Message by Dr. Jay Grimstead
Coalition on Revival Family Camp 2000
Murphys Christian Camp

OUTLINE OF SOME BASIC INGREDIENTS OF CHRISTIAN MATURITY

I. THE MATURE CHRISTIAN:

A. Has the lordship of Christ settled in his own mind and life;

B. Feeds himself regularly on the written Word of God without having to be pushed;

C. Knows the basic content of the Word and cannot easily be led astray into false doctrine; knows that Jehovah and Jesus have the same character and are one God;

D. Has prayer and praise as a regular and important part of his life + special times;

E. Is experiencing "New Testament Fellowship" regularly with a group of Christians wherein these things are taking place deliberately and spontaneously:

1. Honest sharing of his inner heart and life,

2. Serious commitment to the life and well-being of others in the group,

3. Mutual accountability for living in obedience to the Bible and to Christ.

F. Has a biblically ordered family life and lives by God's hierarchies (Eph.5:22-6:9)

G. Is increasingly demonstrating the Fruits of the Spirit (Christlikeness) and knows how to overcome sin in his life;

H. Is aware (or becoming aware) of his gifting, calling and his place and task in the Body and is functioning energetically in that place (or is on his way there);

I. Is able to lead others to the Lord and get them started "walking with the Lord";

J. Is generally an emotionally and socially mature human being.

II. CHRISTIAN MATURITY FACTORS TO CONSIDER

A. The Greek word teleios.

1. In the Greek New Testament the word teleios is generally used to communicate the concept of Christian maturity. Teleios can mean "adult," "complete," "perfect," "mature." The verb form means "to bring something to its end or its goal or completion."

2. Jim Boice, in his commentary on Matt. 5:48, mentions that "This word means 'complete' as when a ship is fitted out perfectly for sea or a legion of soldiers is equipped in all respects for battle."

B. Some Christian maturity passages where the word teleios is used:

1. I Cor. 2:6 — "Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature (teleios)." Here Paul makes a distinction between those who are mature and those who are not.

2. Eph. 4:13 — "Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature (teleios) man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Here Paul claims all Christians are to attain to this state of maturity, not just the "hot" ones.

3. Col. 1:28 — "Him we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man mature (teleios) in Christ." Paul again here works and teaches that every man may attain Christian maturity. This is why Paul claimed he labored, "striving according to His power which newly works within me."

4. Heb. 5:13-6:1 — "For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. (14) But solid food is for the mature (teleios), who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (6:1) Therefore, leaving the elementally teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity (teleios) etc.

C. The basic concept of this message is this:

1. There is a point of growth called Christian Maturity,

2. Which God desires all Christians to reach this side of heaven,

3. Which involves a rather well defined list of ingredients,

4. That are supposed to be deliberately woven into the fabric of our daily lives.

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