Maturity - 1 Corinthians 4/21/24

Because God pursued me and gave me grace even when I was a sinner and his enemy, I can pursue my spouse and give them grace even when we are at odds...

Because God has given me a name and identity in him, I don’t have to prove myself to others. I am secure.

Because God’s kingdom is eternal, my life has purpose

Jesus’ ambassador on earth

Great commandment

Matthew 22:34–40 ESV

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Great commission

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(2) A mature Christian is sound in doctrine.

Theologically deep

1 Timothy 4:13 NKJV

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Indoctrinate (1) to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle

(2) to instruct especially in fundamentals or rudiments

DID YOU KNOW? Indoctrinate means "brainwash" to many people, but its meaning isn't always so negative. When the verb first appeared in English in the 17th century, it simply meant "to teach"—a meaning linked closely to its source, the Latin verb docēre, which also means "to teach." (Other offspring of docēre include docile, doctor, document, and, of course, doctrine). By the 19th century, indoctrinate was being used in the sense of teaching someone to fully accept only the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of a particular group.

Acts 17:11 ESV

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

A Learner

Learn —> Know —> Love

A student of the Word

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Doer of the word and not a hearer only

James 1:22–25 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

(3) A mature Christian is submissive.

Spirit led

Galatians 5:16–17 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Submits to pastoral authority

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

(USE DAD AS EXAMPLE)

Submits to ecclesial community

Ephesians 5:18–21 ESV

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Able to receive correction

Proverbs 12:1 NIV84

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.

2 Timothy 4:2 NIV84

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Humble

Philippians 2:3–4 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

(4) A mature Christian is sacrificial.

Sacrificial

1 Peter 2:21 ESV

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Servant hearted

John 13:12–15 ESV

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

Generous

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

(5) A mature Christian is steadfast in godliness.

Faithful

Philippians 3:12–15 (ESV)

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way...

Waits on the Lord

Lamentations 3:25–26 ESV

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Patient

Romans 12:12 NIV84

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Consistent

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

(6) A mature Christian is a leader of others.

Points their maturity towards others

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Bares weight, carries the responsibility of others

Galatians 6:2 ESV

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

(7) A mature Christian understands (s)he is sent.

John 20:21 ESV

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

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