Have you ever told someone to act their age? Why would you say that? It is annoying to see an adult act like an immature child. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” In this passage before us, Paul is saying that “You are to live as Spiritual Adults.”

The first thing to notice is that you are Not a Child. In verse 14 Paul states this positively. Following on from verse 13, he says that if you are mature, then you are no longer an infant. Yes, once you were an infant but now you are to be an adult in the faith. In this, Paul is talking about the spiritual maturity of you and I as individuals and the spiritual maturity of this community of believers. How long is this body to go on developing for? Until we are wealthy, healthy, or whatever. No! Until there is unity in faith & knowledge of Christ. You are to be growing to get to know Christ better. Do you know Him better now than you did last year?. What have you learnt about Christ this year?

One of the most endearing characteristics of children is their openness and trustfulness. They are often willing to believe everything that they are told. Now while this is cute in children, it is not cute in adults. How many of you have heard of the apprentice being sent for a left-handed screwdriver? The apprentice is foolish to look for one. For you and I to live as spiritual infants would be even worse. Paul illustrates why this is so in verse 14. It is dangerous for Christians to be immature infants. If you remain as a infant, every storm that enters into your life will threaten to destroy you and life as you have known it. You will get tossed around here & there. Every wind of teaching sways you and swings you around.

You are not to be a child in your understanding. Instead you are to strive to be like Christ. In other words, not only are you to have an experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ but you must also grow to be like Him. How many husbands and wives do you know who think pretty much the same on almost every subject? This to be expected. Why? Because as they relate to each other intimately, they come to understand how each other thinks, and so they come to appreciate the other’s point of view. Over time, the couple comes to view all issues from a similar stand-point. Now this does not mean that each spouse simply believes exactly what their spouse believes, but that there is a general agreement in their thinking. It is the same with Jesus Christ. The more time you spend with Him, through prayer, reading of the Bible, meditation on the Word of God, Bible study, fellowship with other believers, building up the Church by using your gifts, the closer you come to Jesus and the more Christ-like you become. This is a very personal goal. That you as an individual might become Christ-like. Remember back to the garden of Eden. When Satan tempted Adam and Eve the statement that captured their imagination was “God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). Now this was a lie. They did not become like God, rather they became like Satan. Before they disobeyed God, they were like God. Rather ironic really. Like God they already knew what was good and right. Like God they actually practised doing good and not evil. But when they disobeyed they become like Satan, and only practiced evil. The wonder of the gospel is that the original image, once lost in the fall, is now progressively restored as individuals are made like Christ within the Church’s fellowship. This Christ-like character is full of the fruit of the Spirit. That is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This describes Jesus Christ. This also describes the direction in which you are to grow by the power of Christ’s Spirit. Not only is this an individual thing, but Paul is thinking of the Church as a whole growing up together. The Church is maturing in Christ. The measure of this maturity is in unity. All maturity is to be measured by how well we interact with others.

In verse 15 Paul tells us to speak the truth in love. Without truth there is no real maturity. The contrast here is between the nature of children and adults. Children are a delight to have around but they do have their limitations such as their instability and naivety. Children are notoriously fickle. They will be interested in one thing for five minutes before their attention is diverted to something else before they are once again distracted to something else. Also they are easily fooled. That is why parents have a special responsibility for the sound education and guidance of their children. This is part of what it is to be a child. However it is sad to see these same characteristics in an adult. It weakens a person’s character and their usefulness. This is especially true for you and I who are Christians. If you desire to grow as a Christian then you need to know the truth. There is a very real danger for immature Christians. Not only are you tossed about like a trailer sailer on the ocean, but you are open to the cunning and craftiness of men. The word for cunning has the idea of dice-playing and carries the implication of trickery and deceit. The cults feed on the immaturity of the Church. Author John Stott writes “Such are immature Christians. They never seem to know their own mind or come to settled convictions. Instead their opinions tend to be those of the last preacher they heard or the last book they read, & they fall an easy pray to each new theological fad.” Is this true of you? Do you know what the Bible teaches on abortion? Euthanasia? How to live in retirement? How to raise a family? How to handle crises? If you don’t, then you are in danger of being carried away by any and every fad that comes around. As a Presbyterian Church we are a confessional Church. We proclaim the Bible using the Westminster Confession, as a guide to how we understand the Bible. Now the Bible is infallible. That is, it is without any error. Unfortunately, while the Bible is without error, our interpretation of the Bible is not. The confession and historical creeds of the Church help to keep our interpretation of the Bible correct. There are many deceitful teachers around. They teach prosperity gospel, or wrong views of the Holy Spirit, the need for a 2nd blessing. Even worse are who those insist that we need guidance outside of written word of God, such as psychology or words of knowledge etc. These things will not be in our fellowship as you and I grow to maturity.

This truth is to be spoken and lived in love. True love stands up and warns others about the danger of the path that they are traveling. This is not to be done in a haughty way, as though you are superior. In fact, those who are truly mature are often the most humble in the Church. They know that it is only by the grace of God that they are as mature as they are. It is only by the grace of God that they understand the Bible correctly. There is a bumper sticker that reads, “Please be patient with me, God isn’t finished with me yet.” This is true of every Christian who is alive today. Nevertheless, while you and I are to be patient with one and other, you are to still speak the truth in love. This will provide the necessary food to correct false teaching & build up the body into Christ. Remember that all of this is only possible as you and I depend on Christ. Apart from Him our effort is doomed to failure. With Him is this glorious promise in verse 16 (READ).

CONCLUSION: If you are a Christian then you need to examine your life and determine if you are living like a spiritual adult. Has your love for Jesus grown over the last year? What else do you need to do to improve your maturity?

If you are not a Christian then you need to meet with Jesus Christ.