We're born with folly bound up in our hearts (Proverbs 22:15). Children are egocentric, thinking they're the center of the world.(2)
Becoming an adult means putting away childish selfishness and learning self-control, self-denial, and discipline.
"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." 1 Corinthians 13:11
Mature faith is evident in:
1. Whom we honor.
Do we admire people for their faith or for worldly, selfish, childish reasons (James 2:1-9; 1 Corinthians 15:33)?
2. What we value.
Are we pursuing God's purposes or youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22)?
3. What we believe about ourselves.
Are we self-esteeming and self-defensive or humble and teachable (Romans 12:3; Proverbs 15:31)?
4. What we believe about God.
Do we expect God to be our servant or do we seek to be His servant (Romans 12:1; Colossians 3:23)?
May God help us identify areas where we need to put childish ways behind us.
(1) Being childlike is being humble and dependent Matthew 18:4
(2) See Created and Born
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Additional resources and Scriptures for each point above:
1. See "Who's Your Hero?" and "Christians Look at Hearts"
2. See "Needs and Desires" (for parents) and "8 Narcissist Problems"
3. See "3 Reasons the Centurion Amazed Jesus" and "Feeling Good or Being Good"
4. See "3 Lies That Take Our Focus Off God" and "God is an Equal Opportunity Employer"
i was raised in a church where rightly-dividing was emphasised. i understand that Paul called the gospel "his" gospel. i understand that the Lord on earth came to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. what i don't understand is when the right dividers say that there was no gospel of the grace of God until Paul. what i really don't understand is why the pastor of my church said that the Gospels were written for babies and we must move on to perfection. i didn't ask him what he meant because he will bite my head off. he said the Lord's trachings are for immature Christians and don't apply to this age. can you help? it sounds strange to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I can adequately answer your questions, Michiko, but I love that you are asking these questions.
DeleteGod promises that those who seek Him and His truth will find it.
Jeremiah 29:13: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
I'm sorry that you didn't feel comfortable asking questions of your pastor. I encourage you to find another godly man or woman who might help you understand some of these truths....or find another church- a Bible-believing church that teaches God's Word and welcomes true seekers like yourself.
Paul called the Gospel his just as you or I would call the Lord "our" Lord. That doesn't mean that Paul authored the Gospel. He didn't. The Gospel contained in Scripture was written down by men who heard directly from the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20-21: Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament, God showed us that we cannot be perfect by trying to obey the law...the law showed us that we are sinful. People still experienced the grace of God in the Old Testament - that is the only thing that saved the Old Testament saints. But Jesus brought grace into it's full meaning by dying for our sins on the Cross. Paul didn't bring us the meaning of grace....Christ did. But Paul experienced God's grace in saving him from his sinful life just as you and I can experience that grace when we repent of our sins, commit our lives to Him, and accept His forgiveness for our sins.
I don't know what your pastor meant by the Gospel being written for babies. The entire Bible helps us understand God, our sin, and our redemption. It tells us how to live, think, and act so that we might please the Lord and find true peace and joy, even in the midst of difficulties.
We never get too mature for Scripture. It contains basic truths and mature truths and we will always be learning new and wonderful things about our Lord from Scripture. I hope this helps answer your questions, but I encourage you to find someone who lives in your city who can help you.
God bless you as you seek the truth in these matters....keep on seeking.