What other scriptures emphasize the importance of spiritual growth and maturity? Hebrews 5:12—The Gentle Rebuke That Launches Our Study “Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food!” (Hebrews 5:12) The Spirit’s exhortation here is clear: believers are expected to keep moving forward, trading milk for meat. Scripture repeats this call in many places. Milk Is Not the Finish Line “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food.” “Like newborn infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” Both passages affirm that milk is good—yet only as a starting point. Growth is the expectation. Solid Food: Leaving the Elementary and Pressing On “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God.” “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.” Maturity involves deliberate progress, refusing to remain at the elementary stage. Growing in Grace and Knowledge—The Ongoing Process “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” “…that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ…” “…that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord… bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Growth is never static; it is continual deepening in grace, love, wisdom, and fruitfulness. Rooted, Built Up, Established—The Picture of Stability “Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught…” “…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… speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.” Solid roots and sturdy structure guard against drift and deception. The Goal: Christ Fully Formed in Us “My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…” “Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Maturity is Christ-likeness—complete, lacking nothing, His character fully expressed in us. Equipped and Fruitful—Practical Markers of Maturity “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.” “We ought always to thank God for you… because your faith is growing more and more and the love every one of you has for one another is increasing.” “Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance.” When Scripture shapes us, equipment and fruit follow: growing faith, increasing love, sound doctrine, steady perseverance. Living the Lesson Hebrews 5:12 reminds us that staying spiritual infants is never an option. Scripture consistently calls believers to press on—craving milk only long enough to build strength, then embracing solid food until Christ Himself is formed in us, our lives overflowing with faith, love, and every good work. |
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