Maturity

“That we should no longer be immature, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive.” Ephesians 4:14.

Are God’s children really exposed to such great dangers that they can be helplessly tossed to and fro? Yes, if they are immature! An immature person can be treated more or less arbitrarily by his superi­ors and by unwise parents. This is why we have to take what we read in Ephesians 4:13 very seriously. “. . . till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect [mature] man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

“Till,” in this connection, points to what has to be done so that one will “become” mature. Unity of faith in Jesus and in the knowl­edge of Him has been a difficult point right from the days of the apostles. It was too hard to follow Jesus who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh. It was easier to follow another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4), a Jesus who was not like us; thus it became impos­sible to follow Him. Then one had “all salvation” through the for­giveness of sins. There have always been only a few who have been apprehended by a Jesus who requires self-denial and obedience to the faith. Peter received revelation from the Father that Jesus was the Messiah. Matthew 16:17. Even now, only those who fear God receive revelation concerning Jesus—the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16)—and become established and unshakable in the face of various winds of doctrine.

Our interest in being godfearing causes us to grow up to the right maturity of manhood. We need to increase in it so we can find our “good I” and put it into the ground to die as a mature grain of wheat that is capable of germinating. John 12:24.

The Father confirms in our spirit the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ which we have received as a fruit of zeal and faith­fulness. Together with Jesus we become partakers of the Father’s words: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” Matthew 17:5. According to the amount of time and grace God gives, we attain to that stated measure of the fullness of Christ through the fear of God. This is an exalted measure which requires that our whole life is devoted to attaining it. We need to bring our time as a sacrifice, and we must not become entangled with the affairs of this life. 2 Timothy 2:4.

Ephesians 4:13 can be compared to a school curriculum one has to complete in order to write the exam. In the final analysis, it is not feelings and blessings that determine the outcome, but what has been received, what has been believed, and what has become a strength in our lives. Jesus is also our forerunner in this, and He gives us perfect help in each situation.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2:52. He was meek and lowly in heart. Matthew 11:29. He was also mature in His humility and favor. He was not weak and yielding when faced with human care and honor. He al­ways did His Father’s will in all His conduct. Jesus spoke as one who had authority, and not like the scribes. Matthew 7:28-29.

All those who do not know Jesus and the fellowship of His suffer­ings fall prey to the attacks of the devil. Those who are immature cannot resist the error of the wicked. 2 Peter 3:16-18. The devil, who knows that his time is short (Revelation 12:12), moves all the powers of the pit to deceive all of mankind; but he will not prevail against those who have grown up to a perfect man, to maturity. Together with Christ they triumph over all the powers of evil. A spiritual per­son partakes of the greatest and most precious promises.