The preachers quoted here say spiritual maturity is measured by Christ's life in a person, not by knowledge, activity or years since conversion. They describe it as the fruit of experience, trial and time, and as something that shows in how a person gets along with others.
The New Testament word often translated "perfect" is teleios, full-grown, having reached its end.1 The goal is stated in Ephesians: "till we all come ... unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:13-14). Maturity is Christlikeness, and its first mark is stability.
Scripture contrasts it with prolonged infancy. Paul told the Corinthians, "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat" (1 Corinthians 3:2). Hebrews complains, "when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again", and says solid food belongs to those "who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:12-14). Time alone does not produce it; practice does.
Its marks are those of character. Love: the passage on love ends, "when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11). Speech: "speaking the truth in love" is how the body grows up into Christ (Ephesians 4:15). Endurance: "let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:4). John describes stages, little children, young men and fathers, the last being those who "have known him that is from the beginning" (1 John 2:13).
It comes by growth, not by a single step. "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). J. C. Ryle listed the signs of such growth, beginning, "One mark of growth in grace is increased humility."2
The mature do not think they have arrived. Paul wrote, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after", and then added, "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded" (Philippians 3:12, 15). J. Oswald Sanders cautioned, "Spiritual maturity is not something that's automatic as a result of the mastery of scripture."3
It is also the aim of ministry. Paul preached Christ, "warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Colossians 1:28).
- Strong's Greek 5046, téleios: "complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with...".
- J.C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots, "Chapter 8".
- J. Oswald Sanders, "The Maturity of a Spiritual Leader" (sermon).
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Spiritual maturity is linked with the measure of Christ's life.
Phil Beach Jr.
in Qualities That Measure Spiritual Maturity Part 2
Listen at 38:20
Spiritual maturity is not something that's automatic as a result of the mastery of scripture.
J. Oswald Sanders
in The Maturity of a Spiritual Leader
Listen at 33:44
Maturity is the result of experience, trial, and conflict, it is a natural, gradual process of development, which requires time.
Thomas Cook
in Purity and Maturity
Read in context
Maturity is learning to get along with other people, to be a help, not a hindrance, to contribute to the solution and not to be always a part of the problem.
J.I. Packer
in Characteristics of Maturity
Read in context
So maturity is not so much about time that you've been born again or your actual physical age.
Michael Koulianos
in Jesus, Our Great Teacher
Listen at 2:12
Spiritual maturity is not measured by how much you know.
Phil Beach Jr.
in Qualities That Measure Spiritual Maturity - Part 1
Listen at 2:38
What Scripture says
- Ephesians 4:13-15 to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ
- Hebrews 5:12-14 senses exercised to discern both good and evil
- 2 Peter 3:18 grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord
- Philippians 3:12-15 not as though I had already attained
- Colossians 1:28 that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus
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