“These Three” and Me

By T. Sean Sullivan

What does it mean to be mature? In today’s world, maturity seems to be a dreadful thing. In some desperate off-scouring of the aging process, many have adopted a perpetual childhood.

Now, there is nothing amiss with enjoying life and staying youthful in our vibrancy and zeal. However, immaturity leads to weakness in adult-life, a weakness that seems to be showing up in the church.

There must be a better way not to lose the qualities of life we desire; but also to actually “grow up”. Paul, in the first Corinthian letter, speaks of the necessity of the maturity of the church at the end of the thirteenth chapter. Paul was teaching about the end of temporary things in the church—spiritual gifts (vs. 8-12) and the necessity of the permanent things (v. 13).

In our individual lives we also have a time for temporary things—immaturity; and we have a time for permanent things. Coincidentally, the things that Paul speaks of in regard to the church are also marks of maturity in our personal lives. Let’s consider from the scriptures the necessity of faith, hope, and love; and how they need to relate to you and me.

Faith begins small but grows to full strength over time, with determination. The beginning of faith is knowledge—basic understandings: We discover we are sinners (Romans 5:12—“all sinned”). We learn that we have transgressed God’s law and are in a wrong place before God. At this point we understand that we need help (Romans 6:23a) and that help we cannot supply—it is a help that only God can offer (Romans 5:6-8). We find out that Jesus can redeem us (1 Peter 1:18-19) and learn that God sent His Son to be our sacrifice. At the very beginning we also know that we need to live right (Matthew 7:13-14)—we have a basic understanding of a need for doing better. To mature, these primary points must grow and become stronger in our life.

What does it mean to transition from first faith to a mature level of faith? In maturity we increase our knowledge of “right” and “wrong” (Hebrews 5:12-14). We take on a diligence of study and seek to know (Romans 10:17). We walk in God’s help with daily purpose (James 4:8-10). We acknowledge God’s help every moment (Jeremiah 10:23). In maturity, we seek to live up to our calling—knowing better, the price of our redemption (Ephesians 4:1-3; Romans 5:6-11). We have a better grasp on the big picture of sin’s cost and redemption’s price. In maturity we conduct ourselves in careful steps of righteousness (Ephesians 5:6-10, 15-16); knowing that Christians do all things with purpose (Colossians 3:17).

Our level of hope is an indication of maturity—in the youth of our faith we may hope for things like: feeling better about our life (Matthew 19:16); like the rich young ruler who was seeking more. We may simply look for being relieved from guilt; like the Jews who were confronted with wrongdoing and were cut to the heart (Acts 2:37). Some come to have the hope of just being part of something greater than themselves; like Simon who was seeking better for his life (Acts 8:13-19).

These basic hopes are temporary and should be replaced with greater and deeper hope. With maturity we take on a true desire for a better life in Heaven (2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 22:20). It is hard for the mature Christian to be satisfied with earthly life—we look ahead and long for our welcome home (Philippians 3:12-15). Beyond the simple need of relief from guilt, in maturity, we come to understand the beauty of God’s will and His direction (Ephesians 5:8-10; Philippians 4:4-9). We understand the beauties of righteousness—honor, integrity, and worthiness. Then also it is more than just being part of something else, in maturity we are an effective part of the greatest institution every given to mankind (Matthew 16:18; 1 Peter 2:5-10)—the mature Christian is a participator (Ephesians 4:11-16).

There are also elemental principles and mature understandings with love. Love for God can be much like any other love in this life. We can start to love God first with those big sparkly eyes of infatuation; much like the rocky soil—that enthusiastically received the word (Matthew 13:20). If this is our love’s only depth it will fail.

We can love God, with only a desire for what He can do for us, like those who had been given food, and they were seeking more (John 6:25-40). If this is the only motivation for our love, it will fail.

If we remain immature our love for God can be easily extinguished. The winds of doctrine will unsettle us and take us away (Ephesians 4:14). The pressures of life and its cares can distract us away (John 6:66; 2 Timothy 2:1-7).

Mature love is from proper understanding. We love God and keep His commandments (John 14:15). He has done so much for us (Romans 5:6-10). We choose to love God no matter what we have to go through (1 Peter 1:6-9). True love is a choice, more than a feeling—it is an enduring decision—it is a commitment.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:13,

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 After faith is sight, and hope is realized, love will continue in eternity—this is one perspective. Another thought is, that without love there is no faith and no hope. By combining these two we will begin to realize the significance of Paul’s inspired words.

The time for maturity is now—as the world trends away from growing-up we need to “grow up” in all things into Christ (Ephesians 4:15). From the beginning principles to a grounded understanding we can mature and become the servants that God desires. One thing that requires maturity is accepting responsibility for our own soul. We must know that we are lost without God and we need to be mature enough to do something about our salvation.

We need to seek God in faith, for hope, and motivated by committed love. Today is your opportunity to begin or begin anew. The opportunity is yours, right now. (via the Messenger) &

The Lord’s People (Part 2)

By Bob Myhan

There are unimaginable blessings associated with being a member of the family of God. First, the children of God are special objects of God’s love (1 John 3:1; Rom. 8:38, 39). Yes, He loved the entire world in such a way that He gave His only begotten Son that they might all become His children (John 3:16). But He especially loves those who obey Him, just as a human father naturally has a greater love for those of his children who live upright, moral lives and become productive members of society.

Second, the children of God are special objects of the providence of God (Rom. 8:32; Matt. 6:8; 7:7-11). Yes, “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45), and He provides for alien sinners to hear the gospel by sending His children to preach to them. (Matt. 28:18, 19; Mark 16:15, 16) However, His children not only have material blessings of life; they also have “all spiritual blessings” (Eph. 1:3-14) This is the special providence of God.

Third, the children of God are recipients of Fatherly discipline (Heb. 12:4-9). “Now no chastening seems to be joyous for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11). Are we not glad that our earthly fathers disciplined us? Should we not then be all the more glad to be recipients of Heavenly discipline?

Fourth, the children of God have “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away” (Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:26-29; 1 Peter 1:3-5). Though they may experience great physical suffering in this life, they will live eternally with God after this life is over (Matt. 25:32-46). Even if their physical relatives make life difficult because of their dedication to the gospel, they have this promise:

“There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:29, 30)

There are also responsibilities in the family of God. First, the children of God should wear the family name (Acts 4:11-12; 11:26; 1 Peter 4:15-16). What would you think if your children refused to wear the family name? Would you not be disappointed and hurt? Second, the children of God should be obedient to the Father and to those whom the Father has appointed over them (Rom. 8:12-17; Eph. 5:22-24; 6:1-3, 5-8; Heb. 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 1:13-17). Third, the children of God should love one another (1 John 4:7, 20, 21; 3:13-19; 1 Peter 1:22). Fourth, they should remain separate from the world (2 Cor. 6:14-18; 7:1; 1 John 2:15-17). “Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). &