How does one know if he or she is maturing in the Lord?

This article concerns believing Christians only. It’s not written for non-Christians. Non-Christians reading this should stop now and trust Jesus Christ alone as your personal Saviour. Christ died for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4). God wants to see lost people trust His Son right now, trusting Him exclusively, without relying upon any manmade system or church membership, rituals or rites. One cannot grow in the Lord or even perceive the truth of the Bible if they are not first saved, regenerated by Christ’s indwelling life! Once they’ve trusted Christ, then they can proceed to the counsel found herein.

Wherever you are in your Christian life right now—whether you trusted Christ a few seconds, days, or weeks ago, or you trusted Christ several decades ago—you have much more learning to do in the Bible as “the word of God.”

Furthermore, just because someone has been a Christian for 50 years does not necessarily mean they are mature in the Scriptures. In fact, if much or all of that time was spent under denominational teaching, it’s extremely unlikely that he or she is mature in the Bible.

Why is this?

This is because denominations do not encourage spiritual growth in the Bible. Rather, they encourage indoctrination with the theology that the denominational hierarchy approves. This is usually a select group of verses … combined with church tradition. Such erroneous information is useless in the purpose and program of God. It is of no profit to the Christian, except to be a blackground that is used of God to accentuate “the truth” and “light” of God.

Having dealt firsthand with people over the years, I can honestly say the vast majority of believing Christians are simply not at all mature in the Bible. Or, perhaps they have grown in Scripture, but not much. Precious few are growing steadily and know the Lord intimately. Some haven’t grown at all. How have I reached these conclusions? I will here show some standards by which you can evaluate yourself and others with whom you come in contact. I trust it will be enlightening!

Before we begin, think about a simple illustration:

Consider the maturity process in the physical world. For example, very young children find noisy vehicles zooming by fascinating. So, they will innocently approach busy streets to “have fun” investigating. Of course, they are unaware of the dangers. Supervising adults must warn these children to stay away from those hectic streets. However, these children will eventually gain enough knowledge about such dangers. As they mature, they will reach a point where they no longer need to be told about unsafe roadways. A child is maturing when he or she begins to think on his or her own. They will know by themselves to stay away from them. They have learned by the experience of enough warnings, and/or injuries to avoid busy roads. Eventually, they no longer need people to tell them what else is right and what else is wrong, and what else is dangerous and what else is safe. They have matured concerning a wide range of situations. Rather than relying on others to guide them, they will become more of an independent free-thinking individual. Finally, they will have children of their own, and they can teach their children all about hazards. The cycle continues with new generations. Now bring this illustration into the spiritual realm.

First, consider Hebrews 5:11-14 that describes the babes and the maturing believer.

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. [12] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. [13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age (mature), even (that is) those who By Reason of Use Have Their Senses Exercised To Discern Both Good And Evil.”

“Senses” – I’ve often taught about the 6^th sense we’ve gained by having “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” indwelling our spirit, which spontaneously provides us the added sense of His life operating from our spirit… impressing our soul. Those impressions may be heard as negative inner, meaning, “No, don’t do that!” or a sense of wellness that says you are free to proceed. On occasion we are urged to do something that keeps coming to mind; e.g., Call someone to check on them or encourage them. All these are of ‘the sense of (His) life’ that becomes sharpened the more we recognize and experience the sense of life, which is always there. This is not a right dividing issue but an issue of the ‘sense of His life’ that operates in all those in whom His lives… we can live our whole life in this way.

A “babe” in the above Scripture is someone who cannot teach the Bible to others. Unable to function on their own spiritually, they have to first be taught Bible basics. Indeed, they cannot handle deeper Bible truths and things of God. They are “unskilful in the word of righteousness.” By contrast is a mature believer is one of “full age,” an individual who has progressed from “milk” (liquid) to “strong meat” (solid food). That person is described as “by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Unlike the baby, the adult has the ability to judge what is good and what is evil. The adult has not only been instructed, but has also had firsthand experience. As the writer of Hebrews lamented, the nation Israel found themselves, not as spiritual adults, but as spiritual babies. They could not teach the Gentiles the Word of God, for they (Israel) could not even understand the simple things of God. May we learn from Israel’s mistake!

In my own Christian life, I have become increasingly aware of what is right and what is wrong. Through careful study of the Scriptures, the work of the Lord in me, and personal application of them in my life, I can evaluate situations and doctrinal truths I once did not and could not understand. When I trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior nearly 50 years ago, I was a disinterested agnostic, I knew NOTHING of the Lord and His “word of truth.”

Today, I know much more about ‘the sense of His life’ within, prayer, Bible versions, the place of heaven and earth in God’s plan, salvation in Christ, the Holy Spirit, Satan’s program of evil, angels, the nation Israel, Jesus Christ, Father God, mankind, sin, the Church… the Body of Christ, creation, Paul’s special ministry to us Gentiles, et cetera.

There was a drastic increase in my understanding of the Scriptures those many years ago, when I was introduced to dispensational Bible study in 1994. Now, with every passing month, I grow more comfortable with Bible passages with which I used to struggle. I can better explain Bible topics of which I knew little to nothing years ago.

When you find yourself teaching others, and they understand it, that is a sign that you have matured in your understanding of “the Word of God.” Not only have you learned the doctrine truth (one major point in maturity), you can teach it to others (another major point of maturity). Once they learn the doctrine and teach others, they have matured too.

Every time you read a particular verse, or research a particular Bible theme, you “connect-the-dots” just a little more in your mind. You believe them in your heart and your soul is strengthened.  E.g., Connect John 3:16 with 1Jn 5:11-12 and you realize that life eternal is none other than the very life of Jesus Christ

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 (KJV)
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:11-12 (KJV)

So, you will notice truths in “familiar” verses that you never noticed before. You begin to connect those truths with other verses you read elsewhere. The big picture then comes together. You begin to network all sorts of verses. What took you five minutes to explain is now 10 minutes, having more detail. You can provide additional details for people you yourself did not know before. If you’ve taken Bible study notes, you can look back at them days, weeks, months, or years later and say, “Hey, I know so much more about that topic that I could write double that now!” I find myself saying that! Bible truth is somewhat like peeling an onion, with its layer upon layer.