Who Is a Mature Believer -17

Well my experience, I feel the most Christians consider themselves to be mature, at least those have been saved any length of time.

In fact, it almost seems like many people believe that maturity comes naturally over the course of time you been saved for any number of years you must be mature but I wonder if that is a biblically correct assessment of Christian maturity. In fact is I study the Bible.

I'm quite convinced that it is not so the question for you today is are you a mature Christian. And if you think so why do you think so and is your evaluation correct. We hope that by the end of the sermon today you will have a better understanding of that subject in a better way to measure the marks of Christian maturity, how should we evaluate the issue of spiritual maturity of the apostle Paul is very helpful in pointing us away in our text today in Philippians 3 verses 15 and 16.

He says therefore let us as many as are mature have this mind different. Anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule and let us be of the same mind in these two verses we will see number one. The mature mind number two. The mistaken mind. Number three.

The continuing line. The mature mind. Christian maturity begins in the mind. Most things begin in the mind the battles that we fight have their beginning in our mind. We either think correctly or do not think directly into the extent that we are thinking correctly we make progress in life and to the extent that we are thinking incorrectly that we have all kinds of problems that ensue. So the mature mind and the question is what is maturity because Paul begins verse 15 by saying therefore lead us as many as are mature, what is that maturity all about. Turns out that this word mature is actually the same Greek word virtually the same Greek word that is found in verse 12 that in my Bible is translated perfect repulse is not that I have already attained, or am already perfected or perfect, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. So the same Greek word in a different form in verse 12 has the idea of final perfection, ultimate perfection, full and final redemption, which means, of course, perfection in every way, but in verse 15. It has a different meaning it has the idea of strong, well-developed, ready for action. John Eadie and his helpful commentary on Philippians based strongly upon a an explanation of the Greek text points out that in verse 12. This Greek word is a verb and in verse 15. It is an adjective and it is his conclusion based upon this in a couple of other similar texts that generally when the word is in the verb form. It refers to ultimate final perfection, but in the adjective form. It has the idea of maturity relative perfection, relative maturity, whether that's the way it is all throughout the New Testament.

I don't know but that certainly rings true in this passage before us in verse 12, Paul is talking about final and full perfection in the presence of Christ in verse 15. He's talking about strength of spiritual life in the present world, and he puts himself in the category of the mature notice he says therefore let us not let you not let the day who are mature but let us who are mature so Paul puts himself in the category of those who are mature Christians that shortly doesn't surprise us, but maybe what does surprise this is that he invites the Philippians to classify themselves and maybe that's a good idea. He doesn't sit them down and say all right have been watching your lives in my my estimation, you're mature and you're not know. He says let us as many as are mature, and then he gives instructions for those who are mature with the supposition that those who are mature will follow the instructions and thereby demonstrate their Christian maturity and those who ignore the instructions thereby demonstrate that they're not so those who think themselves mature must show it by obeying the directions of the apostle Paul. That's the way you figure out whether or not you are mature.

Do you follow the instructions of an apostle of Jesus Christ. Do you follow the instructions of God's word, the Bible speaks in terms of Christians being either immature or mature. Sometimes other languages used babes in Christ, as opposed to those who are grown one passage will suffice. First Corinthians 31. Paul says, and I brethren could not speak to you as to spiritual people were spiritually mature, but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food, for until now you were not able to receive it.

And even now, you're still not able so here the immature are those who can't digest strong doctrine, strong truth from the word of God is still stuck in the milk phase the baby stage of Christianity, for you are still carnal. For where there are in here some of the characteristics of immaturity where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not caramel carnal and behaving like mere men for when one says, I am appalled another Iva policy. Are you not carnal, so Paul divides Christians into immature and mature to babes in Christ into grown-ups in Christ to spiritually undeveloped and spiritually well-developed and here in Philippians 315. He makes an appeal to those who are mature those who are well developed, spiritually, and so there are clearly according to the Bible. Mature Christians in the mature Christians, and again I ask you, in which category are you if you are being honest to place yourself in one of these two categories. Where would you place yourself and how would you know where to place yourself and how would you know if your placement was accurate and that brings us then to consider what characterizes the mature mind talking about the mature mind and what characterizes the mature mind because Paul says therefore let us as many as are mature, have this mind as many as are mature let us have this mind question what mind what mindset what pattern of thinking characterizes mature believer.

Clearly Paul is thinking about what he just said in this chapter. In this context. The word therefore points his back in the previous context so combing through this section from verses one down to our text in verse 15, I picked out six characteristics named by Paul as things that characterized his life and then he gets to this point and he says therefore as many as a us. What I just described in myself and as many as you who share a similar Christian maturity. Let us altogether have this mind the same mind the same way of thinking again what is that and I'll give it to you quickly.

Number one.

Those who understand the true gospel. Those who understand the true gospel.

Or maybe I should say those who understand the gospel truly who understand it well solidly by those who would be characterized as mature and we find that in verses one through three and again in verse 90 number two. Those who take no pride in human achievement. That's verses four through seven remember Paul said I could lay my credentials down beside the Judaizers and mine would be better than theirs. I was born of the nation of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin circumcised the eighth day and on and on and on a ghost, a Pharisee of the Pharisees and yet he says all of these things I have renounced I count them but nothing their loss there dog. I count them as nothing in order to gain Christ and so Paul had renounced all of these achievements that made so many in his generation very proud of themselves, but that pride in human achievement is a characteristic of immaturity, a characteristic of maturity is to have no pride in human achievement. Number three. Those who are willing to suffer loss for Christ. That's verses seven, eight and 10 ball just mentions this in passing, but it's very clear here and did other passages more more obviously clear that Paul suffered greatly for the cause of Christ, an account of the privilege to do so. He was glad to do it, willing to do it did not resent it did not complain about it Counted a great honor to be able to suffer a loss for the honor and glory of Christ, for the cause of the gospel that marked him out as mature and he said now those of you who have the same mind, a mind like this willing to suffer loss for the cause of the gospel, then you join me in the category of those who are mature, number four, those who are striving to know Christ better. Would Paul say in this passage that I may know him the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering, being made conformable unto his death, the venerable apostle 30 years would serve the Lord in the way the very few people have still did not feel like he knew Christ as well, as he wanted to as well as he could, as well as Christ was capable of being known Eddie Long to know Christ better and that was a mark of his spiritual maturity that was, we might say. The primary goal of his life.

And similarly, those who are spiritually mature will have that goal as well. Those who are striving to know Christ better. What else number five. Those who know that they have not yet arrived. Verse 12 not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on, that I'm a little lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me a mark of spiritual maturity is to recognize that you are not perfect that you have not arrived that you don't have all the answers that you are the perfect example. Even though you are an example because there are no perfect examples except Christ.

But nevertheless, those who know that they have not yet arrived are demonstrating spiritual maturity.

Those who act like they have really arrived and everybody else ought to recognize that are demonstrating their spiritual immaturity and finally number six, those who are not distracted by secondary issues, brethren, I count not myself. Verse 13 to have apprehended. But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Remember Paul here uses an athletic illustration of a runner and he says runners who want to win, keep their eye on the finish line and don't allow themselves to be distracted by anything else. Runners who are looking over their shoulder to see who's gaining on them and how they're doing. They're the ones who don't win. And so he's talking about those who are not distracted by lesser things not distracted by other people not distracted by the opinions of other keeping their focus on the goal. Those were not distracted by secondary issues, demonstrate their Christian maturity, but those who are so easily distracted, are demonstrating immaturity. Don't you recognize in all of this policy was given the general principles are not a lot of particular lemon to fill in some particulars. What are some of the secondary issues of immature Christians get distracted back in there. Many of them I could begin to name the ball but let me name a few.

And you place yourself accordingly. One of them is politics know politics is not unimportant. We are all citizens of the United States of America with the responsibility to use our citizenship for the kingdom of Christ and to inform ourselves and to vote in elections, but folks. The most important thing in the world is not politics. The most important thing in the world is Jesus Christ and the gospel.

Christ and I know a lot of Christians who are distracted by politics that seems to consume their whole lives and I'm suggesting to you that that is a mark of immaturity. Ouch. I heard some of you say ouch.

I'll give you another one. Music styles Christian music styles worship music styles. I got very strong opinions and preferences in that area, but let's be honest.

That is not the primary issue to secondary issue. Some of our brothers and sisters in Christ, worship the Lord with music that is Christ honoring God honoring good solid truth that points to Christ and do so in a style of music that's different from what others use then find let's not make that a dividing issue. We should make warring over styles of music.

That's a secondary issue and those who can't seem to get along in that area are demonstrating spiritual immaturity, not maturity.

What else dress styles.

How should you dress for Churchill everybody knows you are aware, certain time and if you don't, your your scumbag you are just demonstrating your immaturity and your ignorance of the Bible. It's not demonstrate our immaturity by dividing over the secondary issues and on and on. It could go, how about Bible translations. I actually heard someone say this many years ago. Get ready for if the blessed King James was good enough for the apostle Paul. It's good enough for me. King James Bible is a wonderful translation and use highly by God. Down through the years, but people who divide over Bible translations are demonstrating ignorance and immaturity at the secondary issue. I give you another one.

No wonder Paul couldn't deal with all these things. I'll give you another one. Good deal of the Bible translations they will even after King James and all the other English translations in his day, I give you another one. My asks, should you wish in your unbelievably, some Christians actually divide over that too many months ago, the demand came to our church and wanted to start an argument because that time. A lot of us were merit wearing masks. That was early in the covert covert epidemic, and I think we asked everybody to wear a mask and he came in and was railing against us because we were doing that and demonstrating his what in Mathura T or vaccines but anyway I stop I could go on and on tour Christians keep their eyes on the finish line. Spiritual maturity is not what some people think it to be, namely superior knowledge of the Bible, not that alone that that's part of it that goes along with it, but not that alone but spiritual maturity is humility and selflessness and zeal for the cause of Christ, not even advancement of myself with the kingdom of Christ, like the immature disciples before they grew up. Lord allow me to sit on your right and you and and my brother on your left hand only come into your kingdom zeal for Christ's kingdom as long as I in a prominent place it will mature to grow up let us as many as are mature, have this mind this kind of mind. Paul has demonstrated for us the mature mind.

Secondly, the mistaken minded. He refers to that of the last part of verse 15 and if anything you think otherwise.

Contrary to what I have just described. Contrary to the mindset that I have just laid before you, and if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you mistaken mind. Paul talks first of all, about the reality of different opinions and different anything anybody thinks otherwise different from the way I think different from what I have set before you otherwise didn't have a different opinion than Paul about certain things. Paul is clearly not talking here about gospel basics we know how he treats that he's very clear about that in several passages. If we are an angel from heaven would preach any other gospel to you than that which is already been preached, let him be accursed letting go to hell.

We don't tolerate error about the person and work of Christ, but if there are differing opinions about go back to the list of things I just name and you could add a number of other things to it. If there are differing opinions about that. That's not that's not a tragedy that's not a problem shouldn't be a problem. It's not a problem for mature believers. Secondary matters though Christians truly born again Christians cannot may not will not allow differences about the basic gospel.

We cannot join together those who believe in salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Of those, a belief that salvation is only acquired by some effort of man, either in whole or in part, that can't be joined together and called Christianity, but we can differ about some matters and still walk together in Christian love, if any. If in anything you think otherwise, different opinions, but then Paul goes on to talk about unifying opinions. These differing opinions will one day be a racist and will even now become less different.

There will be some change in a more unifying direction because it goes on to say, and different.

Anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. It's interesting. Paul didn't say if you have a different opinion from mine. Your opinion is as good as mine. That's not what he said. That is what he thinks you actually think that his opinion is the right opinion, what is telling us is that there are some opinions that even though you have the truth.

It's not God honoring to make a fuss over to divide over to him to make issues over so if you have a different opinion.

God will make that known to you in time God will straighten you out. God will correct you, God will bring your wrong opinion into conformity with my right opinion.

That's what he's saying in a very tactful and kind way. God revealed this even to you. It is not the different opinions don't matter.

They do they do matter, but they are not. They are not big enough to divide over they ought not to separate brethren and continued growth in grace is going to bring greater unity even about the secondary issues because and get this now.

You may never thought about this before. I had thought about it much until this week, but because in heaven we are. Listen to me in heaven. We are all going to have the same opinion about everything. Now isn't that an astounding thought in heaven were all going to have the same opinion about everything, but on earth. There will always be some differences of opinion among true believers and we should understand that and live PS peaceably with others as we can. This reality explains in part the many different Christian groups and denominations. Sometimes people say how cumbersome many different denominations of people got one Bible is only one truth. How can they be all these different denominations compile this disunity will is his various answers to that question. This answer is in the total one. A great deal of it has to do with apostasy. A great deal of it has to do a departure from the true gospel a great deal of it has to do with those who slide away from the gospel of grace in the person and work of Christ in the truth about that and we cannot continue in Christian fellowship and unity with those who've abandoned the grout gospel, but a lot of the differences among Christians have to do with these differences of their secondary and if you're mature, that's not going to be a stumbling block for you. You can understand it.

Paul understood he's talking about it here saying as many as are of us is have the same mind are mature but if any of you think otherwise.

Okay, in time, God's gonna reveal that to you but we can live together until that time we don't go off into warring parties until we get to heaven to get these things straightened out to some Christians. Nothing is a major issue. Everything is secondary. We don't we don't contend for anything. So we have apostasy rife in most of the mainline denominations in America today it becomes more and more obvious farther and farther and farther. They go you can't believe how far from truth. So many of our main denominations have drifted wife because therefore people many people in the no doubt true born-again Bible believers, but who just work willing to make an issue about anything, even the things the Bible says we need to make an issue about such as the gospel.

The person work of Christ, that is not a secondary issue is major, but to some people, everything to second issue, but two other people.

Everything is a major issue. There is no such thing as a secondary issue and both these opinions.

Both these ideas are wrong to think that there is no such thing as a major issue that everything a second there is absolutely wrong and the Bible is clear about that. There's some things that we can and must contend for and not back down not give an inch not make partnership with those who hold such fundamental errors, but there are many other things switch our secondary that some people want to fight over every single one of them whenever they find the difference in that's wrong to that is a an immature spirit that is being a babe in Christ, if you find that you have trouble getting along with brothers and sisters in Christ again and again and again and again that you continually going through life starting out with a decent relationship in this long before falls apart that happens again here and happens there you go from church to church you go from place to place and you are no doubt have the opinion that this is because everybody else is wrong and I'm right I would suggest to you that it's probably the other way around. You have a wrong spirit. Even if you are right about everything impossible. Your attitude is wrong. It's immature. It's carnal. Mature Christians understand that there are some things that are major and some things that are minor and they will contend to the end with their very lives for those things that are major and they will lovingly and graciously get along with others in those things that are minor. May God give us grace to understand which of which we know that's true. But when it comes on the particular.

Sometimes we have trouble sorting out which category does this one fit in major and minor but that's what Paul said his thesis God make that claim to you and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you if you look to him for. If you spend time in prayer on your knees with an open Bible. If you ask God to lead you and guide you in these areas God will show this unto you, so there is. What did we say mature mind. Number two, there is the mistaken mind but there is number three. The continuing mind and that's in verse 16. Nevertheless, to the degree we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind and I have three questions to help us work through verse 16 and understand this continuing mind. They come from the text to question number one.

How did we get where we are now number two how should we continue. Number three. What should we expect.

How do we get where we are now. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, how did you get to where you are now in your life. The answer is by receiving the word of God, that one time in your life.

You are unconverted. How did you become a Christian by receiving the gospel, the word of God came to you in the gospel of Jesus Christ. You believe that you receive that that made all the difference in the world. It took you out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, but you have been growing on since then. How has that happened by your reception of God's word by establishing spiritual disciplines that have to do primarily with the word of God. Spiritual disciplines like regular church attendance at a Bible believing church where you hear God's word, ask us expounded by regular reading of God's word yourself regular times for prayer yourself the spiritual disciplines is how you have come to the place you are now in your Christian life by steady spiritual progress by growing by degrees. That's how we all got to where we are now and the reason why some people are a lot further along than others is because some have frankly been a whole lot more disciplined than others. Those of you who are pretty haphazard about your church attendance unit really committed to it or not is spiritually mature you. Not as far along as those who have made that I haven't. Those of you who have a habit of reading your Bible every day and asking God to show you which truth are growing much more rapidly and have progressed further spiritually than those of you who haven't. Those of you have regular times of prayer are growing much more rapidly and spiritually than those of you who neglect that so how did you get where you are in your Christian life will whatever spiritual progress you've made is been by your exposure to the reception of the word of God, and the degree of progress you have has to do with how regularly and faithfully you have been in taking the word of God in your life is your life in one primarily of diligence or primarily of haphazard nests. So number one. How do we get where we are now number two how should we continue same one verse 16. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained what led us walk by the same rule, let us walk by the same rule. How should we continue.

We should keep walking. That's a military term actually means. Keep in line margin line moved steadily forward, not here, Paul doesn't employ a racing metaphor employs a marching metaphor because growing in grace is so much a race as it is just a steady march 1 foot in front of the other day by day by day by day. A lot of times you can't tell a lot of progress from one day to the next because your you're just walking you not running your marching, moving slowly but over a few months over a few years, you'll notice a great much progress runner can get from the starting line to the finish line of a mile run a whole lot quicker than I can because I can't run and my knees gave out. I don't write anymore, so Mr. AA is going to run from the finish line starting line to the finish line and he gets there fast. Mr. B Barkman is going to walk from the starting line to the finish line and he gets there. Slow but after 20 minutes or so he gets there he doesn't get there in 10 minutes he didn't get there in eight minutes. Like the rudder, but he gets there in 20 minutes or so just by walking walking walking that's where the spiritual life is if you will walk steadily day by day by day by day you can to make progress. You look back and say look at that. I did finish a mile. I have made progress. So how should we continue walking by the same rule rule here is God's word. That's the standard walking by the same standard by the same measuring rod by the same ruler would've done so, how do we continue steady regular progress in the word of God, slow and steady, slow and steady, slow and steady but regular regular regular regular discipline, faithfulness, regular that's the way we shall continue the way you got to where you are now was by your reception to the word of God, the way you will continue in further progress is by growing steadily, the word of God and as you do that question number three what should we expect the last phrase let us be of the same mind right.

Verse 16. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk according to the same standard were all using the same standard. The Bible is our standard. Let us all walk by the same rule, let us all be of the same mind.

That is, the more we grow, the more we agree greater maturity results in greater unity so I would suggest to you if increased knowledge or student of God's word you love the study and probably love to tell people how much you study if increased knowledge makes you more divisive something is wrong in the Bible tells us what is it tells us knowledge puffs up, but love does use this language in the Bible, but to make a parallel love opens up, opens his arms wide to receive others knowledge puffs up, makes us feel superior to others but love with knowledge, hope, love makes us open our arms wide to other greater love unit unity and harmony so the basic Christian mindset is this. The Bible is our rule of faith and practice.

If we don't agree on that. We really don't have much in common is that your commitment.

The Bible is our rule of faith and practice. Now we may not all understand it the same.

But as we continue to grow to study to learn to make progress. We will become more and more unified in our thinking because we will become better and better. Knowledgeable, more knowledgeable correctly knowledgeable in the truth of what God's word is teaching us will understand it better, but were never gonna stop growing in our understanding of truth until we get to heaven, so that means number one, we will never have unified thinking about everything but number two, the more we make progress. The more similarity thinking we will enjoy a lot of our differences of opinion have to do is just pure ignorance a little bit of studying would help a whole lot.

I read the paragraph on the back of our bulletin this morning by Charles Spurgeon thought it was excellent. Please take time to read through it as I read that I'll read the first line. I do not know from the word of the Lord, that first of all I do know rather from the word of the Lord.

The first of all, he must reign lovingly over all his elect some of them are hard to bring in, but they must come sooner or later Christ and help self said I have other sheep, which are not part of this fold. I must also bring them in on a ghost is an excellent paragraph as I read that paragraph this morning, I couldn't help but think about the time back in the 80s when I received in the mail a bout of 40 or 50 page booklet from the Christian leader who wrote the book booklet denouncing what he called the heresies of Calvinism, but also in that same booklet applauded the ministry of Charles Spurgeon so evidently he does note Spurgeon was a Calvinist. So I wrote to back in the days of snail mail.

No emails, no I wrote to letter to where he was in Memphis Tennessee and I said dive notice what you said here about Calvinism being a heresy, but you also have a plot of the ministry of Charles Spurgeon are you not aware that he was a Calvinist. He wrote me back and said he was no such thing. So uncovering a little more ignorance here, so I just copied to material similar to what's in your bullet that they had a number exactly what but sending back some material that demonstrated beyond all shadow of a doubt that Spurgeon was a committed Calvinist, but also one of the most effective and fruitful and fervent evangelists that I've ever known. That was very instructive to me when I was struggling with these issues when I learned my hero Charles Spurgeon was a Calvinist that help me understand the Calvinism is not incompatible with evangelism.

In fact, Spurgeon was a preeminent evangelist so I wrote that sending the material and the answer I get got back was oh well I guess Spurgeon was a heretic to see how it's the answer I love that brother still living or not. It's been so many years ago probably take a while for us to grow to unity in our thinking. But if we keep at it.

Studying the Bible along the way, if we really want to know the truth. The problem is, a lot of people really don't want to know what the Bible says they want to just stay stuck on what they think the Bible says and please don't disturb me don't upset me don't challenge me I know what I know and I don't want to know anything else. Shame on you. We must all have an appetite to learn what the Bible teaches all of what it teaches everything it teaches God helping us in the more we do more going come together Christian unity.

Let me mention a couple of conclusions and applications and lessons out of this passage I noticed. First of all, this passage shows us of the teaching of Christ apostles is equal to Christ teaching this right.

Paul makes it clear back to verse 15 therefore let us as many as are mature have this mindset. This one that I sent before you, and if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal this even to you. In other words, what I have said is the truth. Now I'm giving you latitude and time to come to the truth.

You may not be there yet, but it's not that my opinion is one in years is just as valid. That's not it. My opinion is correct. I'm an apostle of Christ.

I have the spirit of God is guided me what I have said it is the word of God.

The word in Scripture. The inscription rated word of the apostle Paul is every bit as much the word of God as the red letters in your Bible that were spoken by Jesus Christ. That's what this passage teaches the second thing it teaches us is that a growing desire for Christ is the primary characteristic of those who are growing spiritually a growing desire for Christ is the primary characteristic of those who are growing spiritually. Number three. No one of us is a ride to perfect knowledge. But we can all keep on the right path in pursuit of perfect knowledge. Salvation has set us on the path of truth.

We have the Bible, God's word.

We have the Holy Spirit, the teacher God's word. We haven't set on the path of truth. We don't understand at all yet, but if we keep on the path were going understand it better and better as we go along. And that is our joy, our delight number four God will give more light to those who walk in the light already given his many was a us is our mature have this mind and if anything you think of the God will reveal even this walk in the light that you been given. God will give you more like and finally we can teach.

God must reveal the apostle Paul is teaching them, but he recognizes I have it all got it.

Why because it takes the Holy Spirit to impart the understanding of it so we can teach in should and will but we know the God must reveal God reveals truth to different people with different rates. For whatever reason so we need to be patient, God is patient.

Aren't you glad he's patient has been patient with you, we need to be patient with others, shall we pray father, thank you for your word and what it teaches us. Help us to live in the light of it. Help us to grow help us to be mature.

Help us to be loving and kind to those around us that we can help along the way and help us to honor the Lord Jesus Christ and everything we say and do as we ask it in his name