For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Hebrews 5:12-14 

Today’s passage is an indictment on those people who should be maturing in their faith in Jesus only to find themselves remaining in a cursory, elementary phase of faith. There can be much to say about maturing in the Christian life, but we will focus on two indispensable characteristics of a maturing believer.

1. Maturing Believers Know Who They Are In Christ (Confidence)

Maturing Christians are spiritually confident. In spite of the fact that an unhealthy focus on self as the means by which we please God is often portrayed as spiritual maturity, living in a state of doubt and fear over one’s own salvation indicates that maturity has yet to take place. Jesus has done everything necessary for us to live in victory and confidence.

Although mankind has found multiple ways in which to complicate the simplicity of the gospel, Jesus tells us that everything in the Law and the Prophets can be summed up in loving God with all of our being and loving others as we do ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). John echoes that same truth as he identifies the commandment that all Christians are to obey, believe in Jesus and love others (1 John 4:23).

In order for us to truly believe, we have to trust that, as believers, we are secure in Jesus. Maturing believers do not run away from God when they fail. They do not cease to carry out God’s calling on their lives because of failure nor do they let the criticism of others become a stumbling block. And a maturing believer’s faith is not disrupted just because a “favorite” pastor or teacher is caught in a transgression. Maturing believers know that God is faithful to forgive us, just to forgive us, and perfectly willing to forgive us as often as is necessary (1 John 1:9, Matthew 18:21-35). Maturing believers know who they are and in whom they belong.

Maturing believers understand that for everyone in Christ, there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1). They know that no one will ever be justified by works rather by faith in Christ alone (Galatians 2:16). Maturing believers know that righteousness does not come from their own actions but righteousness is credited to them by faith (Romans 4:4-5). And maturing believers know that God has made them adequate to participate in the gospel (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).

2. Maturing Believers Treat Others With Kindness And Respect (Compassion)

Likewise, along with confidence, maturing believers are compassionate. They are kind and gentle. Maturing Christians do not easily get angry nor are they accusatory or divisive. Maturing believers are always putting others before themselves (Philippians 2:3-4) and are constantly looking for ways to promote unity within the body of Christ.

Maturing believers adhere to Jesus’ statement as He summed up the entire Law with the statement, “Treat others the way that you want to be treated” (Matthew 7:12). They live according to the words of Paul as he echoed that same truth, “Love is the fulfillment of the Law” (Romans 13:10). Maturing believers will always go out of their way to put others needs above their own and understand that there will be no boasting over good works performed on this earth (Romans 3:27). They do not fall into the trap of having an attitude such a Jonah, the prodigal’s older brother, or the workers in the field (Jonah 4:1, Luke 15:28, Matthew 20:11-12).

Maturing believers are spiritually confident, trusting completely in the finished work of Jesus on the cross as the means by which they live abundantly here on earth and in whom they have eternal life (John 17:3). This spiritual confidence and security is then demonstrated in the way that these believers treat others. The fruit of the Spirit flows from the lives of these maturing believers and those rivers of living water have a positive effect on those who are around them (Galatians 5:22-23, John 7:37-38).

To believe in Jesus and to love others, this is the commandment of God to all Christians and focusing on these two elements will produce spiritual confidence and compassion for others. 

Are you a maturing believer?