What It Means to Be Really Mature in God

Today’s dive into the Book of First Corinthians brings us to the subject of maturity. What does it really mean to be mature in God? Sinclair Ferguson asked the same question. He states that our constant quest as Christians is to become mature. Whenever I think of the subject of maturity, Sinclair said, I recall a painful experience during my first couple of years as a young pastor. A visitor was addressing our young people. He was in his early twenties himself and had made his first discovery of Jesus while caught in one of the sub-cultures of the West Coast. After becoming a Jesus follower, he told us, he realized he lacked spiritual maturity. So, [these are his words now, this new born Jesus follower] — He decided to go to Bible school for a year, and [again these are his words] ‘when I got maturity’ I decided to go on overseas evangelism.

So, I am going to cut in here and comment on this before we get back to the rest of Sinclair’s story. This young Jesus follower thought he was mature after going to school for a year. Think about that as we go back to the rest of the story.

Sinclair said that the rest of this young man’s address displayed how little maturity of understanding he actually possessed. The thrust of his thinking [this young believer who went to Bible school for a year] was that if you were not absolutely certain that you were in the right place, you ought to be serving God overseas (as he was!).

Of course, spiritual maturity is not so easily obtained. It does not come with diplomas. Nor does it show itself by insistence that one’s own pattern of life must rule every believer’s life. [‘you know you’re only mature if you do things like I do them’ kind of mindset.]

What was even more painful about this whole story was to see the effect of this young man’s address on our young people. They were blown away with this guy – they thought he was the most mature super spiritual thing ever. It took a long time for some of them to recover. What’s the point here? None of these people really understood what spiritual maturity was all about.¹ You know it’s no different today. There’s all kinds of thinking out there. People just don’t know. That’s why in today’s podcast, we’re talking about What It Means to Be Really Mature in God all on this week’s Light on Life.

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe to PlayerFM

#007: Are You Tuned into God’s Heart? [Podcast]

What It Means to Be Really Mature in God Click To Tweet

Read the Notes

You can view a basic transcript of this podcast at the bottom of this section.

Accept the Challenge

Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
This week’s call is:

If people will keep feeding on the Word at whatever level they are, even if it’s the milk of the Word, they will grow and develop. So take heart and get into your Bible.

Join the Conversation

Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
This week’s question is:

Question: Share a testimony of how you have grown in your relationship with the Lord. Share your story in the comments section below.

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching in the book of Second Thessalonians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 47 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 42 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe.

Note: Pocket Casts is available on the App Store or Google Play.

Pocket Casts

iTunes PlayerFM

Share the Love

If you enjoyed the podcast, please rate it on Stitcher Radio and leave a review. If you have a suggestion for a Bible topic, you would like to see taught, or if you have a question, please e-mail me at emery@emeryhorvath.com

Prayer

Podcast Notes

Let’s Pray

Father God, thank for your great plan and purpose for us to grow up into full and mature sons of God. Help us today to locate where we are. Grant unto us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you. We thank you for this in Jesus Name, Amen.

Maturity in God: Opening Verses

1 Corinthians 1:4–9 (ESV) — 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Does Operating in Spiritual Gifts Mean You’re Mature in God

There is an outstanding lesson on maturity in this first letter to the Corinthians that you don’t want to miss.
What real maturity is and isn’t is laid out for us in the happenings in this church.
There was an abundance of spiritual gifts in manifestation in Corinth.
And, there’s a tendency to think that because all this was taking place that this must be a super spiritually mature bunch.
Because after all, people think you have to be spiritual to flow in the gifts.
Is that true?
Let’s find out.

Mature in God: Vocal Gifts of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 1:5–9 (ESV) — 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

In verses 5–7, notice the following terms: ‘in every way’ — ‘in all speech’ — ‘in all knowledge’ — [and] — ’not lacking in any gift.’
The Greek word ‘gift’ means that which is freely and graciously given.
It’s used of special gifts of a non-material sort, bestowed through God’s generosity on individual Christians.²
The word appears seven times in First Corinthians.
Of those seven times, six of them refer to spiritual gifts or offices.
This word occurs five out of the six times in one chapter.
Here are two of these occurrences.

1 Corinthians 12:4–10 (ESV) — 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same spirit 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one spirit 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

You should note that Paul said that the Corinthians were enriched in Him in all speech.
Look at how much the concept of speech or speaking is a part of this charisma.
In verse eight, one of the Nine Gifts of the Spirit is listed as the ‘utterance of wisdom.’
Some Bibles will say the ‘word of wisdom.’
The Greek definition for speech is a communication whereby the mind finds expression, of utterance, chiefly oral.
The same case is true for the ‘utterance of knowledge.’
That’s a word of knowledge.
Since all of this wisdom and knowledge is chiefly oral, it takes speech to deliver it.
Again, remember: you are enriched in all speech and all knowledge.
And with that thought here is the Historical Background of the Day.

Speech” and “knowledge” were important to the Corinthians. In fact, the nearby Isthmian Games included speech contests, and knowledge was associated with philosophical wisdom or the ability to speak extemporaneously on any topic (a skill in which *rhetoricians, or public speakers, were trained).³

Now, Paul is not referring to natural speech gifts but spiritual — that is utterances inspired by the Spirit of God.
They had all of this and they came behind in no gift.
What type of gift is Paul referring to when he says to the Corinthians — ‘you come behind in no gift?’
He’s talking about gifts of the Spirit.
Paul is talking about manifestations which come from the Holy Ghost.
He is saying that they were not lacking in any gift in this arena.
Repeating this, Paul is declaring to them, and us that the Corinthians had an abundance of spiritual gifts manifesting in their city and church.
They were not experiencing deficiencies of any kind in this area.
That’s what the Greek word ‘lacking’ means — to experience deficiency in something advantageous or desirable.
It means to go without, or to come short of.
Holy Ghost happenings were the norm.
No lack — no shortage — no deficiency.
Paul spends a bit of time talking these spiritual realities.
How about an entire chapter on spiritual gifts and offices? — that’s First Corinthians 12.
How about another entire chapter forty verses long — that’s First Corinthians 14.
Here’s just a small sample from the later.

1 Corinthians 14:1–5 (ESV) — 1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

These Gifts of the Spirit confirmed the testimony that Paul gave of Jesus.
That’s what Paul said.

the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you

Look at that word ‘confirmed.’
It means to put something beyond doubt.
It was beyond doubt that the message of Jesus was the truth.
This was evident because the gospel, the good news about Jesus, was accompanied by the gifts of the Spirit.
The Word about Jesus as Savior was preached and people got saved.
The Word about Jesus as healer was preached and people got healed.
Sometimes the order was reversed.
They got healed — then their eyes got big — wow, look at that — and they came running to Jesus.
These manifestations were so miraculous among the Corinthians in their midst that there was no doubt that what Paul was saying about Jesus was true.
Sounds like Mark sixteen, right?

Mark 16:19–20 (ESV)— So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

Mature in God: Confirming the Message

Romans 15:18–19 (ESV) — For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;

Just a side note here.
Illyricum is today part of Yugoslavia and part of Albania.
Why is that significant?

John 12:35 (ESV) — 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

Walk while you have the light.
The phrase ‘walk while you have the light’ is the same as ‘walking in the light.’
We must walk in the light we have — if we don’t, darkness fills the void.
That’s a Bible fact and an eternal principle.
There is no compromise here.
Light and darkness is totally a black and white issue.
If we have light, we must walk in it because if we do not then darkness comes and fills the void.
In the case of Illyricum, the gospel was preached there by Paul with signs and wonders.
Light was manifest.
What happened in Illyricum?
Illyricum is modern day Albania.
Today, Albania is one of the most communist and difficult places in the world.
Darkness is extreme in Albania.
They didn’t walk in the light and so darkness filled the void.
In 1967, religious practices were officially banned in Albania, making the country the first and only constitutionally atheist state to ever exist.
After the fall of state communism, in 1991 religious activities resumed.
You might be tempted to think that’s good news — it is and it isn’t.
As of 2011, only 0.14% are Protestant/Evangelical.
Fifty-seven percent are Islamic.
Albania is listed as the thirteenth least religious country in the world.
Who is the number one ‘least religious’ country?
I knew you were going to ask, so here’s the list.
Top 10 Least Religious Countries (by percentage) – Pew Research 2020

Czech Republic – 78.4%
North Korea – 71.3%
Estonia – 60.2%
Japan – 60%
Hong Kong (China) – 54.7%
China – 51.8%
South Korea – 46.6%
Latvia – 45.3%
Netherlands – 44.3%
Uruguay – 41.5%

Walk while you have the light — that’s the message.
So, in Corinth, there was a confirming of the message of Jesus by accompanying signs from the Holy Spirit.

Mature in God: Tons of Problems in the Corinthian Church

So, we have this expression of spiritual gifts in this church mentioned in a couple of verses.
But, verse 10 starts a different trend.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV) — 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.

There was some negative, unspiritual, immature stuff going on in this church.
First, there was a lack of agreement among them.
Second, there were divisions among the people.
Third there was quarreling.
The Greek word ‘quarreling’ means strife, discord, or contention.
Bottom line? There was strife in the church.
Well how bad is that?
Let me show you.

1 Corinthians 3:1–3 (ESV) — 1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

We have a new word here to add to the list, jealousy.
So, lack of agreement, divisions, strife and now jealousy.

James 3:13–18 (ESV) — 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Jealousy here in James is linked with selfish ambition.
Add that to the family of which we now have five members: lack of agreement, divisions, strife, jealousy, and selfish ambition.
Does a person or group of people displaying these traits sound spiritual to you?
In your estimation, are these people whom we are reading of in Corinth, mature or immature? — spiritual or unspiritual?
Yet, they had an abundance of Holy Spirit gifts and manifestations in their midst.
What that tells you is that deep spirituality and a plethora of spiritual gifts are independent of each other.
Now if you keep reading the rest of this letter you will see Paul discussing other issues in this church and you can draw the same logic as well.
Now, we will talk about some of those areas in upcoming podcasts.
All we are doing is setting the table here.

Mature in God: What Is It?

In the last part of this podcast, by the help of the Holy Spirit, let’s answer the question, what is a mature Jesus follower?
We’ve seen already that it’s not going to Bible school and running off to a foreign country to do ministry.
There are people in ministry who are not very spiritual at all and show that on a regular basis.
We also see that you can’t clock maturity via a multitude of the Nine Gifts of the Spirit.
Let’s cement that thought a bit more.
There is an intriguing comparison in chapter two.

1 Corinthians 2:3–5 (ESV) — 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

So, here we have again confirming the Word with signs following.
Now drop to verse six.

1 Corinthians 2:6–7 (ESV) — 6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.

Do you see that there are at least two groups here?
‘Yet among the mature,’ is one of these groups.
Paul is saying that there’s a certain kind of conversation that he can have with this group that he’s unable to have with those who are not mature.
Among the mature, he can talk about certain subjects that he is unable to discuss with those who are not mature.
Now, it sounds elitist but it’s not.
That gets us over into understanding that there are stages of spiritual development.

### Mature in God: Stages of Development

Listen to this passage in chapter five of the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 5:11–14 (ESV) — 11 About this [Jesus a high priest after the order of Melchisedek] we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

So,what does mature mean?
I’m glad you asked and with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
The Greek word mature here in Hebrews 5:14, and 1 Corinthians 2:6 means to be full-grown, as in being an adult.
This is spiritual maturity we are talking about here.
The terms ‘full-grown’ and ‘adult’ strongly imply that there are stages of spiritual development just like there are stages of physical development.
No one is born full grown, physically or spiritually mature.
And just as you are not able to talk to a baby about quantum physics, neither are you able to talk about spiritual truths equally with all people.
Solid food is for the mature.
Solid food is for full grown Christians who can handle the discussion.
In a previous podcast, we talked about rebellious children and how God feels about them and this subject.
Did you get offended by that?
If you did, would it be fair to say that it’s a locater of where you are?
I mean if you choke on the food you are fed, what does that say?
What do mean, choke on the food you’re fed — what does that mean?
It means it went right by you.
The Word of God didn’t drop in your heart.
You didn’t have a conviction to do it — that is, put it into operation in your life.
And so, it’s almost as if you have never heard it to start with.
That’s what choking on the Word means.
You need something that goes down easier — you need milk.
You know the commercial said — ‘Milk is a natural.’
It is and it’s a spiritual as well.

1 Peter 2:1–3 (ESV) — 1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Now go back to the example of trying to explain quantum physics to a child.
Get a picture in your mind of a baby.
Maybe it’s your baby or your grand baby.
How about a baby in another part of your family or one you saw on TV.
At any rate, that little one is certainly the cutest thing on Planet Earth.
Now try to teach this child quantum physics.
You may say ‘Teach it quantum physics, someone needs to teach me — I don’t know it myself!’
The point is teach this favorite baby of yours something way beyond where they are.
What’s the reaction going to be?
That little one is just going to blink and look at you.
That’s what those who are more on the immature side, the ones who haven’t quite grown enough do with the Word.
They just hear it and blink.
It doesn’t mean God doesn’t love them — In fact, He thinks they are cute!
Now, here’s the good news.
This is about the nature of the Word of God in connection with growth and development.
If people will keep feeding on the Word at whatever level they are, even if it’s the milk of the Word, they will grow and develop.
The more they grow the more results they will get and the more they will be able to receive other areas of the Word.
Now, it’s natural at this point to ask: What is the milk of the Word?
I’m glad you put this question out there at this point.
The Bible has the answer.
Let’s close with this passage in Hebrews six.

Hebrews 6:1–3 (ESV) — 1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

You see there ‘elementary doctrines of Christ.’
The word ‘elementary’ is the Greek word ‘arche’ which means the beginning or the commencement of something.
It is a point of time at the beginning of a duration.
Right here we have a list of those first teachings of Jesus that young followers should feed on.

Repentance from Dead Works
Faith toward God
Baptisms [that’s what washings are]
Laying on of Hands
Resurrection of the Dead
Eternal Judgment

So when the Lord told my spiritual dad, ‘To go teach — go teach my people faith’ what He was saying is grow my people and help them mature.

Now, Father God thank you for helping us grow. I pray for the people that they would continue to feed upon the truths from your Word so they can grow and develop into mature Jesus people. I thank you for that in Jesus Name, Amen.

What It Means to Be Really Mature in God.
You guys have a great God week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

One Necessary Component You Need for Spiritual Growth in God

__________
References:

Sinclair Ferguson, Discipleship Journal, November, December 1984 ↩
BDAG ↩
1 Corinthians 1:5 (IVPBBC NT 2ed.) ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

What It Means to Be Really Mature in God

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Eight

by Emery Horvath

Listen to the Audio