1 Corinthians 2:1-15 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. … (6) However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. (7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, … (13) These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no one.”
In the new testament, a mature believer and one who is spiritual, are synonymous terms. And so, as with baby believers, there are also three main traits that identify mature believers. The first is a clear understanding of the word of God, the second is spiritual behaviour, and the third is strong faith. Therefore, one who is spiritual, will display all three of these traits, in their walk as believers. In the above passage of scripture, the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul, teaches us that mature believers are able to understand the hidden wisdom of God. In this passage, the Holy Spirit contrasts the natural man with the spiritual man. In context, the natural man that He is referring to, is one who is still carnal in their thinking. The spiritual man on the other hand, is no longer carnal in their thinking, for they have since renewed their minds to think in line with the word of God. And so, it is only the spiritual man that can receive the things of the Spirit of God. We said earlier, that it is only God who gives us understanding of His word, and so for one who is spiritually mature, God withholds no truth in His word from that individual (Mark 4:24-25).
Hebrews 5:12-14 “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. (13) For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. (14) But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
We had a look at the above passage of scripture, when we discussed the traits of baby believers. But this passage also reveals to us certain truths about mature believers. We see from this passage, that mature believers are well able to teach others the first principles of the oracles of God, which are the six foundational doctrines of Christ, i.e. repentance from dead works, faith toward God, doctrine of baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement (Hebrews 6:1-2). We also see, that mature believers partake of the solid food of God’s word, because they have become skilled in the word of righteousness. The reason that they have become skilled in the word of righteousness, is because they have studied the word of God, to show themselves approved to God, workman that do not need to be ashamed in that which they teach, because they have learnt to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
2 Peter 1:12 “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.”
The Holy Spirit through the apostle Peter, reveals to us in the above passage, that there is such a thing, as the present truth. In other words, even though mature believers have a clear understanding of the word of God as revealed to us in the new testament, it is still only the present truth. The Holy Spirit thus signifying, that there are still truths to come, which have not yet been revealed, even to those who are spiritual in this life. The apostle Paul agrees with that statement, when he says to us that no matter how much we know in this life, we still only know in part (1 Corinthians 13:12). Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit does reveal to us in this passage, that it is possible for believers to know and be established in the present truth.
Michael E.B. Maher
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