Craig Smith • Introduction • August 6, 2023
Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? (Job 12:12)
The Peter Pan and Tinkerbell dilemma: I am growing
but not growing
…
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. (1 Cor. 3:1-3a)
The difference between “milk” and “meat” is not just
, it’s
– “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore, let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go onto maturity…” (Heb. 5:11-6:1a)
The stages of maturity…
•
: I’m
! – “I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name…because you have known the Father.” (1 John 2:12, 13b)
•
: I’m growing
! – “I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one…because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” (1 John 2:13b, 14b)
: I know
– “I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning…you have known Him who is from the beginning.” (1 John 2:13-14a)
The enemies of maturity…
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15)
• Worldly
– “…the cravings of sinful man…” (1 John 2:16)
• Worldly
– “…the lust of his eyes…” (1 John 2:16)
• Worldly
– “…the boasting of what he has and does…” (1 John 2:16)
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. (Col. 1:28, NIV 2011)
