Maturity

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; — read the full passage →

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

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. — read the full passage →

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, — read the full passage →

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; — read the full passage →

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. — read the full passage →

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. — read the full passage →

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. — read the full passage →

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. — read the full passage →

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; — read the full passage →

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, — read the full passage →

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; — read the full passage →

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; — read the full passage →

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: — read the full passage →

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, — read the full passage →

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, — read the full passage →

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: — read the full passage →

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. — read the full passage →

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. — read the full passage →

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. — read the full passage →

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. — read the full passage →

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. — read the full passage →

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: — read the full passage →

But ye have not so learned Christ; — read the full passage →

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: — read the full passage →

Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. — read the full passage →

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. — read the full passage →

I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; — read the full passage →

For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; — read the full passage →

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. — read the full passage →

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; — read the full passage →

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. — read the full passage →

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: — read the full passage →

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, — read the full passage →

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. — read the full passage →

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: — read the full passage →

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: — read the full passage →

But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: — read the full passage →

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. — read the full passage →

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

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.