Spiritual Maturity
Understanding the Paradox
What is Spiritual Maturity?
Believe or not, the answer to the question is actually quite simple when heard, but difficult to solidify when not exactly stated. Let us take a look a passage from Ephesians 4:11-13:
“And he gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” NASB ( emphasis added )
And another from Philippians 3:12-14:
“Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” NASB ( emphasis added )
So the answer to the question is actually quite simple. In fact, it is the typical Sunday school answer, but this time holds a weight beyond just a “right answer.” Spiritual Maturity is the embodiment of Christ-likeness. In short, it is to be like Christ.
Now, will we ever be able to be completely like Christ in this life? Of course not. So then, can we ever be Spiritually Mature in this life? Well, logic would say no, however Scripture does make reference to those who are mature ( I Cor. 2:6, I Cor. 4:20, Eph. 4:13, Heb. 5:14, Phill. 3:15 ). So what does this tell us?
Paul actually addresses this curious paradox further in Philippians 3:15-16.
“Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by the same standard to which we have attained.”
[ If we take a look at the word “mature” in the Greek from a from the passages listed above, we find that the word is derived from “teleiosis” which actually means perfection ( in the sense of completion or fulfillment ). A form of “teleiosis” is also used in Matthew 5:48 when Christ says, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” ( emphasis added ) ]
Notice that Paul addresses those who would be mature/perfect to have this attitude ( i.e. understand that all is rubbish in light of knowing Christ, we have not obtained to the fullness of Christ yet, we have not yet become perfect - as opposed to being made perfect for you technical people out there, but we must go on, we must reach forward, we must press on toward the goal ). So Paul addresses the “mature” to say they should have the attitude that they are not completely “mature” yet, but they should continue to strive forward. To those who have the attitude that they are mature, they should continue to live in accordance to the standard of that maturity, and NOT SLACK because they feel they have reached the end ( or at least knowing the human condition, that would be my best guess as to why Paul would state such )
So how does this add clarity to our discussion? Well, it does reveal we should have the attitude that we have not arrived at our destination yet, but such should not deter us from still running full steam ahead, beyond the measure of “trying the best we can.” Still this does not eliminate the fact that Paul and other authors reference the “mature” in multiple passages, and in referencing the word mature, one can only assume that that such a state or form would exist. So in combining Paul’s statement above regarding “attaining maturity” and the multiple references to “the mature,” I feel it would be safe to discuss Spiritual Maturity along the lines of being “mature enough” ( i.e. understanding and emulating Christ-likeness to a very high and consistent degree), but still having a long way to go yet to become fully mature.
So with that all said and done, it leads us to our next question:
How would one know that they were Spiritually Mature ( i.e. mature enough ) and/or how would one get there?
Perhaps you tell me. Write down your answer to the following questions:
What are the signs of Spiritual Maturity ( i.e. how would you differentiate someone who was Spiritually Mature from someone else who was “just naturally mature” or “spiritual but not mature” )?
How does one become Spiritually Mature?
I’ll give you a hint. The answers to both questions are exactly the same.