Spirtual Maturity...

What is spiritual maturity?


Physical maturity is growing into the world, so then spiritual maturity is growing into the spirit which you have been reborn. When we accept Christ as our savior and turn from the world we are reborn into His body where we are assigned a task. Consider the human body the physical that you can see, touch, smell and hear, it is made of matter.

Everything around that has weight and takes up space is made of matter. Matter takes on several different forms, namely; solid, liquid or gas. There are currently 118 elements that occur in nature, and a few that are man made. All the elements are made of atoms which make up all matter. Our whole physical being is a congruity of atoms that makes us who we are and what you can see.

Remember when Jesus told Nicodemus at John 3 that he must be reborn. Nicodemus replied incredulously, "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

This saying has caused many other Christians to fight each other over baptism and the spiritual rebirth that Jesus talks of here. But "Denominational Divergence" is sin and is carnal at it's core there is no accord among denominational believers that truly demonstrates this spiritual state of being reborn that Jesus talks of. Unless of course we consider the bible itself, but then there is incongruity there as well. So back to the question at hand; what is spiritual maturity?

The early church also experienced divisiveness which Paul had to address on more than one occasion. In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul talks of spiritual maturity when he says; "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ". That was to the Corinthians, would he say the same thing to the thousands of denominations that exist today? I think he is, saying it, through those words recorded in the first century to the first church people that held Christ as their banner. He said; "I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready".

Not ready! Why are they not ready? Lets read further to find out, shall we...

You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?

Wow the similarity to that saying in today's Christian culture is amazing to say the least. One is a Baptist while another is an Episcopalian while yet another is a gasp _______(fill in the blank). The point is that "Denominational Divergence" is not only sin, but spiritual immaturity as well. Allow me to submit also that there would be no such thing as Christian Apologist's if all followed Christ' example given in the scriptures of the Holy Bible that is the word of God to believers everywhere upon this earth.

May...

The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

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All posts by M.A.C. © Bruce W. Moar

Spiritual Security...

Imagine that you lived your whole life attending church, volunteering, doing the will of God, helping others in your congregation. Then on the Day of Judgment Jesus says "I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!". (MATTHEW 7:21-23)

Check out this article which inspired my words today Not just 'spiritual spas' By John Mohan CEO of Siloam Mission.

With Good Friday (Jesus' crucifixion) and Easter (Jesus' bodily resurrection) upon us, many people who identify themselves as Christians are thinking about Jesus and His sacrifice. Currently about 2.1 billion people in the world identify themselves as Christians (Roughly one third of the population)

Now imgaine if you will if each of those 2.1 billion people gave one dollar per month towards ending poverty and hunger in our world. The calculation looks like this 12 (months) X 2.1 billion dollars = 25.2 billion per month.

Now if there was really 25.2 billion per month to end poverty and hunger is that enough?

How about if all the professing christians gave 2 (two) dollars each month, even those that are financially challenged could do this; then the number would double to 50.4 billion dollars.

Is 50.4 billion dollars enough to put a dent in poverty and hunger world wide?

What if every professing Christian in the world was able to give 5 (five) dollars per month then the number would be five (5) times the original amount at 126 billion dollars.

Is a 126 billion dollars per month enough to stamp out hunger and poverty in our world?

What are we waiting for lets end hunger and poverty today!

May...

The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Try a Bible Quiz and test your knowledge

click here ---> BIBLE QUIZ <--- click here

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All posts by M.A.C. © Bruce W. Moar

Spiritual Arrogance...

Spiritual arrogance what is it?

Well the standard definition for arrogance is;

offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride.

When you judge another believer you are exercising spiritual arrogance, the central prohibition of the Christian faith is not to judge others, that's God's job, not ours. Judging has been a problem with humanity from the very beginning all the way back to the Genesis narrative.

Genesis three holds the clues to how it all started "the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made" says the text. So the serpent asked Eve some questions which LEAD her to doubt God and then of all things judge God. The judgment that Eve rendered against God was that he was withholding something desirable by prohibiting her and Adam from eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Notice there was never a prohibition from the tree of life until after the fall!

This is, in a sense, the original sin that was committed by man and we still participate in this base sin today, whenever we try to judge another believer by their works, words, etc. Who are we to say someone is going to go to heaven or go to hell? Are we God that we possess such power as the power over who gets into heaven and who is damned to hell?

I can think of some scripture that may get us thinking that some folks are destined to heaven and some to hell or as the text puts it some for honor and some for dishonor.

Consider Romans 9:20-21 (Amplified)

But who are you, a mere man, to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? Will what is formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus?

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same mass (lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and honorable use, and another for menial or ignoble and dishonorable use?

Scripture clearly teaches that whoever calls on the Lord will be saved we are not God and our finite thinking does not come close to the righteous plan of God the Father. So if you find yourself judging other believers than I suggest;

"Repenting of Religion" by Gregory A. Boyd

This book is based on the antithetical relationship between Love and judgment and how they cannot survive together.

Jesus calls men, not to a new religion, but to life.

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER

May...

The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Try a Bible Quiz and test your knowledge

click here ---> BIBLE QUIZ <--- click here

Subscribe in a reader

All posts by M.A.C. © Bruce W. Moar