Who is a mature Christian? Though it's commonly taught that we need to grow up in Christ, the truth is, many Christians don't understand what it means to be mature in their faith. In the book of Galatians, Paul says that when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. This implies that children ( babes in Christ ) are slaves to demonic and worldly systems.
Paul also said in the book of Corinthians, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things." This suggests that there is childish behavior even in matters concerning Christ. Does Christian maturity depend on what we say or how we speak, or does it depend on how we live our lives?
If maturity is measured by dominion, then it can be said that not many believers are mature. The Bible speaks of three groups of people : little children, young men, and fathers, categorising them by their level of maturity.
First, let's break down these categories to understand what it means to be a mature Christian. John speaks about little children in 1 John 2:12, where he says, "I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake." Little children are like baby Christians who are more conscious of their sins and how they affect their relationship with God. They are so fixated on trying to fix themselves that they forget it's all about what Jesus accomplished through his death. Some even try to point out other people's sins because they are so focused on sin itself, which blinds them from having a beautiful relationship with God.
The second group is called young men, mentioned in 1 John 2:13, which says, "I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one." Young men have understood the power of the cross and the authority of a believer. They have overcome the devil and have graduated from the babyhood stage, now enjoying the benefits of the cross. Many Christians fall into this category, having authority, power, and victory but struggle with the flesh.
Now, let's talk about fathers. The Bible says, "I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning." Mature Christians, or fathers, have a different kind of knowledge than little children. They know God as a father and as a friend. They relate to God and speak to Him as friends. This is the dimension in which Moses functioned, where God spoke to him face to face. A mature man does not offend in speech and can control his whole body, even under pressure. By their words, they bless their generation and those that will follow. The word of God is the tool God has given us to have fellowship with Him, and we need those who have walked with God to teach us how to hear from Him.
The only way to recognise a mature Christian is by their words. Their words do not change, no matter how much pressure they are under. In summary, there are three stages of Christian growth: little children, who are fixated on sin; young men, who have authority and power, but still struggle with the flesh; and fathers, who have matured to a point where they bless others consistently with their words and live a life of dominion, unaffected by external pressures.
God bless you
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