Spiritual Maturity as Defined by Scripture

This, in part, motivated me today to write a blog post. You can find this at my blog, letterofmark .us. And the name of the blog post that I wrote today is called Spiritual Maturity as Defined by Scripture.

Spiritual Maturity Defined by Scripture

Spiritual Maturity as Defined by Scripture. Now, I do not want to pass along any information as if it's God's information without it really truly coming from a correct reading of God's Word. So, here's the question I ask.

How does the Bible define spiritual maturity? Okay? See, this is a good question. I mean, with all these people out there basically claiming to be spiritually mature while at the same time poo-pooing and putting down and casting aspersions upon the concept of sound biblical doctrine, I thought it would be beneficial to go here and take a look at what the Bible says.

So, here are some pertinent Bible passages that discuss this important topic. Ephesians chapter 4 verses 11 through 14. And he, Jesus, gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.

That's what the job of pastors, you know, to build up the body of Christ until we all attain the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ so that we may no longer be children.

Okay, now I'm going to pause there for a second. So, in this run-up to verse 14, Paul here is setting a contrast, creating a contrast by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit between spiritual maturity as opposed to spiritual infancy or childhood, if you would.

So, the idea here, so how do you know then that you're no longer a child? Okay, well here's the answer. Okay, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Aha! So, according to Ephesians chapter 4 verses 11 through 14, maturity, one of the marks of maturity then, is not being deceived by winds of strange doctrine that come about as a result of human cunning and craftiness vis-a-vis, well, Pastrix Dana.

Mature Believers Are Not Carried Away by Strange Doctrine

Hebrews 13 7 through 9 says, Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

So, do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods which have not benefited those devoted to them. Aha! So, here Hebrews 13 7 through 9 is admonishing Christians to not be led away by diverse and strange teachings.

Again, biblical marks of maturity, if you would. So, then I continue. Notice that spiritual maturity, according to Scripture, is marked by the ability to not be carried or led away by strange winds of false doctrine, but by being so thoroughly grounded in God's word that you are not deceived.

Put another way, one of the clearest signs that a person is spiritually immature or even spiritually dead is the fact that they succumb to and are led away by every strange wind of false doctrine. So, here's another thought to consider from Scripture regarding spiritual maturity.

Pastors Must Model Sound Doctrine and Godly Character

Pastors, according to Scripture, are to be models of spiritual maturity in both life and doctrine. Notice it's not just life, and notice it's not just doctrine. Pastors are to be models of spiritual maturity in both life and doctrine.

So, here are the qualifications of a pastor as laid out in the Pastoral Epistle. Titus, Pay close attention to what the Holy Spirit reveals regarding the vital importance of sound doctrine and how those who will not abide by sound doctrine and teach falsely are, quote, detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in His word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior.

This is why I left you in Crete so that you might put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town as I directed you. If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, his children are believers, not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party, and they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. Well, this testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply so that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

To the pure all things are pure, but to the defiled and the unbelieving nothing is pure, but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works.

They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work. But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in the faith, in love, and in steadfastness.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands, that the Word of God may not be reviled.

Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame having nothing evil to say about us.

That's Titus 1 .1 -2 .8. So, I ask a simple question. Based on what these passages from Scripture reveal, are you spiritually mature or are you immature? Notice, it's life and doctrine. Mature believers are ones who are so firmly grounded and know God's Word so that they are not led astray by strange winds of doctrine, by false teachers and deceivers who, well, are teaching falsely in order to earn a living, shameful gain, you know, fleece the flock, make merchandise of Christ's people.

So, are you spiritually mature or immature? I think it's a good question to ask yourself, but more importantly, how about your pastor? Does he stand for sound biblical doctrine? Does he model spiritual maturity in life and doctrine, in life as well as how he handles God's Word?

Or does he cast aspersions on sound doctrine, play fast and loose with the Scriptures, twist it and teach things that he ought not to teach? If he does that, if he's not a guy who stands for, defends sound doctrine and rebukes those who contradict sound doctrine, well, he's not spiritually mature.

He has not met the qualifications of somebody who's to be in the pulpit because pastors are to model spiritual maturity in both life and doctrine. Something to consider. All right, looking at our time here, I'm going to save the Kevin DeYoung piece until tomorrow, and what we're going to do right now is we're going to go into our second break, and when we come back, we're going to listen to two very good sermons that I wanted to listen to some good sermons today.

Tomorrow we got a bad sermon, but I wanted to listen to some good sermons today. So, if you would like to email me regarding anything you've heard on this edition or any previous editions of Fighting for the Faith, you can do so, my email address, talkbackatfightingforthefaith .com, or you can ask to be my friend on Facebook, it's facebook .com forward slash PirateChristian, or you can follow me on Twitter, my name there, at PirateChristian.

We'll be right back.

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