SPIRITUAL MATURITY
In the New International Bible we are admonished in Hebrews 6: verses 1-2, "Therefore let us leave the
elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, ( perfection ) not laying again the foundation of
repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instructions about baptisms, the laying on of hands,
the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment" (Heb. 6:1-2).
Spiritual infancy is a lack of seeing personal growth after being baptized. The spiritual infant is
concerned with self rather than serving others. The spiritual infant is concerned with argument rather
than Godly patience. The spiritual infant looks to people, rather than receiving their nourishment from
God's word.
According to Hebrews 6: verses 1 - 2, God wants us to leave the elementary teaching about Christ, and
go on to spiritual maturity, yet not abandon the elementary principles about Christ. Our Lord wants to see us
make progress beyond the elementary principles.
What are the elementary principles? They are mentioned in verse 2, as repentance, faith, baptism, the
laying on of hands, the resurrection and eternal judgment. In short these are basic doctrines!
Now, we must realize that the most basic and fundamental doctrine that we must know and believe, is
that Jesus is God in flesh- who bore our sins in His body on the stake for us. Reviewing a few scriptures to
substantiate that - start with John 1:1, "In the beginning" (this phrase denotes the most remote time conceivable
before the creation of all things). "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God." Now verse 14, John has already affirmed the deity of Christ in verse 1. And now verse 14 affirms
His true humanity! "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as
of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
Christ is divine in the absolute and unqualified sense of the word. He is also human in the same sense,
except that He knew no sin. Apostle Paul boldly told the Corinthians "For He hath made Him to be sin for us,
who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor 5:21).
Grace and truth that was mentioned in verse 14 of Hebrews 6, was precisely the attributes of God that
Christ came to reveal. He came to save us, His created from our sins. The Apostle Peter relates to us, "Who His
own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness"
(1 Peter 2:24). That is in harmony with Godly right principles, and is in harmony with maturity and perfection.
Rom 5:1, shares with us, that we are justified by faith. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
The Apostle Paul when speaking to the Corinthians, reminded them of the good news which he had
preached to them and now preaches to us. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel (good news) which
I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand; by which also you are saved, if you
keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all
that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried,
and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Cor 15: 1-4). It is only due to Christ's work
on the stake that we are able to press on to maturity. Press on to perfection.
Thinking back to the Greek text of Hebrew 6: 1, says literally, "Therefore leaving the discourse of the
beginning of Christ." The word "beginning" in Greek is "Arche." It means beginning, or origin. Christ's
teachings on the basics are what the author of Hebrews 6, is getting at. The basics are to be studied, fed upon as
an infant would feed upon milk for nourishment so they can grow. Once the foundation has been laid we are to
improve not only in our understanding but in our practice and attitudes concerning spiritual things.
Doctrine is important, very important, without it we cannot be useful in God's kingdom to come. It
defines who we believe in, and what we believe concerning our Lord, and what He requires of us.
There are essentials to the faith that the Bible states are non-negotiable: the deity of Christ, the
resurrection, and salvation through obedience to God's word. It could be said that doctrine is of the mind,
because the answer to doctrinal questions often involves nothing more than memory. For instance - what does
it mean to repent? What is baptism and is it necessary for salvation? What is the Bible about? Are the spiritual
gifts still around? Who is the author of faith? What is the significance of the laying on of hands? And what is
the resurrection and the final judgment? What purpose does the law serve in guiding our Christian lives? What
will happen when our Lord returns? These all are important questions and the answers guide our understanding.
Our understanding is what guides our actions and personality .
Doctrine is of the mind. It is, in one sense, easier than those teachings of Christ that deal with the heart.
Because with the mind you only need to understand. With the heart you need to obey! Maturity- perfection, is
when your understanding of truth and your action are one and the same.
God wants us to mature in keeping His laws. God wants us to mature in buying the truth, wisdom,
knowledge and understanding. He wants us to grow in faith, He wants us to fully mature in rightly dividing His
word. Verse I of Hebrews 6 says, "Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to
maturity." The King James Version says, "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go
on unto perfection..." New American Standard Bible says, "Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the
Christ, Let us press on to maturity."
The word for "perfection" or "maturity" in the Greek is "Teleeotes." It means, 1). "A perfecter," 2). One
who has in his own person, 3). Raised faith to its perfection and has set the highest example of faith." This is
the level of maturity that God wants from us. A perfect- matured faithful servant.
The only way to perfect our relationship with God and improve our walk in holiness is to do it by faith
and obedience to His every word. God does not command where He does not provide
or empower. John 6: tells us God works faith in the believer. In contrast to that belief, the Jews concept of true
religion was to large extent in terms of works so it was natural that in inquiring how they might please God they
asked as to what works they might do? "Jesus answered and said unto them, this is the work of God, That you
believe on Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29).
Jesus met the Jews on their own ground and framed His answer in terms of their own question. He sought
to lead their minds from a mistaken concept of religion into an understanding of what it means truly to please
God.
The words of Jesus "You believe," presents the basic truth of salvation by faith. God has given everyone
a measure of faith. "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the
measure of faith" (Rom 12:3). James adds to that "Measure of faith." "But be you doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves"(James 1:22).
We are encouraged to mature and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord which helps develop our
closeness to Him. The word maturity or perfection as I said is "teleeotes." It comes from the Greek word "tel-
os," which means: to make perfect; to carry through completely; to accomplish; to finish; bring to an end.
The Apostle Paul wants God's converts to remember that God is the author of their salvation. "For I
(Paul) am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of
Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6). The work of perfecting will continue until Christ comes to receive His called, chosen
and faithful.
By doing a study of the word "tel-os" in the Bible, we discover some interesting points about its usage.
It is used in the context of doing, for instance doing the will of God. "Epaphras, who is one of you and a
servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer that you may stand firm in all the will
of God, mature and fully assured" (Col. 4:12).
We see "tel-os" is used in the context of being able to distinguish good from evil. Another example is
seen in Heb. 5.14, "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish
good from evil."
"Tel-os" is also used to mean sacrifice. In Matthew 19, Christ is answering the man wanting eternal life in
God's kingdom. "Jesus answered, "if you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow Me" (Matt. 19:21).
Perhaps this last "tel-os" is the most important. It is used to mean love. "You have heard that it was
said, "love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?
Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than
others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew
5:43-48). Sacrifice, and obedience to God, distinguishing good from evil, all are perfected in love. All are only
possible in love.
Reading story after story from God's word we learn those multitudes who followed Christ were always
astonished at His teaching. When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced their antagonists - the Sadducees,
came to Him for an interview. Their spokesman -a lawyer asked Jesus to single out the great commandment in
the law. Jesus gives them and us His answer in Matt. 22: 37-39, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like
it: "love your neighbor as yourself."
In a masterful way the Lord summarized mans obligation to God the Father and to mankind. These
thoughts were still on Christ mind after takening His last Passover meal. He said to His disciples, "A new
command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will
know that you are My disciples, if you love one another" (John 13: 34-35).
This commandment was new in other ways, it was new because the Holy Spirit would now empower
believers to obey it. It was new in that it was superior to the old way. God wants us to progress beyond the
elementary foundations of the faith, because true spiritual maturity is of the spirit not simply of the mind, which
is why Paul said in Heb 6:1, "...let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity
(Perfection).
Paul is saying, let us progress beyond the basics and start living what we claim to know. Claimed to have
learned from scripture. It could be said that the level of maturity that is desired from the word could be summed
up in the doctrine of love. Because that is what Jesus is, incarnate love. "Charity (love) suffers long, and is
kind; charity envies not; Charity (love) vaunts (boasts) not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself
unseemly, seeks not her own (way). Is not easily provoked (bittered), thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but
rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Charity (love) never
fails" (I Cor. 13:4-8).
Love that is other centered. You've heard it said a hundred times: "For God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). Love gives, love sacrifices, love considers another more important,
love rejoices the heart. Love wills to being safety to another, love begets honest, integrity, and character. Love
unites people together, and brings out forgiveness. And love anoints the hearts of God's people to contemplate
on holiness, purity, forgiveness, humility, patience, and more.
God wants us to be accomplishing maturity daily. "Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the
Christ, let us press on to maturity" (Heb 6:1). Notice in the following verses 4 - 6 in Heb 6, the writer speaks
of being enlightened, by tasting the heavenly gift, and having been made partakers of the Holy Spirit. "For it is
impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers
of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the World to come, if they shall fall
away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put
Him to an open shame." Those having fallen away cannot be renewed again to repentance because they "again
crucify to themselves the Son of God."
This is about the centrality of Christ and His sacrifice on the stake. Maturity doesn't just mean knowing
more doctrine. Maturity doesn't just mean you don't argue with your spouse as much, maturity doesn't just mean
you no longer steal, cheat, or lie. Maturity can only be judged by the standard of Christ. In Christ, means
becoming more like Christ. Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). That is a active challenge, not a laid back, take it easy challenge!
Jesus was God in flesh, who possessed all authority in heaven and earth. He had the right to do whatever
He wanted in this world, and the entire universe. But, what did He choose to do? He chose to humbled Himself.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery
to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was
made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:5-8).
Our Lord loved all sorts of people. He told the rich man who asked, "what shall I do that I may inherit
eternal life? Go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor." Jesus then said in Mark 10: 21, "Then
Jesus beholding him loved him." Another example of love is found in John 11:5, where it said, "Now Jesus
loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus."
Jesus Christ loves us, He forgives people like us of their sins and He died for all of us. Paul gives us this
knowledge, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have
received, and wherein you stand; by which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto
you, unless you have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the scriptures" (1 Cor 15:1-4).
This is what it means to be Christ-like, to be mature, means to be humble, to love, to forgive, and if need
be, to die for someone else. This is only possible with the indwelling of God in the person of Christ, through
whom we are called into fellowship. "God is faithful, by whom you were called unto the fellowship of His son
Jesus the Christ our Lord" (I Cor. 1:9).
In infancy there is selfishness quarreling, arguments, divisions, unreconciled relationships, unforgiven
memories, and all such sins. In maturity there is unity, reconciliation, healing and of course, the manifestation
of the love of Christ.
Because of what Jesus the Christ did for us on the stake He was hung on, we are able to escape the bonds
of self-centered sin, and grow in a united loving relationship with our Savior and God the Father, as we press on
towards maturity- perfection!
Ask, am I manifesting the true maturity and perfection, that God wants of me? Am I seeking to buy the
truth and grow, in wisdom, knowledge and understanding and in the love of God?
It is not mere doctrine that makes one mature and perfect. It is living the love of God in our heart, words,
and deeds. The only way maturity- perfection is achieved is when our eyes and mind are focused on God's
kingdom to come and His will be done in our lives!
James Russell