How can we reach spiritual maturity?
How can Christians mature spiritually? What are the signs of immature believers?
For those who believe in God and consider themselves converted Christians, thinking and acting more spiritually is a daily struggle. They want to behave more like their older brother Jesus Christ, yet they have little or no idea of how to achieve this high milestone.
The ability to show divine love is a key sign of a spiritually mature Christian. God called us to imitate him. The apostle Paul declared to the church of Ephesus that they had to walk or live in love just as Christ practiced when walking on earth (Ephesians 5: 1 - 2).
Believers must develop the character to love on a spiritual level. The more the spirit of God in us and the more we exercise its influence, the better our ability to love as God does. Paul wrote that God spreads the love he has in us through the effective workings of his spirit (Romans 5: 5 ).
There are many people who think they have reached maturity in faith, but in reality they behave more like little spiritual children. What reasons do people use to justify their opinion that they (or even someone else) are more grown up and "spiritual" than others?
Some of the reasons why people feel spiritually superior to others include being a member of the church for many years, having an intimate knowledge of church doctrines, going on duty every week, being old, or being able to effectively bring down others. Other reasons include spending time with church leaders, being financially affluent, giving large sums of money to the church, getting to know the scriptures a little, or dressing well with the church.
Christ gave his followers, including us, a powerful new commandment that if obeyed would separate us from the rest of the world.
How I loved you, so you have to love each other. If you have love for each other, then everyone will know that you are my disciples. (John 13:34 - 35).
The way we treat fellow believers in public is a sign not only of the fact that we are converted but that we are also mature in the faith. And just like faith, love without works is spiritually dead. True love must be demonstrated on a consistent basis by how we live our lives. Needless to say, hatred has no place in a Christian's life. To the extent that we hate it is the degree to which we are still immature.
Definition of maturity
Paul teaches us what spiritual maturity is and isn't. In 1 Corinthians 13 he affirms that the true love of God is patient, kind, who does not envy or boast or is full of vanity. It does not behave roughly, nor is it selfish, nor is it easily provoked. Divine love never rejoices in sin, but always does so with regard to truth. Bear all things and "believe all things, hope all things, endure all things". (see 1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7)
Since the love of God never fails, his love within us projected towards others must not fail (verse 8).
The person who has reached a certain degree of spiritual maturity does not worry about himself. Those who are mature have reached a level where they no longer care about the sins of others (1 Corinthians 13: 5). They no longer keep track, as Paul said, of the sins committed by others.
A mature spiritual believer rejoices in the truth of God. They pursue the truth and let it take them wherever they lead.
Mature believers have no desire to indulge in evil nor do they try to take advantage of others when they abandon themselves to it. They always work to remove the spiritual darkness that surrounds the world and to protect those who are vulnerable to its dangers. Mature Christians take time to pray for others (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Love allows us to persevere and have hope in what God can do. Those who are mature in faith are friends of others not only in good times but also in bad times.
The power to achieve it
Having spiritual maturity implies being sensitive to the power and leadership of God's spirit. It offers us the ability to possess the same type of AGAPE love of God. As we grow in grace and knowledge and obey God with all our heart, his Spirit also grows (Acts 5:32). The apostle Paul prayed that the believers of Ephesus would be full of Christ and understand the multiple dimensions of his divine love (Ephesians 3: 16-19).
The Spirit of God in us makes us His chosen people (Acts 1: 8). It gives us the ability to win and be victorious over our self-destructive human nature. The more we have the Spirit of God, the faster we will become the spiritually mature Christians that God desires for all his children.