Spiritual Maturity

What is spiritual maturity? Spiritual maturity can be described as the regular choice to live a godly life by submitting to the Scripture. Maturity is personal growth or improvement. It is also known as the sanctification process that the Holy Spirit works in every Christian.

Here are a few descriptors of spiritual maturity in the life of a believer:

• Understanding of the Gospel and the fundamentals of the faith


• Pursuing discipleship


• Consistent time in God's Word individually


• Consistent time in God's Word corporately


• Consistent time in prayer


• Regular worship


• Service in the church


• Regular fellowship with believers


• Evangelism


• Perseverance

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. [II Peter 1:5-9]

Spiritual maturity is evident by some of these characteristics:

• Discerning Truth

For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. [Hebrews 5:13-14 and see Philippians 1:9]

• Approved Workmen

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. [II Timothy 2:15]

• Servants

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. [Romans 12:1]

• Holy

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. [Galatians 5:16]

• Found Faithful

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.[Philippians 3:14]

Much more can be said on the subject of spiritual maturity. Can you think of additional descriptions or characteristics of spiritual maturity? What other Scripture passages address spiritual maturity?

How can you evaluate yourself to determine spiritual maturity? How can you pursue spiritual maturity today?