What does it mean to become spiritually mature?

"Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold onto the progress we have already made."

Philippians 3:15-16 NLT

So what things will the spiritually mature agree on? To get clarity on this, you would need to read the entire book of Philippians, but certainly you would need to read the previous verses in chapter 3.

There is an:

• Attitude
• Process
• Dominant view

1. Attitude:

In Philippians chapter two, we are told to have the same attitude as Jesus Christ! The word attitude means a settled way of thinking or feeling about something. Jesus was settled in his thinking and feeling about being our servant and laying aside his glory to accomplish His service. This is a foundation of being spiritually mature, becoming like Christ.

2. Process:

In chapter 3, after listing out a huge shift in his life, from depending on his own achievements to depending on Christ's power to save him, he says in verse 13:

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

Here he identifies a process that he says he is currently in and will stay in until he is finished his race! In chapter 2 verse 13, he reveals more about this process when he says:

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."

3. Dominant View:

There is a finish line! In chapter 3 verse 20 it says:

"but we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives and we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our savior. He will take our weak and mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control."

The spiritually mature will agree on these three! We are to have the attitude of Christ; dependence on the grace of Christ; looking to the return of Christ!