In Colossians 1:28, Paul states that the aim of his ministry is to “present everyone mature in Christ.” This aim raises questions: What does it mean to be “mature in Christ”? How will we know when we arrive at spiritual maturity? Is spiritual maturity something believers can even attain this side of heaven?
Spiritual maturity is not a destination but a process. In fact, the spiritually mature persistently strive to grow more in maturity. In Philippians 3, the apostle Paul shares his supreme desire of knowing Jesus and becoming like him. And then he asserts,
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12–14)
There is no finish line for maturity this side of heaven. Paul is writing to the Philippians toward the end of his life, yet he can affirm that he has not attained perfection. He embraces the fact that he needs to press on toward the goal of Christlikeness. He continues:
Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Philippians 3:15–16)
The way true maturity “thinks” is to know and embrace that we still have a long way to go. It’s like a mountain climber who reaches a false summit and finds that the real summit is higher. In the pursuit of spiritual maturity, every mountaintop on earth is a false summit.
Seven Marks of Spiritual Maturity
At Providence Church, where I pastor, our mission is to glorify God by making mature disciples. Since spiritual maturity is a process and not a destination, we need to know we are on the right path. Even though we will never get to the top of the mountain in this life, we need markers to guide us along the way. To that end, our church has identified seven characteristics of a maturing disciple.
Most of these characteristics are found in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. Paul tells the Thessalonian believers that he knows they have been chosen by God because the gospel came to them not merely in word but in the power of the Holy Spirit, moving them to “full conviction” (1 Thessalonians 1:4–5). In the rest of chapter 1, Paul lays out what this full conviction produced in and through them. Their genuine and full conviction of the gospel led them to pursue spiritual maturity.
So, let’s walk through seven characteristics of a maturing disciple. (For simplicity, I’ll refer to this disciple as him, but these characteristics apply to men and women.)
1. A maturing disciple is grounded in a deep understanding of the gospel.
A maturing disciple understands and embraces that his salvation is owing solely to the sovereign grace of God. In 1 Thessalonians 1:4, Paul says that he knows these believers are loved by God because God has chosen them. And we know from Scripture that God chose us not because we were so special or deserving but solely because of his sovereign grace. He chose to set his love on us.
This deep understanding of grace is the fuel for radical discipleship and mission. A maturing disciple cannot love and serve others in the church selflessly without it. Elsewhere, when Paul commands us to count others more significant than ourselves and to put the interests of others before our own, he roots this command in the knowledge of how Christ emptied himself and gave himself selflessly for us (Philippians 2:4–8). The gospel fuels maturity.
2. A maturing disciple communes regularly with Jesus in the word and prayer.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:6, Paul says that the Thessalonians became imitators of Christ because they received the word. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Paul says that they accepted the word of God “not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” A maturing disciple seeks an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus through his word. He is not like those who search the Scriptures but refuse to come to Jesus to find life (John 5:39–40).
One way we can know whether we search the Scriptures lifelessly is whether or not we pray in response. In John 15, Jesus declares that the only way to bear fruit is to abide in him. A maturing disciple understands his need to regularly abide in Jesus through hearing his word and responding in prayer. Jesus himself relied on the Father in this way. Mature Christians do the same.
3. A maturing disciple studies the word and sound doctrine.
A maturing disciple understands that the word of God “is at work” in his life (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Therefore, he seeks to apply Scripture to his life and to the lives of others. In turn, he grows in his discernment of truth as he not only hears God’s word but constantly puts it into practice (Hebrews 5:14). He has a growing understanding of how the whole Bible fits together and points to Jesus. His desire is to present himself “approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
4. A maturing disciple lives in community, fighting sin and enduring suffering with others.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:6, Paul says that the Thessalonians “became imitators of us and of the Lord.” This is what discipleship looks like in the life of the church. New believers watch and imitate more seasoned followers of Christ as they follow Christ themselves. Therefore, a maturing disciple is deeply involved in authentic, transparent community where he is known and knows others.
With other believers, he fights sin through confession and accountability (James 5:16; 1 John 1:7–8). He commits to practicing the “one anothers” of Scripture, exhorting and encouraging fellow believers (Hebrews 3:13). And a maturing disciple endures suffering through the mutual encouragement of the saints. In 1 Thessalonians 1:6–7, Paul says that the Thessalonians became examples to other believers as they “received the word in much affliction.” Maturing Christians become examples that others imitate when they not only follow Christ in prosperity but keep following Christ in their afflictions.
5. A maturing disciple identifies and employs his gifts to build up the body.
Ephesians 4:7 tells us that every member of the church has been given a gift by the Holy Spirit. When that gift is employed in the church, the church grows in health (Ephesians 4:16). A maturing disciple is not merely a consumer in the church but an active participant, using his gifts to help the church grow. He does not wait to be asked to serve. Rather, he sees needs and is often the first to raise his hand to help.
6. A maturing disciple is an ambassador for Christ through evangelism.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:8, Paul says that the word of the Lord was sounding forth from these Christians in all the surrounding regions in such a way that Paul “need not say anything.” Christians in other cities were hearing about the Thessalonians’ faith. Surely the Thessalonians’ unbelieving neighbors were also hearing about it and seeing their transformed lives as they “turned to God from idols” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Paul replicated himself in this church — they carried on the work of spreading the gospel from Thessalonica so he could turn his focus to places where Christ had not yet been named (Romans 15:20).
A maturing disciple embraces the call of an ambassador, actively sharing his faith in the community (2 Corinthians 5:20). After all, a disciple is by nature a disciple-maker. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus promised to make his disciples “fishers of men.” A maturing disciple understands that God has placed him in unique places to proclaim the gospel there. He sees his occupation not just as the means by which he makes a living but also as his mission field where he can live out his calling as an ambassador.
7. A maturing disciple lives for what lasts with an eternal perspective.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Paul says that the Thessalonians lived with an eye toward eternity, waiting for God’s “Son from heaven.” A maturing disciple understands that life is short, and the mission of advancing the gospel is paramount. He understands that we must not place our ultimate hope in this world, and therefore he invests and stores up his treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20). He lives life with an ever-present awareness of Christ’s return and aims to please him alone.
Maturity Humbly, Consistently Matures
Remember, these are not destinations but part of the journey and upward climb. These are seven characteristics of a maturing disciple. Rather than becoming a source of pride or comparison with other believers, they are meant to be a tool for self-examination in order to continue pursuing Christ.
The Thessalonians had become followers of the word and examples through suffering. They shared their faith consistently. They turned from idols to serve God and were waiting for Jesus as their only hope. Paul affirms their maturity while urging them to press on for more. The goal of our lives is to know Jesus, make him known, and become more and more like him. May we all continue striving for Christlikeness on our spiritual journey!
Desiring God