2. MATURITY IN CHRIST Heb 5:12-14
Our text and other Scriptures (1Pet 2:2) show we enter God's family as babies and are expected to grow to maturity
A failure to grow is sinful 1Cor 3:1-3
Note marks of spiritual maturity and examine self with reference to development within ourselves

3. MATURITY IN CHRIST Heb 5:12-14
REPRODUCTIVE CAPACITY 2Tim 2:2
Ability to teach others the gospel Heb 5:12; 2Tim 2:24
Apostles to teach others all things that had been commanded them Matt 28:19,20
Yet reproductive capacity alone no proof of maturity
Many are able to teach the truth but refuse to live it

4. MATURITY IN CHRIST Heb 5:12-14
UNDERSTANDING 1Cor 14:20
Toward the alien
Has not obeyed for some reason
Either not taught or taught error and confused
Toward fellow Christians
Don’t understand difference between faith and opinion
Children prone to “hero worship” (Paul, Apollos 1Cor 3:5) understand their role as servants and our allegiance must be to Christ.
Attempts to restore erring must be with understanding of problem and love for their soul as well as understand our own weaknesses Gal 6:1

5. MATURITY IN CHRIST Heb 5:12-14
SEEING CONSEQUENCES Gal 6:7
Children hate to take medicine but like to play with dangerous things
Mature Christians try to think a course of actions through to its conclusion
Moses had respect unto the reward Heb 11:26
Mature Christians try to “nip sin in the bud”

6. MATURITY IN CHRIST Heb 5:12-14
STEADFASTNESS 1Cor 15:58; 16:13
Changeableness is a mark of immaturity
Spiritual maturity requires one to determine what is really important then stay with it to the end
Kingdom of God has priority Matt 6:33
Decide this is right and stick with it - not bullheadedness

7. MATURITY IN CHRIST Heb 5:12-14
LOVE Jhn 13:34,35
Child's love is possessive
Adolescent love is intense but temporary
Mature love is giving and forgiving love, not blind to fault or hardship but gives of itself to help overcome
In this sense we love one another Jhn 13:34,35
In this sense we love the souls of the lost and seek to win them Jhn 4:34-38
Mature love even loves enemies Acts 7:60; Lk 23:34; Matt 5:44

8. MATURITY IN CHRIST Heb 5:12-14
We must grow in Christ or else remain babes in Christ
Corinthians still carnal because they remained babes in Christ 1Cor 3:1-3
Mature Christians put away childish things 1Cor 13:11
Have you put away childish things and begun to grow to maturity spiritually