18 Bible Verses about Spiritual Maturity

Brothers, do not show yourselves children in understanding. In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show yourselves men.

But the State of which we are citizens is in Heaven; and it is from Heaven that we are eagerly looking for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who, by the exercise of his power to bring everything into subjection to himself, will make this body that we have in our humiliation like to that body which he has in his Glory.

Therefore, let us leave behind the elementary teaching about the Christ and press on to perfection, not always laying over again a foundation of repentance for a lifeless formality, of faith in God-- teaching concerning baptisms and the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and a final judgment. Yes and, with God's help, we will.

When I was a child, I talked as a child, I felt as a child, I reasoned as a child; now that I am a man, I have done with childish ways.

And this shall continue, until we all attain to that unity which is given by faith and by a fuller knowledge of the Son of God; until we reach the ideal man--the full standard of the perfection of the Christ.

But holding the truth in a spirit of love, we shall grow into complete union with him who is our Head--Christ himself.

But 'solid food' is for Christians of mature faith--those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish right from wrong.

I write, Fathers, to you, because you have learned to know him who has been from the Beginning. I write, Young Men, to you, because you are strong, and God's Message is always in your hearts, and you have conquered the Evil One.

But the fruit produced by the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindliness, generosity, trustfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law!

And therefore we, from the very day that we heard this, have never ceased praying for you, or asking that you may possess that deeper knowledge of the will of God, which comes through all true spiritual wisdom and insight. Then you will live lives worthy of the Master, and so please God in every way. Your lives will be fruitful in every kind of good action, and your characters will grow through a fuller knowledge of God;

And this shall continue, until we all attain to that unity which is given by faith and by a fuller knowledge of the Son of God; until we reach the ideal man--the full standard of the perfection of the Christ. Then we shall no longer be like infants, tossed backward and forward, blown about by every breath of human teaching, through the trickery and the craftiness of men, towards the snares of error; But holding the truth in a spirit of love, we shall grow into complete union with him who is our Head--Christ himself.

But far different is the lesson you learned from the Christ-- if, that is, you really listened to him, And through union with him were taught the Truth, as it is to be found in Jesus. For you learned with regard to your former way of living that you must cast off your old nature, which, yielding to deluding passions, grows corrupt;read more.
That the very spirit of your minds must be constantly renewed; And that you must clothe yourselves in that new nature which was created to resemble God, with the righteousness and holiness springing from the Truth.

Since, therefore, you have received Jesus, the Christ, as your Lord, live your lives in union with him-- Rooted in him, building up your characters through union with him, growing stronger through your faith, as you were taught, overflowing with faith and thanksgiving.

Never lie to one another. Get rid of your old self and its habits, And clothe yourselves with that new self, which, as it gains in knowledge, is being constantly renewed 'in resemblance to him who made it.'

For whereas, considering the time that has elapsed, you ought to be teaching others, you still need some one to teach you the very alphabet of the Divine Revelation, and need again to be fed with 'milk' instead of with 'solid food.' For every one who still has to take 'milk' knows nothing of the Teaching of Righteousness; he is a mere infant. But 'solid food' is for Christians of mature faith--those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish right from wrong.

Therefore, let us leave behind the elementary teaching about the Christ and press on to perfection, not always laying over again a foundation of repentance for a lifeless formality, of faith in God-- teaching concerning baptisms and the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and a final judgment.

Now that you have done with all malice, all deceitfulness, insincerity, jealous feelings, and all back-biting, like newly born infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that you may be enabled by it to grow till you attain Salvation-- since 'you have found by experience that the Lord is kind.'

Do you, therefore, dear friends, now that you know this beforehand, be on your guard against being led away by the errors of reckless people, and so lapsing from your present steadfastness; and advance in the love and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All glory be to him now and for ever.