Becoming a Mature Christian (Episode 152)

Think about your relationship with Christ a year ago. And think about your relationship with Him today. From year to year, your relationship with Him should be moving in a positive direction. The truth is, however, that is not what’s happening in every Christian’s life. In this episode, Frank King teaches on the importance of becoming a mature Christian.

In the book of Hebrews, the writer addresses a problem that exists with many believers. He writes, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12, NASB).

One important reason God wants us to mature as Christians is so that He can use us to serve Him. We come to church to worship God, but we also come to be equipped to serve God more effectively. There is a dying world out there depending on Christians reaching out to it with the life-changing gospel of our Lord.

But the verse highlights a serious problem. The writer talks about people who had been Christians and who had been coming to church so long that by now they should be able to teach others. But he says, instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic stuff about being a Christian. In other words, because they were not growing, they were actually going backward.

This is a serious problem with Christians failing to grow.  That is, if you are not growing as a Christian, you are not getting to the place where God can use you like He wants to use you.

Salvation is Just the Beginning

When students assemble to graduate from high school or college, we refer to those assemblies as commencement exercises. Now the word commencement refers to a beginning and not an end. But even though the graduates are ending their high school or college experience, the graduation is called a commencement exercise.

It is called a commencement exercise because when you graduate, you have not arrived, but you have only just begun. Your education gives you some tools, a skillset for embarking upon life. What your life becomes, however, depends upon what you do with the skillset you have.

The same is true when you accept Christ. It’s not a graduation; it is but a commencement. You have not arrived; you have only just begun. Upon salvation, God gives you everything you need to become a mature and productive Christian. What your life becomes, however, is dependent upon what you do with what God has imparted to you. That’s why it’s important for you to become a mature Christian.