Christian Maturity

Christian Maturity
What does it mean to be mature in the faith? Is it simply a matter of how long one has attended a certain church? Is it something you acquire at Bible college? Is it something that the deacons of the church keep under lock and key? What, I ask again, does it mean to be mature in the faith?

To be mature in the Christian faith is to know more of Christ. It is to be committed to the reading, praying, and studying of the Bible. It is to have Scripture stored up within you so that you look more and more like Christ Jesus. This is what the Author to the Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 5:11-14. 

He prods those to whom he writes, in love, because they ought to be mature and able to teach others. Yet, they are immature in the faith. They are not yet ready for “solid food.”  Thus his encouragement comes that we are to press on into maturity (Heb. 6:1). The call of the Christian life is one of pursuit. We are to pursue Christ and the knowledge of Him. This is the emphasis of the Apostle Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3. He prays that as Christ would dwell in our hearts, being rooted and grounded in love, that we would come to some understanding of the love of God and that we would be filled with all the fullness of God. 

Similarly, Paul tells Timothy to labor to show himself as one who can rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). In sum, this is, at least in part, a picture of Christian maturity. There is nothing noble or praiseworthy in being ignorant of Christ, His work, and His word. Therefore, let us all press on into maturity. Let us never resign to be Christians that do not know the Bible. Instead, let us strive to store up the Word of God in our hearts that we might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11), and so that we might delight in Him more.

Grace be with you,
C. R. Hamilton