BABES IN CHRIST: How Spiritual Maturity Changes the Way We See Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God
Carl Timothy Wray is a Bible teacher and author whose ministry is devoted to revealing Jesus Christ through the full counsel of Scripture. His writings emphasize the finished work of Christ, the Gospel of Grace, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and God’s eternal purpose from Genesis to Revelation. Through careful biblical study, he encourages believers to grow from spiritual infancy into maturity by learning to discern the Scriptures through the revelation of Jesus Christ. His passion is to point believers beyond the letter to the Spirit, beyond shadows to substance, and beyond outward appearances to the eternal realities revealed in Christ.
BABES IN CHRIST VS. THE MATURE explores the biblical difference between spiritual infancy and spiritual maturity. Beginning with Paul’s teaching on babes in Christ in 1 Corinthians 3, this book traces the believer’s journey from carnality to the mind of Christ. Through Scripture, it reveals how spiritual maturity transforms the way we understand Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God, prophecy, and the eternal purpose of God. Rather than merely increasing knowledge, Christ matures His people by changing their state of being and teaching them to discern the unseen realities of the Spirit.
Introduction
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:1
The Apostle Paul makes one of the greatest distinctions found anywhere in the New Testament. He does not separate believers from unbelievers. He distinguishes between babes in Christ and those who have grown into spiritual maturity.
That distinction becomes one of the great keys for understanding the entire Bible.
Throughout Scripture, God progressively matures His people. As believers grow, their state of being changes. As their state of being changes, their state of mind changes. As their state of mind changes, the way they perceive Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God, and the Scriptures changes as well.
The babe in Christ naturally looks first at what can be seen. Spiritual realities are often understood through outward forms, visible signs, and earthly pictures. These visible things serve an important purpose, for God faithfully meets His children where they are and nourishes them as they begin their walk with Him.
Yet God never intended His people to remain spiritual infants.
The writer of Hebrews calls believers to leave spiritual infancy and go on unto maturity. Paul speaks of putting away childish things, growing into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, and receiving the mind of Christ. Spiritual growth is not merely the accumulation of biblical knowledge—it is the transformation of the believer through the working of the Holy Spirit.
As Christ is formed within His people, they begin to look beyond what is merely seen to the eternal realities revealed by God. They learn to walk by faith rather than by sight. They discern the invisible work of God before its visible manifestation. They discover that God’s eternal purpose unfolds progressively, from promise to fulfillment, from seed to harvest, and from glory to glory.
This book is an invitation to that journey.
It is not written to condemn spiritual infancy, for every believer begins as a babe in Christ. Rather, it is written to encourage continual growth into the fullness of Jesus Christ. The goal is not simply to know more about God, but to know Him more deeply through the revelation of His Son.
May the Holy Spirit use these pages to strengthen your faith, enlarge your understanding, and draw you ever closer to the One who is bringing many sons unto glory.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Babes in Christ and the Call to Spiritual Maturity
Chapter 1
Babes in Christ: The Beginning of Spiritual Growth
Chapter 2
The Natural Man, the Carnal Believer, and the Spiritual Man
Chapter 3
Milk, Strong Meat, and Going On unto Maturity
Chapter 4
From the Seen to the Unseen: Learning to Walk by Faith
Chapter 5
Knowing Christ After the Flesh and Knowing Him by the Spirit
Chapter 6
The Mind of Christ: A New Way of Seeing
Chapter 7
How Spiritual Maturity Changes the Way We Understand the Kingdom of God
Chapter 8
Christ Formed in You: The Inner Work of Transformation
Chapter 9
From Glory to Glory: The Progressive Work of the Holy Spirit
Chapter 10
The Mature Believer: Seeing the Eternal Purpose of God
Conclusion
Growing into the Fullness of Jesus Christ
CHAPTER ONE
BABES IN CHRIST: THE BEGINNING OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
**”And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal…”**
— 1 Corinthians 3:1–3
The Beginning of Spiritual Growth
The Apostle Paul opens one of the greatest revelations concerning spiritual growth found anywhere in the New Testament. He is not speaking to unbelievers. He is writing to believers who have truly come to Christ, yet who remain spiritual infants.
Paul calls them babes in Christ.
This distinction is essential. Every believer begins as a babe. Spiritual infancy is not a failure—it is the beginning of the journey. God faithfully receives His children where they are, nourishing them with the milk of the Word until they are able to receive stronger food.
The issue Paul addresses is not that they are babes.
The issue is that they have not continued growing into spiritual maturity.
THE CARNAL MIND
“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
— 1 Corinthians 3:3
Paul describes their condition with one word:
Carnal.
The carnal believer belongs to Christ, yet continues to think primarily through natural categories. Spiritual realities are often understood from the perspective of what can be observed, measured, and experienced through the natural senses.
Paul does not leave them there.
His desire is to lead them beyond carnality into spiritual understanding.
Throughout the New Testament, Christ is continually maturing His people. As believers mature, their perception changes. They begin to discern more clearly the eternal realities that God reveals through His Spirit.
MILK BEFORE STRONG MEAT
“I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it…”
— 1 Corinthians 3:2
Milk is not presented as something negative.
Milk is necessary.
Every child begins with milk before receiving solid food. In the same way, God patiently teaches His people according to their present capacity, leading them step by step into greater maturity.
Yet milk is never intended to be the final destination.
The purpose of milk is to prepare the believer for strong meat.
God desires continual growth. Spiritual maturity is His purpose for every child of God.
GOD LEADS HIS PEOPLE INTO MATURITY
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection…”
— Hebrews 6:1
The writer of Hebrews continues the same theme Paul introduces.
Believers are encouraged to move beyond spiritual infancy and press on toward maturity.
This does not mean abandoning the foundation.
Rather, it means building upon it.
Every foundation is laid so that a house may be built.
Every seed is planted so that fruit may be produced.
Every beginning points toward maturity.
God’s purpose is always growth.
THE MIND OF CHRIST
“But we have the mind of Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:16
Paul reveals the destination toward which spiritual growth leads.
The goal is not merely greater biblical knowledge.
The goal is participation in the mind of Christ.
As believers mature, they increasingly learn to view life, the Scriptures, and the Kingdom of God through the wisdom that God gives by His Spirit.
This transformation is progressive.
It is the work of Christ within His people.
A JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
— 2 Corinthians 3:18
Spiritual maturity is not simply learning new information.
It is being transformed.
Christ does not merely teach His people facts.
He changes them.
As He transforms the believer, understanding deepens, discernment increases, and the life of Christ is more fully revealed.
This is the journey from spiritual infancy to maturity.
It is the journey from milk to strong meat.
It is the journey from carnality to the mind of Christ.
It is the journey upon which every follower of Jesus Christ is invited to walk.
The chapters that follow will examine this progression through the Scriptures, showing how God faithfully leads His people from spiritual infancy into the fullness of His eternal purpose.
CHAPTER TWO
THE NATURAL MAN, THE CARNAL BELIEVER, AND THE SPIRITUAL MAN
**”But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”**
— 1 Corinthians 2:14–16
Three States of Spiritual Perception
Before Paul speaks of babes in Christ in chapter three, he first establishes an important distinction in chapter two. He describes three different states through which spiritual truth is perceived.
First, there is the natural man.
Second, there is the carnal believer, the babe in Christ.
Finally, there is the spiritual man, who is growing in the mind of Christ.
These distinctions are not given to condemn anyone. They reveal God’s progressive work of maturing His people.
THE NATURAL MAN
“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God…”
— 1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural man lives entirely within the realm of natural understanding.
The things of God remain hidden because spiritual realities cannot be discovered by human wisdom alone.
Paul does not say the natural man lacks intelligence.
He says spiritual truth must be revealed by the Holy Spirit.
The Kingdom of God is not entered by natural reasoning.
It is revealed by God Himself.
THE BABE IN CHRIST
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:1
The babe in Christ has received Christ but has not yet grown into spiritual maturity.
He is no longer the natural man.
Yet he is not walking in the fullness of spiritual discernment.
God patiently feeds him with milk.
Every believer begins here.
The Father never despises spiritual infancy.
He lovingly nurtures His children until they are able to receive stronger food.
THE SPIRITUAL MAN
“But he that is spiritual judgeth all things…”
— 1 Corinthians 2:15
The spiritual believer has begun to discern through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
His understanding is no longer limited to outward appearances.
He learns to recognize the eternal purpose of God revealed through Jesus Christ.
This discernment is not produced by human effort.
It is the fruit of God’s transforming work within the believer.
THE MIND OF CHRIST
“But we have the mind of Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:16
The destination of spiritual growth is not merely greater knowledge.
It is participation in the mind of Christ.
As the Holy Spirit renews the believer, the way he perceives Scripture begins to change.
He no longer depends solely upon what is outwardly visible.
He begins to discern what God is revealing by the Spirit.
Paul will later write:
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:18
Spiritual maturity teaches the believer to value the eternal realities of God’s kingdom.
GOD CHANGES THE BELIEVER BEFORE HE CHANGES HIS PERCEPTION
“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
— Romans 12:2
God’s purpose is not merely to give His people more information.
He transforms the believer from within.
As the mind is renewed, discernment grows.
As discernment grows, spiritual perception deepens.
As perception deepens, the believer begins to see the Kingdom of God through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The transformation always begins within before it is manifested outwardly.
FROM INFANCY TO MATURITY
The Scriptures present spiritual growth as a journey.
The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit.
The babe in Christ begins to receive them through milk.
The spiritual believer grows into discernment through the working of the Holy Spirit.
The mature believer increasingly walks in the mind of Christ.
This is not simply a change in knowledge.
It is a change in state of being.
As Christ matures His people, He changes the way they think.
As He changes the way they think, He changes the way they see.
The chapters that follow will continue tracing this beautiful progression as God leads His children from spiritual infancy into the fullness of Jesus Christ.
CHAPTER THREE
MILK, STRONG MEAT, AND GOING ON UNTO MATURITY
**”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.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
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.”**
— Hebrews 5:12–14
God Begins Where We Are
The writer of Hebrews continues the same revelation Paul introduced concerning babes in Christ. God never expects a newborn believer to possess the understanding of a mature son. Every child begins with milk.
Milk is God’s provision for spiritual infancy.
Strong meat is God’s provision for spiritual maturity.
Neither is wrong.
Both are necessary.
The question is not whether we begin with milk.
The question is whether we continue growing.
God never intended His children to remain spiritual infants throughout their lives. His purpose has always been to bring His people into maturity.
BABES REQUIRE MILK
“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.”
— Hebrews 5:13
The babe is learning the foundations of the faith.
God patiently teaches His children according to their present capacity.
Just as a loving father feeds milk to a newborn child, our heavenly Father nourishes young believers with foundational truths.
There is no condemnation in this.
Every mature believer was once a babe.
Every teacher was once a student.
Every son began as a child.
The Father rejoices in every stage of healthy growth.
STRONG MEAT BELONGS TO THE MATURE
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age…”
— Hebrews 5:14
The writer now introduces a wonderful transition.
Strong meat belongs to those who have grown.
Spiritual maturity is not measured merely by the passing of time.
It is measured by spiritual discernment.
The mature believer has learned to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit.
He has learned to distinguish between what is temporary and what is eternal.
He has learned to value the substance rather than merely the shadow.
This discernment is the fruit of continual growth in Jesus Christ.
SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT
“…who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
— Hebrews 5:14
One of the great characteristics of maturity is discernment.
The mature believer does not merely accumulate biblical information.
His spiritual understanding has been exercised through continual fellowship with Christ.
As he grows, his perception begins to change.
He increasingly learns to discern spiritual realities that were previously hidden from his understanding.
The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of his heart.
The Word of God becomes richer.
Jesus Christ becomes clearer.
The eternal purpose of God becomes more evident.
This is the beautiful work of spiritual maturity.
LET US GO ON UNTO MATURITY
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection…”
— Hebrews 6:1
The writer does not tell believers to abandon the foundation.
He tells them to build upon it.
A foundation is never the finished house.
It is the place from which the house is built.
God’s purpose is always growth.
The elementary principles are precious because they introduce us to Christ.
Yet Christ continually calls His people forward into greater understanding.
The invitation of Hebrews is not to leave Christ behind.
It is to grow more deeply into Him.
FROM FOUNDATION TO FULLNESS
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:11
Jesus Christ is both the foundation and the fullness.
Everything begins with Him.
Everything grows in Him.
Everything reaches its completion in Him.
The believer never outgrows Christ.
He simply grows deeper into the revelation of Christ.
That is why Paul desired that believers would come:
“…unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”
— Ephesians 4:13
God’s purpose has always been maturity.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
The Father is patient with every believer.
He gives milk to the babe.
He provides strong meat for the mature.
He teaches line upon line and precept upon precept.
As Christ is formed within His people, they continue growing from spiritual infancy into maturity.
Their understanding deepens.
Their discernment increases.
Their love grows.
Their faith becomes steadfast.
Most importantly, they begin to see Jesus Christ with increasing clarity through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
This is the Father’s purpose for every believer.
He does not leave His children as babes.
He faithfully brings them into the fullness of His Son.
CHAPTER FOUR
FROM THE SEEN TO THE UNSEEN: LEARNING TO WALK BY FAITH
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:18
Learning to See as the Spirit Reveals
One of the greatest transitions in the Christian life is not merely a change in behavior—it is a change in perception.
As believers mature, the Holy Spirit teaches them to look beyond what is merely visible and to discern the eternal realities of God’s Kingdom.
Paul does not tell us to deny the visible world.
He teaches us not to make it the measure of spiritual reality.
The visible is temporary.
The unseen is eternal.
This is one of the great distinctions between babes in Christ and the mature.
WALKING BY FAITH
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
— 2 Corinthians 5:7
Faith changes the way the believer lives.
The babe depends heavily upon what can be observed through the natural senses.
As Christ matures His people, they increasingly learn to trust what God has spoken, even before His work is fully manifested.
Faith does not ignore reality.
Faith recognizes that God’s eternal purpose often begins long before it becomes visible.
The promise precedes the manifestation.
The seed precedes the harvest.
The foundation precedes the completed house.
Faith enables the believer to embrace God’s work while it is still unfolding.
GOD WORKS FROM THE INVISIBLE TO THE VISIBLE
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”
— Hebrews 11:3
The Scriptures repeatedly reveal this divine pattern.
God’s greatest works begin where human eyes cannot yet see them.
Creation itself testifies to this truth.
What is visible did not originate from what was already visible.
God spoke.
God purposed.
God created.
Then what had been hidden became manifest.
Throughout Scripture, God’s work moves from promise to fulfillment, from purpose to manifestation, from the unseen to the seen.
ABRAHAM LOOKED FOR A CITY
“For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
— Hebrews 11:10
Abraham did not build the city.
He looked for it.
Its builder and maker was God.
The promise existed long before its complete manifestation.
Faith enabled Abraham to live in expectation of what God Himself was preparing.
The believer walks in the same faith today.
God’s eternal purpose is not created by man.
It is revealed by God according to His appointed times.
COMING DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
— Revelation 21:2
John does not describe the city as originating upon the earth.
He sees it coming down from God out of heaven.
Within the progression of Scripture, this reveals that God’s work has its source in Him before it is manifested among men.
What John sees is not the beginning of God’s purpose.
He sees its unveiling.
The city has been prepared by God.
Now it is revealed.
This is consistent with the pattern found throughout the Scriptures.
God prepares.
God forms.
God matures.
Then God manifests.
FROM GLORY TO GLORY
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
— 2 Corinthians 3:18
The greatest work of God is the transformation of His people.
Before His work is fully manifested outwardly, it is accomplished inwardly by the Holy Spirit.
The believer is changed from glory to glory.
The mind is renewed.
The heart is transformed.
Christ is formed within.
As this work continues, spiritual perception also changes.
The believer increasingly learns to value the eternal above the temporal, the unseen above the merely visible, and the purposes of God above outward appearances.
THE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
The Christian life is a continual journey from sight to faith.
Not because the visible has no value, but because the visible points beyond itself to the eternal realities of God.
The mature believer increasingly recognizes that God’s greatest works begin in His eternal purpose before they are openly manifested.
He learns to trust the promises of God while they are still unfolding.
He learns to discern the work of the Holy Spirit before it reaches its complete manifestation.
This is the life of faith.
This is the pathway from spiritual infancy to maturity.
This is the journey upon which Jesus Christ faithfully leads every one of His people.
CHAPTER FIVE
KNOWING CHRIST AFTER THE FLESH AND KNOWING HIM BY THE SPIRIT
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:16
From Knowing About Christ to Knowing Christ
One of the greatest transitions in the Christian life is the transition from merely knowing about Jesus Christ to knowing Him through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
Paul is not diminishing the historical life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those glorious truths remain the foundation of the Gospel. Rather, Paul is revealing that believers are called into a continually deepening knowledge of the risen Lord.
This is part of the journey from Babes in Christ to spiritual maturity.
As believers grow, Christ becomes more than the subject of study. He becomes the living Lord who is revealed by the Spirit and formed within His people.
BABES IN CHRIST BEGIN WITH MILK
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:1
Paul never despised Babes in Christ.
He loved them.
He fed them.
He patiently instructed them.
Every believer begins as a spiritual infant, learning the first principles of the faith. The Father meets His children where they are and faithfully nourishes them.
Yet the purpose of God is not that His people remain spiritual infants.
His purpose is continual growth.
As Babes in Christ mature, they begin to see the Scriptures with increasing clarity because the Holy Spirit is renewing their minds and deepening their understanding of Jesus Christ.
THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS CHRIST
“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:10
Spiritual maturity is not produced merely by human study.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit.
The same Spirit who inspired the Scriptures also opens the hearts of believers to understand them.
This is why Paul says that spiritual things are spiritually discerned.
As Babes in Christ continue walking with the Lord, the Holy Spirit faithfully leads them into greater understanding of the person and work of Jesus Christ.
CHRIST FORMED IN YOU
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”
— Galatians 4:19
Paul’s burden was not simply that believers would possess correct information.
His desire was that Christ Himself would be formed within them.
This is the miracle of spiritual growth.
The life of Jesus Christ is increasingly expressed in the believer.
His love.
His humility.
His wisdom.
His character.
As Christ is formed within, Babes in Christ grow into spiritual maturity, reflecting more and more of His life.
THE MIND OF CHRIST
“But we have the mind of Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:16
The mature believer increasingly learns to think in harmony with the mind of Christ.
This transformation is not instantaneous.
It is progressive.
The Holy Spirit renews the mind through the Word of God, teaching believers to value what God values and to pursue His eternal purpose.
The journey of Babes in Christ is therefore a journey of renewal, where the old patterns of thinking gradually give way to the wisdom that comes from above.
WALKING IN THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”
— Philippians 3:10
Paul had already met the risen Christ.
Yet he continued longing to know Him more deeply.
This is the heartbeat of spiritual maturity.
The Christian life is not content with yesterday’s experience.
It continually presses forward into a richer knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The Father’s desire is that Babes in Christ grow into mature sons and daughters who know Christ not only as Savior, but who increasingly walk in the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His life, and the wisdom of His Spirit.
GROWING INTO THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST
The journey from Babes in Christ to maturity is the work of God’s grace from beginning to end.
The Father patiently teaches.
The Son faithfully shepherds.
The Holy Spirit continually reveals the things of Christ.
As believers remain in His Word and yield to His Spirit, their understanding deepens, their faith grows, and their lives are increasingly conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
This is the Father’s purpose.
Not that His children remain spiritual infants, but that they grow into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, revealing His life to the glory of God.
CHAPTER SIX
THE MIND OF CHRIST: A NEW WAY OF SEEING
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
**— 1 Corinthians 2:16
The Great Transition
The greatest change that takes place in the life of a believer is not merely a change in conduct—it is a change in the mind.
God does not simply improve the old way of thinking.
He renews it.
This is the transition from Babes in Christ to spiritual maturity.
Babes in Christ begin their journey with a genuine love for the Lord, yet they often understand spiritual realities primarily through earthly patterns of thought. As Christ matures His people, He teaches them to discern His Kingdom through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
The destination of that journey is the mind of Christ.
THE RENEWING OF THE MIND
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
— Romans 12:2
Transformation begins within.
Before the outward life changes, the inward man is renewed.
God changes the way His people think.
He teaches them to value eternal things above temporary things.
He teaches them to love what He loves.
He teaches them to discern His purpose through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
This is why the renewing of the mind is essential for Babes in Christ. Spiritual maturity is not simply learning additional information; it is allowing the Holy Spirit to reshape the entire way we perceive God, ourselves, and His Kingdom.
THE MIND OF THE FLESH AND THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
— Romans 8:5
Paul contrasts two different ways of thinking.
The flesh sets its attention upon earthly things.
The Spirit sets its attention upon the things of God.
This is more than behavior.
It is perception.
It is the direction of the heart and mind.
As Babes in Christ grow, they increasingly learn to set their affection upon the things of the Spirit rather than remaining occupied only with what is earthly and temporary.
CHRIST IS FORMED WITHIN
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”
— Galatians 4:19
Paul’s desire was not merely to teach doctrine.
He longed to see Christ formed within believers.
The Christian life is not simply the acceptance of biblical truths.
It is the life of Christ being expressed in His people.
As Christ is formed within, spiritual perception grows.
The believer begins to see through the wisdom of Christ rather than merely through natural understanding.
This is the Father’s purpose for Babes in Christ—that they continue growing until the character and mind of Christ are increasingly manifested in their lives.
WE WALK BY FAITH
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
— 2 Corinthians 5:7
Faith teaches the believer to trust God beyond what is immediately visible.
The Christian life is lived in confidence that God’s promises are true even while His work is still unfolding.
As the Holy Spirit matures His people, they learn to rest in God’s faithfulness.
The mind of Christ enables believers to recognize that God’s purposes are often developing long before they are fully manifested.
FROM THE MIND OF MAN TO THE MIND OF CHRIST
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 2:5
The mind of Christ is marked by humility, obedience, love, and complete dependence upon the Father.
This is the pattern of spiritual maturity.
The believer is continually invited to exchange self-centered thinking for Christ-centered thinking.
As Babes in Christ continue growing, the Holy Spirit conforms them more and more to the likeness of Jesus Christ.
The result is not merely greater knowledge.
It is a transformed life.
GROWING INTO MATURITY
The Father delights in seeing His children mature.
He patiently teaches.
He faithfully corrects.
He lovingly leads.
The journey of Babes in Christ is a journey of continual renewal until the believer increasingly walks in the wisdom, love, and mind of Jesus Christ.
This is the beautiful work of the Holy Spirit.
He changes the heart.
He renews the mind.
He opens spiritual understanding.
And He leads God’s people into the fullness of His Son, where they increasingly see all things through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
CHAPTER SEVEN
HOW SPIRITUAL MATURITY CHANGES THE WAY WE UNDERSTAND THE KINGDOM OF GOD
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
— John 3:3
Seeing the Kingdom
Jesus did not begin by explaining the Kingdom of God.
He began by speaking about the condition of the one who desires to see it.
The issue was not merely the Kingdom.
The issue was vision.
A man must be born again to see the Kingdom of God.
This establishes an important principle that runs throughout the Scriptures.
God changes the person before He changes the person’s perception.
As Babes in Christ grow into spiritual maturity, they begin to see the Kingdom of God with increasing clarity through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
THE KINGDOM IS REVEALED
“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
— Luke 17:21
Jesus directed the attention of His disciples beyond outward observation.
The Kingdom of God is first God’s reign.
It is His rule.
It is His life.
It is His authority working within His people.
Before the Kingdom is fully manifested, it is received.
Before it is openly displayed, it is established in the hearts of those who believe.
This is part of the spiritual growth of Babes in Christ.
As believers mature, they increasingly recognize that the Kingdom is not merely something to discuss but something to live.
SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
— Matthew 6:33
Jesus placed the Kingdom above every earthly concern.
The mature believer learns to order every priority according to the reign of God.
The Kingdom is no longer one subject among many.
It becomes the governing reality of life.
As Babes in Christ continue growing, they discover that the Kingdom is not merely future hope.
It becomes the present rule of Christ within their hearts, shaping their thoughts, words, and actions.
THE KINGDOM GROWS
**”So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.”**
— Mark 4:26–28
Jesus described the Kingdom as growing seed.
Growth is progressive.
The blade is not the full ear.
The ear is not yet the full corn.
God’s work unfolds according to His wisdom and timing.
This same pattern is seen in the spiritual life.
Babes in Christ are not expected to possess the maturity of those who have walked with Christ for many years.
The Father patiently nurtures His children until His life is increasingly manifested in them.
THE KINGDOM IS RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, AND JOY
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
— Romans 14:17
Paul reminds believers that the Kingdom of God is not defined by outward observances.
It is characterized by the life of the Holy Spirit.
Righteousness.
Peace.
Joy.
These are the fruits of God’s reign within His people.
As Babes in Christ mature, they increasingly experience these realities, not merely as doctrines to believe, but as the life of Christ expressed through them.
CHRIST REIGNS
“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father… For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:24–25
The Kingdom of God reveals the reign of Jesus Christ.
His rule is accomplishing the Father’s eternal purpose.
He is gathering.
He is transforming.
He is reconciling.
He is bringing all things into their appointed order.
The mature believer increasingly sees history through this great purpose of God.
The Kingdom is not an afterthought.
It is the unfolding administration of Jesus Christ according to the will of the Father.
GROWING IN THE KINGDOM
The Kingdom of God is the atmosphere in which spiritual maturity develops.
The Father calls His children to grow.
The Son shepherds them faithfully.
The Holy Spirit reveals the life and reign of Christ within them.
As Babes in Christ mature, they increasingly learn to seek first the Kingdom of God, to submit to His reign, and to walk in the righteousness, peace, and joy of the Holy Spirit.
This is the beautiful work of spiritual maturity.
It is Christ reigning within His people until His life is more fully revealed to the glory of God.
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHRIST FORMED IN YOU: THE INNER WORK OF TRANSFORMATION
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”
— Galatians 4:19
God’s Greatest Work Is Within
The greatest work God performs is not first outward.
It begins within.
Before God changes a believer’s walk, He changes the believer’s heart.
Before He changes what is seen, He transforms what cannot yet be seen.
This is one of the great differences between Babes in Christ and the mature believer.
Babes in Christ often look first for outward evidence, while the Holy Spirit is faithfully accomplishing His deepest work within the heart. As believers mature, they begin to recognize that God’s eternal purpose is first established inwardly before it is fully manifested outwardly.
The Christian life is not merely learning about Christ.
It is Christ being formed within His people.
CHRIST IN YOU
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
— Colossians 1:27
Paul calls this a mystery.
Not Christ merely among His people.
Not Christ merely preached to His people.
But Christ in you.
This is the hope of glory.
The Gospel is far more than the announcement of what Christ has done.
It is also the revelation of what Christ is doing.
Through the Holy Spirit, the life of Jesus Christ is being expressed within those who belong to Him.
As Babes in Christ continue growing, they increasingly discover that the Christian life is not lived by human strength but by the indwelling life of Christ.
A NEW CREATION
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
The new creation begins with an inward miracle.
God gives a new heart.
A new life.
A new nature.
This new creation continues to grow as the believer walks with Christ.
The Father is continually conforming His children to the image of His Son.
This transformation is progressive.
It is the work of grace.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit.
FROM GLORY TO GLORY
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
— 2 Corinthians 3:18
Paul describes spiritual maturity as continual transformation.
The believer is not changed in a single moment of growth.
He is changed from glory to glory.
Every step of maturity reveals more of Christ.
Every work of the Holy Spirit conforms the believer more completely to His image.
As Babes in Christ grow, they increasingly recognize that this transformation is not produced by human effort but by the Spirit of the Lord.
The Christian life is a continual work of divine grace.
THE INNER MAN IS RENEWED
“Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:16
Paul directs our attention to the inward man.
The outward life may experience weakness.
Circumstances may change.
The body grows older.
Yet God’s work continues within.
Day after day, the Holy Spirit renews the inner man.
This continual renewal strengthens faith, deepens love, enlarges hope, and increases spiritual understanding.
The mature believer learns to value this inward work because it is preparing him for the fullness of God’s purpose.
GOD BEGINS WITH THE INVISIBLE
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:18
God’s greatest works often begin where natural eyes cannot yet perceive them.
Faith embraces His promises before they are fully manifested.
Hope rests in His purpose before it is completely revealed.
Love continues because Christ is faithfully working within His people.
As Babes in Christ mature, they learn to trust the unseen work of God.
They discover that the Father is preparing His people inwardly long before the fullness of His purpose is openly manifested.
This is the pathway of spiritual maturity.
CHRIST REVEALED THROUGH HIS PEOPLE
The Father’s purpose is not simply to teach His children about Jesus Christ.
His purpose is to reveal the life of Jesus Christ through them.
This is the beautiful work of transformation.
Christ is formed within.
The mind is renewed.
The heart is changed.
Faith grows stronger.
Love becomes deeper.
The image of Christ is increasingly reflected in the believer.
This is the journey of Babes in Christ as they mature in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is the work of the Father.
It is accomplished through the Son.
It is revealed by the Holy Spirit.
And in God’s appointed time, the inward work of Christ is increasingly manifested through the lives of His people to the praise of His glorious grace.
CHAPTER NINE
FROM GLORY TO GLORY: THE PROGRESSIVE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
— 2 Corinthians 3:18
God’s Work Is Progressive
One of the greatest revelations in the New Testament is that God performs His work progressively.
The Father does not merely declare His purpose.
He unfolds it.
He reveals it.
He manifests it according to His wisdom and His appointed times.
This is the beautiful journey of Babes in Christ.
The believer does not begin in maturity.
He begins as a spiritual infant.
Yet the Holy Spirit never intends for Babes in Christ to remain where they began. Day by day, He faithfully leads God’s people into a fuller knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The Christian life is a continual journey from glory to glory.
THE HOLY SPIRIT CHANGES US
“…are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
— 2 Corinthians 3:18
Paul teaches that transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit.
God does not merely improve the old man.
He conforms the believer to the image of His Son.
This transformation is not accomplished through human effort alone.
It is the gracious work of the Spirit.
As Babes in Christ continue walking with the Lord, they discover that true spiritual growth comes through fellowship with Jesus Christ and the continual ministry of the Holy Spirit.
CHRIST IS FORMED WITHIN
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”
— Galatians 4:19
Paul’s burden was not simply that believers possess sound doctrine.
His desire was that Christ Himself would be formed within them.
This is the goal of spiritual maturity.
The Christian life is not merely learning biblical truths.
It is the life of Jesus Christ being increasingly expressed through His people.
As Babes in Christ mature, the character of Christ becomes more evident.
His humility.
His love.
His wisdom.
His compassion.
His obedience.
This is the beautiful work of transformation.
THE RENEWING OF THE INNER MAN
“Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:16
The Holy Spirit continually renews the inner man.
His work does not cease after conversion.
He continues teaching.
He continues correcting.
He continues strengthening.
Every day He draws the believer nearer to Jesus Christ.
This inward renewal prepares God’s people for greater usefulness in His Kingdom.
It also deepens their spiritual understanding.
As Babes in Christ continue growing, they increasingly recognize the faithfulness of God in every season of life.
FROM FAITH TO FAITH
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith…”
— Romans 1:17
Paul speaks not only of growth from glory to glory but also of revelation from faith to faith.
God continually enlarges the believer’s faith.
Each new step prepares him for the next.
The Christian life is not stagnant.
It is alive.
It is continually moving forward.
The Father patiently teaches His children according to their present capacity, leading them onward into greater confidence in His promises.
GROWING INTO THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST
“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.”
— Ephesians 4:13
This is God’s objective.
Not simply conversion.
Not merely spiritual infancy.
But maturity.
The Holy Spirit is preparing God’s people for the fullness of Jesus Christ.
As Babes in Christ continue growing, they become increasingly established in faith, rooted in love, and grounded in the knowledge of the Son of God.
The Father’s purpose is that His children continually grow until they reflect more fully the character and life of Christ.
THE HOLY SPIRIT FINISHES WHAT HE BEGINS
“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.”
— Philippians 1:6
The believer’s confidence rests in God’s faithfulness.
The One who began the work is the One who completes it.
The Father never abandons His children.
He faithfully continues His work through every season of growth.
Babes in Christ become mature believers because God Himself is working within them.
He teaches.
He strengthens.
He transforms.
He conforms them to the image of His Son.
This is the hope of every believer.
The journey from glory to glory is not sustained by human determination alone.
It is sustained by the unfailing grace of God working through the power of the Holy Spirit until His glorious purpose is brought to completion.
CHAPTER TEN
THE MATURE BELIEVER: SEEING THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD
“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.”
— Ephesians 4:13
God’s Purpose Is Maturity
From the opening pages of this book, one truth has remained constant.
God never intended Babes in Christ to remain spiritual infants.
Every believer begins the journey as a babe.
Every believer is nourished with milk.
Every believer learns the first principles of the faith.
Yet the Father’s purpose has always been to lead His children into maturity.
The Christian life is a continual work of growth, transformation, and revelation as Jesus Christ is formed within His people.
THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST
“Till we all come… unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”
— Ephesians 4:13
Paul lifts our eyes beyond spiritual infancy to God’s eternal objective.
His purpose is not simply that believers possess forgiveness.
Nor is it merely that they gain biblical knowledge.
His purpose is that they grow into the fullness of His Son.
As Babes in Christ mature, they increasingly reflect the character, wisdom, love, humility, and life of Jesus Christ.
This is the beautiful work of the Holy Spirit.
The Father is reproducing the life of His Son within His people.
THE MIND OF CHRIST
“But we have the mind of Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:16
Throughout this journey, the Holy Spirit renews the believer’s mind.
The mature believer increasingly learns to think according to the wisdom of Christ.
His values change.
His priorities change.
His understanding deepens.
His love increases.
His faith becomes steadfast.
The Christian life is no longer centered merely upon outward appearances.
The believer increasingly learns to value the eternal realities revealed through Jesus Christ.
This is the continuing growth of Babes in Christ into spiritual maturity.
CHRIST IS ALL
“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”
— Colossians 3:11
As believers mature, Jesus Christ increasingly becomes the center of every part of life.
The Scriptures point to Him.
The Gospel reveals Him.
The Holy Spirit glorifies Him.
The Father’s eternal purpose is fulfilled in Him.
The mature believer learns to see Jesus Christ as the center of God’s redemptive plan from Genesis to Revelation.
This vision grows clearer as Babes in Christ continue maturing through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
GROWING IN GRACE
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
— 2 Peter 3:18
Peter echoes the same invitation.
Grow.
Growth is the normal Christian life.
Growth is evidence of spiritual life.
The Father delights in seeing His children continually increasing in grace and in the knowledge of His Son.
This growth never causes the believer to become independent of Christ.
Rather, it produces deeper dependence upon Him.
The mature believer recognizes that every step forward has been accomplished by the grace of God.
MANY SONS UNTO GLORY
“For it became him… in bringing many sons unto glory…”
— Hebrews 2:10
God’s purpose reaches far beyond the beginning of the Christian life.
He is bringing His people into maturity.
He is bringing many sons unto glory.
The work that begins in Babes in Christ continues until Christ is more fully revealed in His people.
This is the Father’s eternal purpose.
This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
This is the hope of every believer.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
The Christian life is a beautiful journey.
It begins with Babes in Christ.
It continues through seasons of growth.
It advances through the renewing of the mind.
It matures through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The Father patiently teaches.
The Son faithfully shepherds.
The Holy Spirit continually transforms.
The believer grows from milk to strong meat.
From spiritual infancy to maturity.
From glory to glory.
From faith to faith.
The goal has never been merely to know more about Jesus Christ.
The goal is to know Him more deeply, to be conformed to His image, and to walk in the fullness of His eternal purpose.
May every one of us continue pressing forward in that glorious journey until we all come into the unity of the faith, the knowledge of the Son of God, and the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
CONCLUSION
FROM BABES IN CHRIST TO THE FULLNESS OF JESUS CHRIST
“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.”
— 1 Corinthians 13:11
God’s Purpose Has Always Been Maturity
From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals Himself as a loving Father who faithfully matures His children.
He does not leave them where they begin.
He nourishes them.
He teaches them.
He corrects them.
He strengthens them.
He transforms them.
Every believer begins as one of the Babes in Christ Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 3. There is no shame in the beginning of the journey. Every son was once a child. Every mature believer once needed milk before receiving strong meat.
The Father’s purpose has never been to condemn spiritual infancy.
His purpose has always been to lead His children into maturity.
CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF THE JOURNEY
“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.”
— Ephesians 4:13
The destination of the Christian life is not merely increased knowledge.
It is Jesus Christ.
He is the foundation.
He is the life.
He is the wisdom of God.
He is the image into which the Holy Spirit is transforming every believer.
As Babes in Christ grow, the life of Jesus Christ is increasingly revealed within them.
This is the glorious work of God’s grace.
THE HOLY SPIRIT OPENS OUR UNDERSTANDING
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:18
As believers mature, their understanding grows.
Their faith deepens.
Their discernment increases.
The Holy Spirit teaches them to value the eternal above the temporary and to trust God’s promises even while His work is still unfolding.
The Christian life becomes more than outward religion.
It becomes fellowship with the living Christ.
The believer increasingly learns to walk by faith, to live by the Spirit, and to rest in the Father’s eternal purpose.
GROWING IN THE GRACE OF GOD
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
— 2 Peter 3:18
Growth is the normal Christian life.
The Father never intended His children to remain spiritual infants.
He continually calls His people forward.
From milk to strong meat.
From carnality to spiritual discernment.
From spiritual infancy to maturity.
From glory to glory.
This growth is not accomplished by human effort alone.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit revealing Jesus Christ more fully within His people.
PRESSING TOWARD THE MARK
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do… I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 3:13–14
Paul himself never claimed to have arrived.
He continued pressing forward.
He continued growing.
He continued pursuing the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
His example reminds every believer that spiritual maturity is not a destination reached in this present life.
It is a continual pursuit of Christ.
The more we know Him, the more we desire to know Him.
The more He reveals Himself, the more we are transformed into His likeness.
THE FATHER’S ETERNAL PURPOSE
This book has not been written to criticize Babes in Christ.
It has been written to celebrate the grace of God that faithfully matures His people.
The Father loves every newborn believer.
He patiently feeds them.
He gently teaches them.
He faithfully leads them.
His purpose is that every believer continue growing until Jesus Christ is increasingly revealed in and through their lives.
May each of us continue walking in humility, depending upon the Holy Spirit, searching the Scriptures, loving one another, and pressing forward into the fullness of Jesus Christ.
To Him who began this good work be all glory, honor, dominion, and praise forever and ever.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES BY CHAPTER
Introduction
- 1 Corinthians 3:1–3
- Hebrews 5:12–14
- Hebrews 6:1–3
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
- 2 Corinthians 4:18
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
- 2 Corinthians 5:16
Chapter 1 — Babes in Christ: The Beginning of Spiritual Growth
- 1 Corinthians 3:1–3
- Hebrews 6:1–3
- 1 Corinthians 2:16
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
Chapter 2 — The Natural Man, the Carnal Believer, and the Spiritual Man
- 1 Corinthians 2:14–16
- 1 Corinthians 3:1–3
- Romans 12:2
- 2 Corinthians 4:18
Chapter 3 — Milk, Strong Meat, and Going On unto Maturity
- Hebrews 5:12–14
- Hebrews 6:1–3
- 1 Corinthians 3:11
- Ephesians 4:13
Chapter 4 — From the Seen to the Unseen: Learning to Walk by Faith
- 2 Corinthians 4:18
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
- Hebrews 11:3
- Hebrews 11:10
- Revelation 21:2
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
Chapter 5 — Knowing Christ After the Flesh and Knowing Him by the Spirit
- 2 Corinthians 5:16
- 1 Corinthians 3:1–3
- 1 Corinthians 2:10
- Galatians 4:19
- 1 Corinthians 2:16
- Philippians 3:10
Chapter 6 — The Mind of Christ: A New Way of Seeing
- 1 Corinthians 2:16
- Romans 12:2
- Romans 8:5
- Galatians 4:19
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
- Philippians 2:5
Chapter 7 — How Spiritual Maturity Changes the Way We Understand the Kingdom of God
- John 3:3
- Luke 17:21
- Matthew 6:33
- Mark 4:26–29
- Romans 14:17
- 1 Corinthians 15:24–28
Chapter 8 — Christ Formed in You: The Inner Work of Transformation
- Galatians 4:19
- Colossians 1:27
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
- 2 Corinthians 4:16
- 2 Corinthians 4:18
Chapter 9 — From Glory to Glory: The Progressive Work of the Holy Spirit
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
- Galatians 4:19
- 2 Corinthians 4:16
- Romans 1:17
- Ephesians 4:13
- Philippians 1:6
Chapter 10 — The Mature Believer: Seeing the Eternal Purpose of God
- Ephesians 4:13
- 1 Corinthians 2:16
- Colossians 3:11
- 2 Peter 3:18
- Hebrews 2:10
Conclusion — From Babes in Christ to the Fullness of Jesus Christ
- 1 Corinthians 13:11
- Ephesians 4:13
- 2 Corinthians 4:18
- 2 Peter 3:18
- Philippians 3:13–14
- Philippians 1:6
