Identifying Marks Of Spiritual Maturity

2 Peter 3:18, the apostle Peter stated regarding spiritual growth, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

As Christians, we are obligated to grow spiritually as indicated by the above verse. Paul condemned the church in Corinth because they had failed to to on toward maturity in the faith (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). The Hebrew Christians were also chastised for not growing spiritually in the knowledge of God (Hebrews 5:12-14). God is obviously displeased if we as His children are not maturing by acquiring a knowledge of God (2 Timothy 2:15) and thus growing spiritually (2 Peter 3:18).

Let us identify some marks of spiritual maturity:

• The ability to control anger and settle differences without violence or destruction (Genesis 13:1-8).
• Patience – The willingness to miss immediate pleasure in favor of long-term gain (Hebrews 11:24-26).
• Perseverance – The ability to continue in a task or a situation in spite of heavy opposition and discouraging setbacks (1 Corinthians 15:58).
• The capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat, without complaint or collapse (2 Corinthians 4:8-18; Gal. 6:9).
• Humility – Being big enough to say, “I was wrong!” And when in the right, the spiritually mature person does not need the satisfaction of saying, “I told you so” (Luke 15:11-32).
• The ability to make a decision and follow through with it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities and then do nothing (Matthew 25:24-30; James 1:22-25).

Are we mature in the faith? Do the above statements describe us? If not, we need to immediately begin to do what we can to mature in the faith by maturing in the Word – the source of saving faith (Hebrews 4:12; cf. Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets