Maturity

Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.

that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; — read the full passage →

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. — read the full passage →

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, — read the full passage →

Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; — read the full passage →

For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. — read the full passage →

as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings. — read the full passage →

Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.

But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.

Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

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

No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness. — read the full passage →

Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.

Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you.

Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,

For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, — read the full passage →

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

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, — read the full passage →

He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; — read the full passage →

Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, — read the full passage →

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, — read the full passage →

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

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

Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.

Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, — read the full passage →

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; — read the full passage →

Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.

Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. — read the full passage →

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. — read the full passage →

Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless. — read the full passage →

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. — read the full passage →

We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. — read the full passage →

As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him, — read the full passage →

But you did not learn Christ that way; — read the full passage →

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. — read the full passage →

You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you towards one another abounds;

Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. — read the full passage →

Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. — read the full passage →

“I am going the way of all the earth. You be strong therefore, and show yourself a man; — read the full passage →

For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, — read the full passage →

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God.

My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.

Did he not make you one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

This is the history of the generations of Noah: Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked with God.

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

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,

Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” — read the full passage →

Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, — read the full passage →

Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich. — read the full passage →

My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. — read the full passage →

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, — read the full passage →

Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. — read the full passage →

Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently: — read the full passage →

for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless.

This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, — read the full passage →

But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: — read the full passage →

but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;

My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality. — read the full passage →

For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come.

For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.