“Calling for Maturity”

Calling for Maturity

I want to share some thoughts titled, “Calling for Maturity”

“God is calling for the saints to scripturally position themselves. He is not winking at Spiritual ignorance and religious traditions. He is calling for the maturity of the saints.”

1 Corinthians 14:20 KJV

Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

1 Corinthians 14:20 AMP

Brothers and sisters, do not be children [immature, childlike] in your thinking; be infants in [matters of] evil [completely innocent and inexperienced], but in your minds be mature [adults].

Ephesians 4:9-16 KJV

9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:15 TLB

Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church.

AMPC

Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

The phrase speak the truth comes from a Greek with a very broad meaning. It means, “to speak the truth, teach the truth, profess the truth. To be true in doctrine and in your profession of faith.”

Love is from the Greek agape, and it means brotherly love, affection, goodwill, and benevolence.

Nothing in this passage tells us to use it to attack, judge and condemn. Nothing in this passage gives us the right to tell anyone anything beyond the story of Jesus. It is a command for us to personally know, speak, live, and declare the Gospel of our Lord.

Pulpit commentary says this of verse 15. “Truth is the element in which we live, move, and have our being. Being consistent in truth is the backbone of Christian ministry. Truth must be inseparably married to love.”

This passage ends with an exhortation. “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

12-13 Amplified

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers [because of the time you have had to learn these truths], you actually need someone to teach you again the elementary principles of God’s word [from the beginning], and you have come to be continually in need of milk, not solid food.

13 For everyone who lives on milk is [doctrinally inexperienced and] unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a spiritual infant.

#wewill #inHisname