In what ways can we become "mature" and "attain the full measure"? Vision of Spiritual Adulthood “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13) Foundational Faith Practices • Personal repentance and saving faith in Christ (John 3:16; Acts 3:19) • Regular immersion in Scripture—reading, memorizing, and obeying God’s Word (Joshua 1:8; 2 Timothy 3:16-17) • Consistent prayer, both private and corporate (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17) Unity in the Faith • Guarding doctrinal purity together (Jude 3) • Pursuing reconciliation and forgiving quickly (Colossians 3:13) • Gathering faithfully with the local body (Hebrews 10:24-25) Increasing Knowledge of the Son of God • Studying Christ’s life and teachings in the Gospels • Meditating on His supremacy (Colossians 1:15-20) • Celebrating His finished work in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) Putting Off Childhood, Putting On Christ • Refusing spiritual complacency (Hebrews 5:12-6:1) • Replacing immature thinking with renewed minds (Romans 12:2) • Practicing discernment—testing everything by Scripture (1 John 4:1) Exercise of Spiritual Gifts • Discovering gifts through service (1 Peter 4:10-11) • Allowing leaders to equip and train (Ephesians 4:11-12) • Building up others rather than self-promotion (1 Corinthians 14:12) Christlike Character Formation • Bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) • Walking in humility, gentleness, and patience (Ephesians 4:2) • Imitating Christ’s self-sacrificial love (John 13:34-35) Perseverance Toward the Full Measure • Pressing on, never settling for past victories (Philippians 3:12-14) • Welcoming God’s discipline that shapes maturity (Hebrews 12:10-11) • Looking to the future glory that motivates holiness (1 John 3:2-3) Outcome of Maturity • Stability—no longer “tossed by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching” (Ephesians 4:14) • Corporate growth—every part working properly, causing the body to build itself up in love (Ephesians 4:16) • Conformity to Christ—being “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29) Daily Steps Toward Full Stature 1. Start each morning with Scripture and prayer. 2. Confess sin immediately and receive cleansing (1 John 1:9). 3. Look for one tangible way to serve a fellow believer. 4. Share the gospel whenever God opens a door. 5. End the day by thanking the Lord for growth and asking for more grace tomorrow. |
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