Post 37 of Study: Hebrews 6
What is spiritual maturity?
What we want is a template or rubric: if you do such and such, know this and that, have gone through whatever, you are mature.
It's not that simple.
The Bible uses words such as "perfection" or "completion" or "Christlikeness" for this concept.
Galatians 6:1 "Brethren, if a man is [a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."
It's all right and desirable to know you are spiritually mature, but you can't depend on that!
Philippians 3:13-15 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [d]apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
The writer of Hebrews states: But solid food belongs to those who are [c]of full age, that is, those who by reason of [d]use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Spiritual maturity has a knowledge, heart, and will/action component. It can't just be one of them. We have to be intellectually involved in Scripture to our ability (some of us just have more than others). We have to have practice in service and discernment. And we have to be soft-hearted to God and His people.
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