated, and persistent effort (2Pet. 1:5-7). Verses 3 and 4 declare how God has given us everything necessary to experience Christ’s divine life. Because He has, we must be diligent in cultivating it. God does not make us holy against our will or without our involvement. There must be desire, determination, and discipline on our part.

Peter refers back to the divine nature by beginning this new paragraph with the words “And besides this” indicating the very reason we must pursue maturity in Christ. When he says, “giving all diligence” it summons our every effort—to apply zeal; it is bringing to bear our personal determination alongside the provisions and promises of God. You see, every bit of effort a Christian can muster is to be coupled with the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, to “escape the corruption that is in the world” caused by our evil desires (2 Peter 1:4). Yes, serious personal exertion is necessary to develop the seven qualities of mature believers. Lazy believers will never cultivate these characteristics in verses 5-7, but those that do so will become more like Christ as they experience more entirely God’s “divine nature.” This certainly is not an either or proposition!

Paul, the apostle, completely agrees writing, “work out your own salvation.... For it is God which worketh in you” (Phil. 2:12–13). Spiritual development requires God’s work and our work! Since we truly have life, we can know substantial growth. By saving us God began an incredible work in us, but this is merely the start of a journey of development. We have an obligation to apply ourselves. Spiritual growth is not automatic, and we cannot become holy in a hurry. It requires full cooperation with God and our application of spiritual diligence.

Lesson:

Make Every Effort to Develop the 7 Qualities of Mature Christian Character (2Pet. 1:5-7). So then…how can we know when we are all grown up? What character strengths should we focus our energies on? 

Faith

Since Peter is writing to those who have already exercised saving faith in the Lord Jesus, he does not tell them or us to furnish faith; he assumes we already have it. Faith actually connects us to God through Jesus Christ; spiritual life begins with faith in our Lord. It is not through our discipline, works, services, sacrifices, rituals, or church membership that we are made right with God.

We are instead challenged to supplement our faith with seven elements of holiness. The word “add,” means “to supply generously,” pointing to an imperative—what we must do. Note that this is not adding these traits one after another, but manifesting all the qualities all the time.

In addition, the word "add" indicates one who provides for or supports others or supplies something for them in abundance. As such we are to “furnish, supply, or support” our life with these qualities. You see, we develop one quality as we exercise another quality. They are related much like a tree to its branches, and branches to their twigs. Like the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22–23), these qualities, the fruit of divine life, grow out of life and out of a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not enough for the Christian to “let go and let God,” as though spiritual growth were God’s work alone. Literally, Peter is challenging us to bring our very best "A game" to ensure these qualities grow alongside our faith. The Father and the child must work together. (K. Gangel)

Virtue
The first characteristic is virtue (see 2 Peter 1:3). It basically means “excellence.” To the Greek philosophers, it meant “the fulfillment of a thing.” When anything in nature fulfills its purpose, that is “virtue—moral excellence.” The land that produces crops is “excellent” because it is fulfilling its purpose. The tool that works correctly is “excellent” because it is doing what a tool is supposed to do. (W. MacDonald)

A Christian is supposed to glorify God because he has God’s nature within; so, when he does this, he shows “excellence” because he is fulfilling his purpose in life. True virtue in the Christian life is not “polishing” human qualities, no matter how fine they may be, but producing divine qualities that make the person more like Jesus Christ. It may also be that virtue means spiritual courage before a hostile world, the strength to stand for what is right.  

Knowledge  

Virtuous courage is to be supplemented with knowledge, especially the knowledge of spiritual truth. Faith helps us develop virtue, and virtue helps us develop knowledge (2 Peter 1:5). The word “knowledge” in 2 Peter 1:2–3 means “full knowledge” or “knowledge that is growing.” The word used here suggests practical knowledge or discernment. It refers to the ability to handle life successfully. It is the opposite of being “so heavenly minded as to be of no earthly good!” This kind of knowledge does not come automatically. It comes from obedience to the will of God as stated in the Word (John 7:17) and submission to the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit. In the Christian life, you must not separate the heart and the mind, character and knowledge.

Beloved, we are immediately impressed with the importance of studying the Word of God and obeying its sacred precepts. Through an experiential knowledge of the Bible we develop what Erdman calls “practical skills in the details of Christianity.” (W. MacDonald)      

Temperance 

God calls every Christian to a life of discipline (1:6); temperance means self-control. Someone has defined this as the controlling power of the will under the operation of the Spirit of God. There must be discipline in prayer, discipline in Bible study, discipline in the use of time, discipline in curbing bodily appetites, and discipline in sacrificial living. For a believer... enslavement to passions and pleasures will destroy their testimony. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Prov. 16:32). “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls” (Prov. 25:28).

Paul agrees and often compares the Christian to an athlete who must exercise and discipline himself if he ever hopes to win the prize (1 Cor. 9:24–27; Phil. 3:12–16; 1 Tim. 4:7–8). Because of the example of others, the urgent needs of a perishing world, the personal peril of wrecking our testimony, we should discipline ourselves so that Christ will have the best of our lives.

Patience 

Temperance should be supplemented with patience, that is, persevering endurance of persecution and adversity. Patience is the ability to endure when circumstances are difficult. Self-control has to do with handling the pleasures of life, while patience relates primarily to the pressures and problems of life. (The ability to endure problem people is “long-suffering.”) Often, the person who “gives in” to pleasures is not disciplined enough to handle pressures either, so he “gives up.”

Patience is not something that develops automatically; we must work at it. James 1:2–8 gives us the right approach. We must expect trials to come, because without trials we could never learn patience. We must, by faith, let our trials work for us and not against us, because we know that God is at work in our trials.

If we need wisdom in making decisions, God will grant that wisdom if we ask Him. Nobody enjoys trials, but we do enjoy the confidence we can have in trials that God is at work, causing everything to work together for our good and His glory. need to be constantly reminded that the Christian life is a challenge to endure. It is not enough to start off in a blaze of glory; we must persevere in spite of difficulties. The idea that Christianity is an unending round of mountaintop experiences is unrealistic. There is the daily routine, the menial task, the disappointing circumstance, the bitter grief, and the shattered plans. Perseverance is the art of bearing up and pressing on in the face of all that seems to be against us. (W. MacDonald)  

Godliness

The next virtue is godliness. This may mean piety, reverence, goodness of life, or a high degree of morality. Godliness is simply “God-likeness.” In the Greek language, this word meant “to worship well.” It described the man who was right in his relationship with God and with his fellowman. In an irreverent culture like ours this quality of character truly makes a believer stand out. We must live above the petty things of life, as well as the common passions and pressures that control the lives of others. Beloved, seek to do the will of God and, as we do so, seek the welfare of others.

We must never get the idea that godliness is an impractical thing, because it is intensely practical. The godly person makes the kinds of decisions that are right and noble. We must not take an easy path simply to avoid either pain or trial. We must consciously choose to do what is right because it is right and because it is the will of God.

Our lives should be like God, with all that means in the way of practical holiness. There should be such a supernatural quality in our conduct that others will know we are children of the heavenly Father; the family likeness should be unmistakable. Paul reminds us, “... godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). (W. Wiersbe)

Brotherly kindness 

Brotherly kindness (1:7) identifies us to the world as Christ’s disciples (John 13:35). Brotherly kindness is a virtue that Peter must have acquired the hard way, for the disciples of our Lord often debated and disagreed with one another.

If we love Jesus Christ, we must also love the brethren--desiring the highest good for them. We should practice an “unfeigned [sincere] love of the brethren” (1 Peter 1:22) and not just pretend that we love them. “Let brotherly love continue” (Heb. 13:1). “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love” (Rom. 12:10). The fact that we love our brothers and sisters in Christ is one evidence that we have been born of God (1 John 5:1–2).

Charity

Love of the brethren leads to charity for all mankind. There is more to Christian growth than brotherly love; we must also have the sacrificial love that our Lord displayed when He went to the cross. The kind of love (“charity”) spoken of in 2 Peter 1:7 is agape love, the kind of love that God shows toward lost sinners. This is the love that is described in 1 Corinthians 13, the love that the Holy Spirit produces in our hearts as we walk in the Spirit (Rom. 5:5; Gal. 5:22). When we have brotherly love, we love because of our likenesses to others; but with agape love, we love in spite of the differences we have.

This is not primarily a matter of the emotions but of the will. Love manifests itself in giving. For instance, “God so loved the world, that He gave ... ” (John 3:16). “Christ also loved the church and gave ... ” (Eph. 5:25). We can show our love by giving our time, our talents, our treasures, and our lives for others.  (W. MacDonald)

These seven graces make for a full-orbed Christian character. It is impossible for fallen human nature to manufacture these seven qualities of Christian character. They must be produced by the Spirit of God. To be sure, there are unsaved people who possess amazing self-control and endurance, but these virtues point to them and not to the Lord. They get the glory. When God produces the beautiful nature of His Son in a Christian, it is God who receives the praise and glory.

Because we have the divine nature, we can grow spiritually and develop this kind of Christian character. It is through the power of God and the precious promises of God that this growth takes place. The divine “genetic structure” is already there: God wants us to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). The life within will reproduce that image if we but diligently cooperate with God and use the means He has lavishly given us. (W. MacDonald)

And the amazing thing is this: as the image of Christ is reproduced in us, the process does not destroy our own personalities. We still remain uniquely ourselves! One of the dangers in the church today is imitation. People have a tendency to become like their pastor, or like a church leader, or perhaps like some “famous Christian.” As they do this, they destroy their own uniqueness while failing to become like Jesus Christ. They lose both ways! Just as each child in a family resembles his parents and yet is different, so each child in God’s family comes more and more to resemble Jesus Christ and yet is different. Parents don’t duplicate themselves, they reproduce themselves; and wise parents permit their children to be themselves. (W. Wiersbe)

Our Pursuit and Destiny

2 Peter 1

Peter, the spiritual slave and specially "sent one" of the Lord Jesus, addresses himself to fellow believers who possess the very same precious faith.  We believers have received the righteousness of God through faith in Christ as Savior and Lord.  The primary thrust of Peter’s communications is growth in the Lord through the precious Word of God.  He does not want believers to be immature, lazy, unproductive, and insecure regarding our standing before the Lord. God would have each of us compelled by a vision of maturity as our pursuit and eternal destiny. Are you passionate about growth in godliness?

Through the full personal and experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ, God’s grace and peace can be multiplied in life! This wonderfully issues into meaningful virtuous and godly lifestyles for the people of Christ. Such developments are made possible by the power and calling of a God of brilliant glory and virtue. This is our calling! He has given believers promises that exceed greatness… hope filled encouragements that are truly precious and valuable. Why? It is because they literally fuel our highest God-given dreams and enable our profound spiritually comprehensive transformation in Christ! Beloved, they enable us to share in the divine nature of God and break utterly free from the corrupting influences of this world system.

While we have been given these incredible opportunities, we believers must be zealous and diligent about maturing in the Lord and taking on the character of our gracious Lord Jesus Christ.  Such glorious qualities must be cultivated with determination and constancy thereby ensuring productivity and fruitfulness in the Lord.  For the lazy believer who fails to pursue these outstanding traits, lies spiritual blindness, and forgetfulness about one’s own salvation. A wasted life is of no benefit to the believer, nor to the glory of God.  But, for the diligent in growth there will be a certainty about their own calling and election mingled with an assurance of not falling and stumbling around in a backslidden state.  Peter gives further incentive for spiritual development to the believer grappling with his own personal growth in a painstaking manner.  As he continues, God promises a fully magnificent and marvelous entrance into the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.  What stimulating inspiration for throwing oneself into moral and spiritual growth, progress, and promotion in Christ!

Peter is obviously burdened about this matter and offers immediate help for us through his encouragements and the Word of God.  He persistently reminds us believers and painstakingly rehearses truths already well known to us. Not because he is shallow, but to illuminate the true way ahead. He is confident that his death is near; in this light, he continues to empress us all with the importance of fundamental Bible teachings to stabilizing growing believers in the faith. If Peter emphasized the critical importance of the Scriptures in the very last years of his life then we must take the Word seriously for spiritual advancement today.  

Peter assures believers that our Christian faith is not based on “cunningly devised fables.”  No, when he spoke of “the power and coming” of the Lord Jesus Christ, He spoke concrete truth just as the Old Testament prophecies did.  Peter along with James and John personally witnessed the majesty of Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. This event demonstrated His awe-inspiring power and foreshadowed His coming to the earth in outstanding power and glory.  Moses and Elijah were there to typify the OT and Rapture Saints.  The three Jewish believers were there signifying the believing Jewish population at Christ’s glorious return to the earth. This all transpired on a mountain pointing to the establishment of Christ’s eternal kingdom on earth.  Peter certified these ancient predictions with his own eyewitness account and the very Voice of Jehovah Who gave honor and glory to Christ on this same occasion. God is utterly pleased with His Son, Jesus and validates Christ in connection to these ancient prophecies regarding Messiah.

Peter further explains why these accounts are reliable and trustworthy by pointing out how the Scriptures proclaim a united message, with a common theme, because they came from one heart—The Spirit of God.  These are not “private interpretation” nor did they come from the “will of man.”  No, Scripture came from God using holy men to proclaim His pure unadulterated truth! They still point to a “day star” of hope already rising in the heart of genuine believers.  Jesus Christ will come again and receive us believers unto Himself, but until that time and no matter how dark the day, we still have a “light that shineth in a dark place.”  The Word of God lights the way and enlightens the heart providing powerful hope, brilliant insight and understanding about Christ until He finally comes for us. Yes, beloved…no matter what…Jesus is still our rock-solid hope!

The believer then therefore can count on the Book of Promises because it is “exceeding great and precious.”  As we do so we will continue to escape the corruption and darkness of this world’s system to become more and more like our Savior of glory and virtue. Beloved, maturity is our pursuit and destiny! In doing so, we answer our calling, will be assured or our election, will be fruitful and productive, and will anticipate the day we see our wonderful Savior face to face. 

Powerful Assurance

Hebrews Six

The challenge in chapter six is for believers to press on with spiritual growth until they fully mature—“perfection” (Heb. 6:1-12). They are to leave--progress from--the elementary teachings of God’s word, the “doctrine of Christ” (Heb. 5:12).  While it is vital to have this spiritual foundation, the Christian must go on to full maturity (Heb. 6:1-3). “Perfection” refers to maturity—spiritual adulthood—as the goal of the Christian. Sometimes this is referred to as Christlikeness or sanctification. William Newel felt that pressing on to full growth would make a great title for the book of Hebrews.

Without a solid commitment to continue to grow up in the Lord, the believer will run head on into the difficulty of spiritual stagnation (Heb. 6:4-6). The question of who is being addressed in this section must be answered. The recipients are described in some detail and this description seems to point more to believers than merely professors (people who only claim to be save, but they really are not). For example they had been “enlightened” by the Spirit as they were instructed in the gospel. They have tasted “the heavenly gift” which means they have experienced the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ is the gift that God gave because he so loved the world (Jn. 3:16). They also share in the Holy Spirit’s ministry in their lives—“were made partakers of the Holy Ghost” (6:4). Admittedly, these descriptions could also be true of a person attending Christian meetings and only professing faith without ever having been born again.

The most difficult part of this interpretation is the clause “for it is impossible for those… to renew them again unto repentance” (5:4, 6). However, it helps to understand that the impossibility exists as long as they are still crucifying the Son of God afresh and actively putting Him to an open shame. No one can be renewed to a fresh dedication and commitment to Christ while they are still behaving in a manner that is offensive to Christ. The impossibility evaporates if these believers humble themselves, repent of their shameful behavior and commit themselves to continue and grow in Christ.

Clearly the spiritual production of a person claiming to be Christian is what distinguishes the authentic believer from those merely claiming to be (Heb. 6:7-10). In a church’s life both groups will receive privilege and blessing from God, but the impact will be vastly different.

To avoid stagnation and apostasy the believer must chart a course of progress (Heb. 6:11-12). They should be consumed with matters of love, service, and ministry. These are the kind of things that accompany salvation and God will reward such faithful service for Christ’s sake. Their diligence does promote a full assurance of hope.

Continuation in the Christian faith is inspired by the promises of God and the eternal priesthood of Christ (Heb. 6:12-20). The Christian’s assurance is based on God’s promise (6:12-15). Therefore, each believer must refuse to be spiritually lazy (6:12), follow good models of faith and patience (6:12), and give careful consideration to Abraham’s example of trusting God’s promises (6:13-15). Because he was assured by God’s promises to him (Heb.13-14), he endured until he received it (v. 15). The hope of realizing the promise inheritance of God should inspire continuation and diligence in the heart of Christians.

The believer's assurance is also based on God’s confirmation (Heb. 6:16-18).  This was much like an oath of confirmation in a court of law. Men take such ratifications readily and seriously (6:16). How much more should Christians take God’s oath of confirmation seriously (Heb. 6:17-18). God not only gave His word, but He also made use of an oath, that by both these the believer may have a double assurance. When a faithful believer trusts God, they enjoy the strong consolation that can come only by having confidence in God (Heb. 6:18).

Then finally, the believer's assurance is based on God’s Son, Jesus Christ (Heb. 6:19-20). For the believer in personal jeopardy they may flee to Christ, their City of Refuge for safety and protection (6:18). For those inclined to drift away from secure moorings Christ is their Anchor of Hope in Heaven (Heb. 6:19). The hope of the believer—heaven itself, their inheritance, and privileges as sons of God—is secured by Christ. With regard to access to God, the Father, Christ is their Forerunner in the presence of God for them always (Heb. 6:20). Yes, Christians’ Forerunner has entered “within the veil.” Surely every believer is to follow Him there most confidently. And Christ is their everlasting High Priest with God who in the power of a never ending life makes continual intercession for His people (Heb. 6:20). It is not us who must hold on to God for security, but Him who will not let us go!

Thus, with the intent to grow to full maturity, the incredible promises of God, and the never ending priestly ministry of Jesus Christ the believer can know peace and assurance in the soul. No, there is no shortcut to spiritual maturity and yes, it is a most challenging endeavor. Still it must be recognized that God has postured every believer to realize maturity in Christ. Christians are roundly assured of this fact in Hebrews chapter six. There is absolutely no excuse for remaining a spiritual infant one's entire life in the Lord. God has worked hard to afford believers powerful assurance of maturation through continuous growth. So, the question is God designed the Christian experience to included blessed growth.... Are we indeed growing? Have we taken His assurances seriously?

From Shadows to Substance

Hebrews Five

The priesthood of Christ in where chapter four ended informing believers of the grand privileges of Christ as High Priest. Chapter five begins with an explanation of the priest’s ministry, his qualifications, and the purpose for his work under the economy of the Law (Heb. 5:1-3). The high priest’s purpose was to intercede between God and man with tenderness and compassion as he offered gifts and sacrifices to God for sins.

Accordingly, the priest had to be a man himself (Heb. 5:1) appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God. Again a High-Priest was chosen and placed by God into the priestly ministry (Ex. 28; Num. 16:1–40; 1 Sam. 16:1–3).  The priest was to officiate and minister to men in things that involve man’s relation to God. He belonged to a special order of men who served as intermediaries. The high priest was called to his office by the Lord God Himself. 

Just as the Aaronic priests were qualified to fill that office, so it is true of Jesus Christ who being God became a man and was called and appointed directly by God to the office of High Priest (5:4-6). Hebrews 3:1-3 informs that Christ was faithful to God who appointed Him as High Priest. He came to do the will of God observed Newell.

Through exercise of the priest’s ministry and the obedience he learned through suffering, Jesus Christ was perfected to serve as God’s unique High Priest. In fact Christ belongs to the everlasting priesthood of Melchisedec (Heb. 5:7-10). The Lord Jesus was made “perfect” as God’s appointed priest. “And being made perfect” (5:9) is a curious phrase and does not refer to Christ’s personal character or morality because the Lord Jesus was entirely faultless. The word “perfect” fundamentally refers to “the bringing of a person or thing to the goal fixed by God. The word speaks here of Messiah having reached the end which was contemplated in His divinely appointed discipline for the priesthood. This consummation was reached in His substitutionary death on the Cross” (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament). Newell observed, “Christ’s moral and spiritual perfection only emphasize this word concerning the end of the prescribed path of humiliation and suffering culminating at the Cross…[the] word reached its peak there.”

The mention of Melchisedec is also informative. The king-priest Melchisedec was an early and excellent representation of the person and eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ. This fact enables the Lord Jesus to be “the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him,” (Heb. 5:9) because he is “a priest after the order of Melchisedec” that is, his priesthood is eternal. The writer of Hebrews desired to ponder further this subject of Christ’s eternal priesthood and the natural implications, but the recipients are unable to receive it as yet. Their immaturity warranted a measured chastening first.

Clearly these believers had been taught and should be teaching others, but instead of growing forward they grew backwards and required remedial training again (Heb. 5:11-13). The writer so desired for them to be mature and skilled in the “word of righteousness.” Being skillful is the ability to grasp and apply the meaning of Scripture to daily decisions and actions. Skill suggests experience in living out the truth and the capacity to distinguish truth from error. Obviously, the word “unskillful” (5:13) carries the opposite meaning.

Again God prominently values mature and growing believers in Christ. The term “full age” (Heb. 5:14) is contrasted with verse 13. The focus is on the “babe” in Christ who is “unskillful” in the “word of righteousness” and still subsists on a diet of “milk.” But, “full age” refers to believers who are perfect or maturing and able to partake of “strong meat” (solid spiritual food). Such ‘adult’ or ‘full-grown’ believers, “by reason of use, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). That is the habitual use and vigorous exercise of their perceptive faculties (spiritual senses) results in the ability to discriminate between good and evil teaching. By adhering to the insight they receive from the Bible, these believers are able to form spiritual judgments—differentiate critically—and save themselves from moral and doctrinal dangers. Such believers would readily recognize the superiority of Christ’s message, priesthood, sacrifice, and purpose and decidedly cling to Him in faith. They can distinguish between shadows and substance, symbols and significance. 

Let Us Press On to Maturity!

Christian maturity…though we who have believed on Christ are Christians, we still have some difficulty grasping what a fully mature Believer is. It is true, God is not interested in giving us pacifiers forever! He would have us advance in our faith and grow-up in the Lord Jesus. Maturity is His design and desire for all of His beloved children in Christ. Sometimes the Scriptures use the term “perfection” to refer to spiritual maturity.  It is important to note that “perfection” (Heb. 6:1) is not sinless perfection or completely flawless living; it is progressing in spiritual development—growing up in Christ (Phil. 3:12-15; Col. 1:28; 4:12). Like any good parents, God does not want us to be spiritual babies forever; His will is for us to grow up strong and tall in our Lord. Furthermore, every believer in appreciation of our salvation and as a demonstration of genuine love for Christ should strive to become a fully functional disciple of Jesus Christ. Let us press on to maturity!

“Perfection” (Heb. 6:1) is not some notion that we can become sinless or that we cease to violate God’s perfect moral standards. As Christians we still have a fallen carnal nature that desires dominance of our being. Though we can walk in the Spirit refusing to give in to the desires of a fleshly life, we still will have occasions when we have failed the Lord, our love ones, and ourselves. Though we yearn for the day when we will no longer sin, which is after the Rapture, for now we battle the flesh to deny it any expression as much as possible. “Perfection,” according to Hebrews 6:1, should be understood as pointing to a fully developed disciple of Christ (Phil. 3:12-15; Col. 1:28; 4:12). No Believer has ever achieved ‘sinless perfection’ or has ceased to sin. Some have claimed to, but these are less then genuine claims! All great Christians endeavor to live holy, pure, righteous lives to the glory of God, but no biblical person ever claimed to become sinless during their trek here on earth. Even the Apostle Paul was painstakingly clear that he had not arrived, but He was still in full pursuit of God’s high calling in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:8-21). So it is with you and me; we must press on to perfection. Yes, onward, upward, and ever higher in our Lord and God by His grace and the power of His blessed Spirit—maturing. Becoming more like the Lord Jesus from the inside out is the goal!

Hebrews 5:14, teaches us the mature Believers have grown in the Word, and use it with notable profit in daily life. First, we note how solid spiritual food is for the full-grown, the perfect or mature Believer (Matt. 5:48; Eph. 5:1; Js. 3:2). This is like contrasting a bottle of milk with a T-Bone steak; steaks are not for babies! By obeying the light we have received from God’s Word, mature saints are able to formulate spiritual judgments and save themselves from moral and doctrinal dangers. Secondly, we note how mature Believers habitually and vigorously use or exercise their perceptive faculties/senses (Heb. 5:14). This results in the ability to discriminate between good and evil teachings, values, and actions.  Therefore, the mature Believer is well-informed, decisive, perceptive, sensitive, and while settled in their principles are still growing.

Again the ability to exercise our spiritual senses is a mark of maturity. As we apply the Word, we exercise our “spiritual senses” and develop spiritual discernment. It is a characteristic of little children that they lack discernment. A baby will put anything into its mouth. An immature Believer will listen to any preacher on the radio, television, or internet and not be able to identify whether or not he is true to the Scriptures. Likewise they may be a student in college, but because of spiritual immaturity they are unable to recognize principles and values that are diametrically opposed to the Christian Faith. Just as our physical bodies have senses without which we could not function, so our inner “spiritual man” has “spiritual senses” (Wiersbe, W.). For example: “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8). “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear” (Matt. 13:16). As we feed on the Word of God and apply it in daily situations, our inner “spiritual senses” get their exercise and become strong and keen. We taste, hear, and see spiritual realities in richer and deeper significance. This in turn influences our motives, aspirations, and behavior patterns. Paul called this process exercising ourselves unto godliness (1 Tim. 4:7–8). Atrophy sets in when we fail to get enough exercise!

In addition, the mission of each New Testament Church is articulated by the Lord Jesus Christ after His resurrection and just before His ascension to Heaven.  He communicates the Great Commission in passages like Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8. One of the primary intentions of these passages is to make and mature disciples in Christ. Churches were established to execute this God-given objective. This involves reaching lost people (evangelize) and moving them along a continuum towards maturity (edify). Maturity is just as important as evangelizing. Though the Bible uses different terms there is great stress on the objective of growing believers to full development (Eph. 4:13, 15; Phil. 3:12, 15; Heb. 6:1; Gal. 4:19; Col. 1:28; Matt. 5:48; Rom. 6:19, 22).

There should be continuous training through-out the Believer’s life as well. Such continuing training can be respectively likened unto high school, college, and then productive entry into the marketplace as a contributing member of society (Hemphil, K.). Such discipleship development would consist of the following features:

i.          Understanding that ongoing doctrinal training is essential to maturation (Hebrews 6:1-2)

ii.          Recognizing that Christian character is forged in the crucible of relationships (Ephesians 3:18-19)

iii.         Embracing skills development as essential to productive service (1 Timothy 4:12-15)

iv.         Calling believers to make deep commitments to Christ, and holding them accountable (Mark 8:34-38)

v.         Unleashing mature Believers into reproductive service (2 Timothy 2:2) (Hemphil, K.: The Antioch Effect)

So then, what does a fully mature and functional disciple of Jesus Christ look like? That is a fair question and the answer, though simple, is not as obvious anymore. We must identify these characteristics because they serve as sign posts on our journey to Christ-likeness. Without them we lose our way in the confusion of traditions, poor models, mystery, misconceptions, and pure nonsense! The importance of this can never be overstated; direction is afforded and motivation is fueled when we know where we are headed.  These mature characteristics are the objectives we are to aim for. We must not only identify these, but also fix our minds and hearts upon them with the hope of maturing.

A survey of the Scriptures reveal these features in mature disciples: they worship (Rom. 12:1-2), pray (1 Thess. 5:17), evangelize (Col. 4:3), know and apply Scripture to their lives (2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 5:11-6:3), serve the church body (Eph. 4:11-13), partake of communion (1 Cor. 11:23-26), display the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), give of their finances (2 Cor. 9:6-15), love others (1 John 4:7), and bear spiritual fruit (John 15:5) (Malphurs, Hemphill, & Chappell). These are the primary traits we must concentrate on in cooperation with the Spirit of grace. This is not merely a list of dos and don’ts; it is a portrait of genuine maturity and requires real faith in God's grace to realize. Along with these specific traits, I would further suggest that mature Believers embrace higher motives and are stimulated by roundly biblical values. They are stirred to glorify God above all, express compassion for the unsaved, love God supremely and their fellowman as their own person. While they are not ‘perfect,’ they do routinely evidence the chief graces of faith, hope, and charity (love) (1 Cor. 13:13).

Each of us, with the help of the Spirit, should demonstrate these priorities from the heart in devotion to Christ. As we do so, we will grow. Feed the heart and spirit with the Word of God and exercise yourself in the truths God is teaching...and you will grow (1 Pet. 2:2). Also younger Believers will understand better what to aim for in their own growth journeys as they witness us pioneering new territory in Christ (1 Tim. 4:15). Common sense tells us the likelihood of arriving at the proper destination (2 Cor. 3:17, 18) depends greatly upon knowing what the destination is at the beginning of the journey!

Pressing onward and upward in Christ as Paul did in Philippians 3 should be our focus. Ever steadfastly looking to God for grace and then making full diligent use of that grace to become more like our Lord Jesus. Becoming more like Him in devotion, commitment, sacrifice, generosity, power, peace, sufferings, and joy is what we take careful aim at. This is the very thing that Peter prescribed for all Believers in 2 Peter 2 requiring that we diligently add to our faith many more Christian virtues. Much like a newborn baby craves milk for its incredible hunger; let us desire the pure Word of God that we may grow to full maturity (1 Pet. 2:2). So there you have it; a snap shot of biblical maturity free of any mystery, misconceptions, and false traditions. Let us set a goal of growth in the Lord. Choose the area the Spirit of God indicates He desires to work on in you. Concentrate on Christ in the Word as He models that quality, and trust the Spirit to develop it in you. I will be doing the same for myself. I know our Lord is pleased as we see this through by His grace. Now then, Beloved, let us press on to perfection!