Maturing in Christ

Hebrews 6:1-2 HCSB Therefore, leaving the elementary message about the Messiah, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, (2) teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

You’re going to want to keep your finger in Hebrews 6 or leave a marker there because we will be coming back to it again and again for the next few minutes. I’m going to talk to you about how to mature in Christ and Hebrews 6:1-12 will form the backbone of my midrash.

What would you think if I stood before you today in diapers? What would you think if I still sucked my thumb and carried a blankie around with me all day? Wouldn’t you feel shocked to see a 46 year old man crying over a lost toy or stamping his foot and wailing because he didn’t get his way?

We instinctively know that when there is no growth, there is something profoundly wrong. We use words like “stunted” or “retarded” to describe such a condition. Yet, far too many believers are perfectly content to remain the way they were the first day they were saved. NO! NO! We must not be content with salvation. We must develop a holy discontent. We need to move on from milk to solid food.

1. We must grow

a. Into Christ

We need to keep in mind what we are supposed to be. Just as we must keep in mind the final results we hope to see in our children as we raise them, we must also “see” the proper spiritual goal in our minds.

· Ephesians 4:15 HCSB But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head--Christ.

It is critical to see real results in our lives; every day seeing more and more of Christ in our lives. Why? It is because if we are not seeing those results, the opposite may be happening. We may be hardening our hearts to the truth and pulling more and more away from His likeness.

Go back to Hebrews 6 with me and look at verses 4-6.

· Hebrews 6:4-6 HCSB For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit, (5) tasted God's good word and the powers of the coming age, (6) and who have fallen away, because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding Him up to contempt.

What a tragedy to hear the truth, know the truth, rebel against the truth, only to be one day confronted by the Truth incarnate on the Great Day of Judgment!

b. In fruitfulness

We must take heed of our fruitfulness. Obedience is a true thanks for a good received and divine goodness will continue to seed and fertilize land that has already demonstrated that it will quickly bear fruit! Look at the next two verses.

· Hebrews 6:7-8 HCSB For ground that has drunk the rain that has often fallen on it, and that produces vegetation useful to those it is cultivated for, receives a blessing from God. (8) But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and will be burned at the end.

· 2 Corinthians 9:10 HCSB Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness,

Many of you – even many who claim Christ as King – lack peace in your lives. Let me point out that there are three major causes for a lack of peace: 1) sin, 2) ingratitude or discontent, and 3) lack of fruitfulness. Disharmony can be caused by either active or passive sin. If you are not experiencing peace then you are either actively working against peace by sinning or you are not investing in peace by developing a grateful, fruitful life.

· James 3:18 HCSB And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

· Isaiah 32:17 HCSB The result of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.

c. In love

Go back to Hebrews 6 and let’s compare verse 10 to what we see in 1 Thessalonians 3.

· Hebrews 6:10 HCSB For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name when you served the saints--and you continue to serve them.

· 1 Thessalonians 3:12 HCSB And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we also do for you.

Love is not a puddle! It is not something you slip and fall into! Love is hard work. It is a conscious decision that must be made again and again. If you want to grow into maturity, into Christ, in fruitfulness, then you need to focus on love and have the right view of love. True love is tough. It’s hard. It endures what would crush the average wimpy infatuation. You’re not going to come by true love by being a spiritual couch potato. You’re going to have to get in to Sunday school and learn to spend time thinking and debating with your fellow believers. You’re going to have to faithfully show up to church week after week. You’re going to have to get fellow disciples into your home or visit them in theirs. You’re going to have to help move them. You’re going to have to put your skills and talents to work within the body. You are going to have to work and love until Jesus comes back or you just wear out and finally get to go home.

2. How do we grow?

a. Through the Holy Spirit

If we return to Hebrews 6 and go back a few verses, to verse 4, we see…

· Hebrews 6:4 HCSB For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit,

The Holy Spirit is already present in the spirit of the believer. That’s a done deal. However, many people live with the Holy Spirit in the same body like two disgruntled spouses. They may be in the same house but there’s no real relationship. You need to become the Spirit’s companion.

· John 16:8-11 HCSB When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: (9) about sin, because they do not believe in Me; (10) about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me; (11) and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

· John 16:13 HCSB When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.

• Romans 8:1-8 HCSB Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, (2) because the Spirit's law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (3) What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin's domain, and as a sin offering, (4) in order that the law's requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (5) For those whose lives are according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those whose lives are according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. (6) For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. (7) For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God's law, for it is unable to do so. (8) Those whose lives are in the flesh are unable to please God.

News flash! In that marriage relationship that you have with the Holy Spirit, one of you is perfect – and it isn’t you! The Holy Spirit does not sin. The Holy Spirit does not lie. The Holy Spirit is the one who produces all the wonderful fruit that we long to have demonstrated in our poor, miserable, shriveled up, sin-sick souls. If we want to grow through the Holy Spirit, we are going to have to seriously get sensitive to PERSONAL sin. Note the word PERSONAL. Many people would be quite happy to become sensitive to sin in others. That is not the way. We must become sensitive to sin in our own souls or there will be no spiritual growth for us.

• 1 Corinthians 2:13 HCSB We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.
• Acts 1:8 HCSB But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

When we get our minds properly focused on the goal – Jesus Christ; when we begin producing the fruit we know we should produce; when we begin to work hard at love; when we truly become companions of the Holy Spirit and sensitive to our own personal sin; then we will begin speaking with supernatural wisdom. We will be mature enough to even explain spiritual things to spiritual people. We will receive the power of the Holy Spirit and be in possession of a witness that will reverberate throughout the world.

b. Through the word

Turning back once again to Hebrews six, we see that “God’s good word” must be “tasted”.

· Hebrews 6:5 HCSB tasted God's good word and the powers of the coming age,

Listen to what Yahweh has to say about His instructions.

· Isaiah 51:7 HCSB Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My instruction: do not fear disgrace by men, and do not be shattered by their taunts.

He identifies His people as those “who know righteousness”, as “people in whose heart is My instruction.” Those who have tasted the good word of God and have delved sufficiently into it to know right from wrong; who know the paths of righteousness; those who have placed large portions of the Holy Scriptures in their hearts, need not fear being disgraced by men. They may be taunted by men but they will not be shattered by the experience. They will be strong. They will be mature.

· Joshua 1:8 HCSB This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.

c. By diligent work

· Hebrews 6:11-12 HCSB Now we want each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the final realization of your hope, (12) so that you won't become lazy, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.

· 2 Peter 1:5-7 HCSB For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, (6) knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, (7) godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

· 1 Timothy 6:11-12 HCSB Now you, man of God, run from these things; but pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. (12) Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life, to which you were called and have made a good confession before many witnesses.

· 2 Timothy 4:7 HCSB I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

I find that the vast majority of cultural Christians are a weak, anemic, apathetic lot. To avoid their condition I recommend:

1. Diligence as opposed to spiritual laziness.

2. Faith demonstrated by perseverance in godly behavior.

3. Great efforts made to supplement our faith.

4. Running from anything that promotes ungodliness and actively pursuing righteousness.

5. Viewing the life of a disciple less as a state of being and more as an action:

a. Fight the good fight.

b. Run the race.

c. Keep the faith.

Study Questions

1. How can you measure maturity?

2. What is “unity in the faith” (Ephesians 4:13)

3. How does sanctification come about in our lives?

4. Are you more mature today that you were a year ago? How do you know?

5. What does it mean to be “rooted and built up in Christ?

6. How does sin rule in one’s life?

7. How have you seen God at work in your life recently?

8. Which of these contrasts stand out to you as the most important?

9. How do we grow in grace? (2 Peter 3:18)

10. What do you think are the primary areas in which you are now growing spiritually?