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Growing in Christian Maturity through Spiritual Disciplines

Christian maturity involves a process of spiritual growth and development, moving believers toward a deeper understanding and experience of their faith, ultimately aiming for conformity to Christ [8]. This growth is not merely a moral reformation but a work of the Holy Spirit that brings the entire person under the influence of new, gracious principles implanted during regeneration [7].

The concept of spiritual maturity is evident throughout the New Testament. Ephesians 4:13 speaks of believers reaching "the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to a measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ" [2]. This verse highlights that the goal of Christian ministry is to help the entire community of believers understand and experience their faith more deeply, leading to maturity in the Lord [8]. The standard for this maturity is Christ himself, as the Spirit's work transforms individuals to be fully like Him [8].

The Bible also presents stages of spiritual development. John, in 1 John 2:12-14, categorizes believers into "children," "young in the faith," and "mature in the faith" (literally "fathers"), indicating different levels of spiritual progress [9]. Similarly, the author of Hebrews distinguishes between those who need "milk" and those who can handle "strong meat," which belongs to those who are "of full age" or perfect [11]. This distinction does not imply a perfection of justification or sanctification in this life, but rather a greater degree of understanding and spiritual discernment [11].

Spiritual disciplines are practices that contribute to this growth. While the term "spiritual disciplines" is not explicitly used in the biblical text, the actions and attitudes described as essential for Christian conduct align with what are commonly understood as such. These include:

The process of growth is often described as gradual. Luke 2:40 notes that Jesus "was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him" [3]. John Gill interprets this to mean that Christ's body grew in stature, and His soul's faculties, such as understanding and judgment, became stronger each day [14]. Similarly, the work of grace in a believer is compared to a grain of mustard seed, or seed cast into the ground, indicating a progressive development [12]. Believers are exhorted to "grow in grace" and in the gifts of grace, which can be increased through their use [12].

This growth is not always easy; grace itself can involve discipline and chastisement, much like children need disciplining [10]. This "disciplining" teaches believers to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live "soberly, righteously, and godly" in the present age [10]. The ultimate aim of this growth is a love that "grows more perfect," meaning it becomes mature and complete, leading to assurance and dispelling fears of judgment [13].

Sources

  1. II Timothy “II Timothy 3:15 (Geneva1599) — And that thou hast knowen the holy Scriptures of a childe, which are able to make thee wise vnto saluation, through the faith which is in Christ Iesus.”
  2. Ephesians “Ephesians 4:13 (LEB) — until we all reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to a measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ,”
  3. Luke “The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. -- Luke 2:40”
  4. 2 Timothy “2 Timothy 3:15 (NASB) — and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
  8. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:13: 4:13 The goal of ministry is for the whole Christian community to understand and experience the Christian faith more deeply and gain a deeper knowledge of God’s Son. In this way, believers will be mature in the Lord (see 1 Cor 2:6; 14:20; Phil 3:15; Col 1:28; 4:12; cp. Heb 5:14; Jas 1:4; 3:2). The standard of maturity is Christ himself; the Spirit’s transforming work is to make people fully like Christ (Rom 8:29).”
  9. 1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 2:12: 2:12-14 John gives three classes of believers at various stages of spiritual maturity: God’s children, the young in the faith (literally young people), and the mature in the faith (literally fathers).”
  10. Titus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Titus 2:12: Teaching--Greek, "disciplining us." Grace exercises discipline, and is imparted in connection with disciplining chastisements (Co1 11:32; Heb 12:6-7). The education which the Christian receives from "the grace" of God is a discipline often trying to flesh and blood: just as children need disciplining. The discipline which it exercises teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (Greek, "age," or course of things) where such self-discipline is needed, seeing that its spirit is oppos”
  11. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 5:13: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age,.... Or perfect; see Co1 2:6. This does not intend a perfection of justification; for though some have a greater degree of faith than others, and a clearer discovery of their justification, yet babes in Christ are as perfectly justified as more grown and experienced believers; nor a perfection of sanctification, for there is no perfection of holiness but in Christ; and though the work of sanctification may be in greater perfection in one saint than in another, yet all are imperfect in this life; and as to a perfe”
  12. 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 3:18: But grow in grace,.... In the gifts of grace, which, under a divine blessing, may be increased by using them: gifts neglected decrease, but stirred up and used, are improved and increase. And though men are to be thankful for their gifts, and be contented with them, yet they may lawfully desire more, and in the use of means seek an increase of them, which may be a means of preserving themselves, and others, from the error of the wicked. Moreover, by "grace" may be meant internal grace. The work of grace is gradual; it is like a grain of mustard seed, or like seed cas”
  13. 1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 4:17: 4:17 our love grows more perfect: The Greek word translated grows more perfect does not mean flawless, but mature and complete. We mature as our relationship with God grows, and God’s love makes our love complete. • Experiencing and expressing God’s love and doing what it requires does not make us acceptable to God, but it does give us the assurance that we have been accepted, and our fears of the final judgment melt away.”
  14. Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 2:39: And the child grew,.... In body, in strength, and in stature; which shows that it was a true body Christ assumed, and like ours, which did not come to its maturity at once, but by degrees: and waxed strong in spirit, or in his soul; for as he had a true body, he had also a reasonable soul; the faculties of which were far from being weak, they were exceeding strong, and appeared stronger and stronger every day; his understanding was clear, his judgment solid, and his memory strong and retentive, his will, and the desires of it, were to that which is good, and his affec”
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