18 Bible Verses about Spiritual Maturity

Brethren, be not childish in understanding: be as innocent as babes, but use your understanding like men.

but we are the denisons of heaven, from whence we expect the saviour Jesus Christ our Lord. it is he, that will change our vile body into a like form with his glorious body, by displaying that power which is able to subdue all things unto himself.

Therefore omitting for the present the principles of the christian doctrine, we shall proceed to something more sublime, without mentioning those fundamental articles of repentance from destructive vices, and of divine faith: the doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment: of which we shall treat another time, if God permit.

when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I reasoned as a child: but when I became a man, I laid aside my childish ways.

till being united in a perfect belief, and acknowledgment of the son of God, we grow up to that full state of maturity required by Christ:

but being sincere in mutual love, may be entirely united to Christ, who is the head:

such solid nourishment is only fit for such as are arriv'd at their full growth and strength, whose senses have been exercis'd in distinguishing what is good, and what is prejudicial.

I write to you, fathers, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked spirit.

but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, sweetness of disposition, beneficence, faithfulness, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

For this cause, ever since we heard of it, we incessantly pray for you, requesting that you may be endued with respect to the knowledge of his will, with all wisdom and spiritual discernment: that your conduct may be worthy of the Lord, in every respect agreeable to him, being friutful in every kind of virtue, and increasing in divine knowledge:

till being united in a perfect belief, and acknowledgment of the son of God, we grow up to that full state of maturity required by Christ: that we should be no longer children, fluctuating, and carried about with every empty doctrine, by men vers'd in sleight and the crafty arts of deceit: but being sincere in mutual love, may be entirely united to Christ, who is the head:

but you have learned other things from Christ, if you have heard of him, and have been taught the truth as he preach'd it: to quit the vicious habits of your former conversation, corrupted by deceitful passions:read more.
and to be renewed in your mind, by living like men formed anew, after the image of God, in justice, sanctity, and truth.

continue therefore to follow the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you have receiv'd it: being firmly attach'd to, and founded upon him: establishing yourselves in the faith you have been taught, and being thankful for the improvement you make therein.

let there be no fraud among you, since you have discarded your former habits and practices, and are become new men, improv'd by knowledge into a resemblance of him, who made this change:

for though by this time you ought to be capable of teaching others, you want to be instructed anew in the first principles of the divine oracles; and are in such a state as to stand in need of milk, rather than of solid nourishment. now he that is disciplined like a child, is not prepared for the doctrine of justification: such solid nourishment is only fit for such as are arriv'd at their full growth and strength, whose senses have been exercis'd in distinguishing what is good, and what is prejudicial.

Therefore omitting for the present the principles of the christian doctrine, we shall proceed to something more sublime, without mentioning those fundamental articles of repentance from destructive vices, and of divine faith: the doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment:

Renouncing therefore every kind of malice, and knavery, hypocrisy, envy, and detraction, as new-born infants desire that mystical milk, which is without any mixture, and will make you thrive. Since you have tasted how good the Lord is, adhere to him as to a living stone,

Do you then, my dear brethren, being thus forewarn'd, take care not to be seduc'd by those prophane impostors, and so lose the reward of your constancy. on the contrary, may you increase in the favour, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! to him be glory both now and for ever. AMEN.