Reaching the Goal… of Spiritual Maturity
What is the "goal" of the church supposed to be and how can we get there? What is my individual part? These are questions the Scriptures answer for us all!
1 Corinthians 12:12-31 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Hebrews 5:12-14 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are full of age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
“… may be the result of Paul’s desire to contrast human maturity with immaturity, since in the next verse he will say that once all believers have arrived at the goal of maturity, they will no longer be “infants”. - Theilman
Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
“When the goal is ultimately reached, and the body of Christ has grown up to match the Head Himself, then will be seen that full-grown Man which is Christ together with His members. That spectacle will not fully appear until the Day when they are glorified together with Him; but the expectation of that Day will act as a powerful incentive to spiritual development in the present time.” - FF Bruce
Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 24 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ’, and will deceive many… For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
“The new humanity on earth, it is here emphasized, must grow up to adult maturity in order to resist all the adverse forces that threaten its health and effectiveness.” - FF Bruce
“But the prolonged, intensive, faithful exposition of God’s Word delivers us from immaturity… If as God’s people we were together exposed to the same sanctifying truth on a regular and intensive basis, our minds and our thinking, our wills and desires, would be recalibrated to the mind and will of God” - Sinclair Ferguson
Sermon Discussion Questions:
Why is the goal of maturity in Christ so important?
How does the church achieve this goal?
What is the individuals part and what is the whole body aspect to this goal?
What can you do to help the body reach this goal?
