Welcome! Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM Bibles and copies of sermons are available Please silence your cell phones www.SunsetchurchofChrist.net

Romans 4 The example of Abraham Genesis 12:1-4 Abraham justified before circumcision Abraham’s promise was to all nations

Romans 4 Two Abrahams? Romans 4 – FAITH plus works James 2 – Faith plus WORKS

Abraham

Abraham

Isaac Ishmael Abraham

Moses Isaac Ishmael Abraham

430 years before Moses Moses Isaac Ishmael Abraham

430 years before Moses Moses Isaac Ishmael Abraham

Romans 4 Abraham’s faith = righteousness Galatians 3:5-9 The father of Jews AND Gentiles Righteous accreditation

Romans 5 The great war, the great peace

Welcome! Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM Bibles and copies of sermons are available Please silence your cell phones www.SunsetchurchofChrist.net

Songs Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. Psalm 47:6-7 Songs

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I Corinthians 3:1

Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. I Corinthians 14:20

Signs of Maturity Milk Only

Signs of Maturity 5’11”

Signs of Maturity Grey hairs

Signs of Maturity Wrinkles

Spiritual Maturity As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 1 Peter 2:2

Spiritual Maturity ….Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.…. 2 Peter 3:18

Missing Maturity 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. Hebrews 5:12 The Hebrew letter was to brethren who ought to have been mature but they were not.

Mistaken for Maturity These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. Colossians 2:23 Consider Paul’s statement about practices that had the appearance of spirituality (maturity) but were not. Sometime, we see things that have appearances of maturity, but with more serious inspection they do not. Let us consider a few examples of things with the appearance of maturity, but do not have real maturity.

The Corinthian Dilemma: Believing they were mature Acting like children!

Is This Maturity: “20 year membership!” For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again Hebrews 5:12a It is a good thing to be faithful to the brethren in the assembly, and be faithful to worship God (Heb. 10:26). However, there are many who have been pew-sitters for years, but are in fact NOT mature. A lengthy time sitting is not maturity.

Is This Maturity: “A nose for false doctrines” Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 Being able to discern false doctrines is both good and right; consider Eph 4:14 “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” However, as Bro. Robert Turner once said, “skinning the sects is not good preaching” It is easy to point to the errors of denominations or even other churches of Christ; that is NOT a proof of maturity. Paul told the Corinthians that we all understand the error of idols; what they did not seem to understand was the need to build up one another. Tearing down error is important, but meaningless if we do not more importantly build one another up. Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Is This Maturity: “Contentious for the Faith” But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 2 Timothy 2:23-24 Here is an often mis-identified behavior that is not only NOT maturity, but is in fact contrary to Christ. Some interpret maturity as the ability to belittle, fault-find or strive with brethren. There is MUCH said about this false action in the Bible.

Is This Maturity: “Contentious for the Faith” But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. Titus 3:9-11 Here is an often mis-identified behavior that is not only NOT maturity, but is in fact contrary to Christ. Some interpret maturity as the ability to belittle, fault-find or strive with brethren. There is MUCH said about this false action in the Bible.

Is This Maturity: “Contentious for the Faith” 1 Timothy 6:1-5 Here is an often mis-identified behavior that is not only NOT maturity, but is in fact contrary to Christ. Some interpret maturity as the ability to belittle, fault-find or strive with brethren. There is MUCH said about this false action in the Bible.

This is Maturity: II Peter 1:5-11 Virtue Knowledge Self-Control Perseverance Godliness Brotherly kindness Love So what is real maturity? Peter says in II Pet. 1 that to mature in Christ, we begin with our faith and add virtue. Consider Heb. 5:124 as directions on virtue.

This is Maturity: Virtue 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. Hebrews 5:14 So what is real maturity? Peter says in II Pet. 1 that to mature in Christ, we begin with our faith and add virtue. Consider Heb. 5:124 as directions on virtue.

This is Maturity: Self Control For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. James 3:2 So what is real maturity? Peter says in II Pet. 1 that to mature in Christ, we begin with our faith and add virtue. Consider Heb. 5:124 as directions on virtue.

This is Maturity: Edification Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2 So what is real maturity? Peter says in II Pet. 1 that to mature in Christ, we begin with our faith and add virtue. Consider Heb. 5:124 as directions on virtue.

This is Maturity: Self-Evaluation Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Philippians 3:15 So what is real maturity? Peter says in II Pet. 1 that to mature in Christ, we begin with our faith and add virtue. Consider Heb. 5:124 as directions on virtue.

This is Maturity: Good Works Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. James 3:13 So what is real maturity? Peter says in II Pet. 1 that to mature in Christ, we begin with our faith and add virtue. Consider Heb. 5:124 as directions on virtue.