INDIVIDUAL MATURITY
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
Jesus isn’t isn’t just offering salvation from something-
he’s offering salvation into something.
Life.
Eternal life.
Life to the fullest.
A life that must be built up in love.
A life loaded with the fullness of Christ.
But to live this kind of life requires a vision of maturity-
And a willingness to be trained into maturity.
A life of maturity in Christ has several essential components:
TO KNOW GOD
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Knowing God is the central prize of the Gospel and is the foundation of every aspect of our lives as followers of Jesus. To know God entails an understanding of the holistic Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, faith expressed in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and consistent abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ.
TO WALK WITH GOD
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ”
As the Holy Spirit indwells us through salvation, our lives become directed, redeemed and empowered by Jesus. As we learn to walk with God in faith, hope and love, the nature of God and the character of Christ produces fruit in our lives. This nature is expressed through the love of God and the love of God’s image bearers, our neighbors.
TO PARTNER WITH GOD
“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.”
Beginning with God’s commission to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, it has been evident that God desires to give us authority and power to partner with him. As we grow in maturity, we learn to live as ambassadors, priests, and leaders within the kingdom of God. Jesus invites us to partner with him to advance the kingdom of God to the ends of the earth by making disciples.
TO UNITE AS THE CHURCH
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. ”
Followers of Jesus are intended to be the earthly representation of his physical body. As individuals unite together spiritually in relational families that advance the kingdom of God together, the answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is made manifest and the kingdom of God is realized here and now.