Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head-Christ. Ephesians 4:14-15 HCSB
I recently watched a video by the missionary Spencer Smith in which he explained the different levels of Christian maturity in the Bible. Our Scripture passage says we must grow in Christ so we will no longer be little children.
Spencer used 1 John 2:12-13 as an example where John explains his reasons for writing to the little children, young men and Fathers.
He described little children as those who were new Christians. A person can be 80 years old as my father was when he accepted Christ and be a little child as far as their Christian maturity is concerned.
The term young men were used to describe those who were growing strong but had not yet matured to the point of being Fathers. We grow through Bible study, prayer and good solid Bible based teaching.
The term Fathers was given to those who had come to know Christ and be in an intimate relationship with Him.
This does not have anything to do with physical age or size, these levels refer to Christian maturity. A 20 year old can be a Father while a 60 year old can be a little child as far as their maturity is concerned.
The danger in being a little child is you have not matured in Christ. We all start as little children when we accept Christ as our Savior. We must be fed God’s word through solid biblical teaching. We must ingest His holy word. We must spend time getting to know Him through prayer and Bible study.
If I had a dollar for every time I heard my parents say, “Eat this and you’ll grow big and strong,” I’d be rich. I used to watch Popeye eat his spinach and turn into someone with super human strength, so I believed them.
As Christians, the truth is we must be fed the truth in order to grow in Christ. Ephesians 4:13 says until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness, and continues in verse 14 saying then we will no longer be little children.
As little children we can be deceived. As young men, we have stood against the devil. In 1 John 2:13, he says, “I am writing to you young men, because you have had victory over the evil one.” We grow when we stand with Christ against the devil and see victory.
We grow by facing trials and tribulations and leaning on Jesus Christ. We grow by learning that these are spiritual battles and they belong to the Lord. We grow by learning to fight on our knees.
But, if we don’t grow we remain little children. We are easily deceived. We can have our growth stunted and never reach maturity in Christ. This is why we must be so careful about false doctrine and false teachers.
Be sure what they are saying lines up with God’s word. Be sure they are not adding to or deleting anything from God’s word. Are they preaching from God’s word or are they telling you all about themselves and what they feel and what they believe and what God has told them?
Revelations were made to John and were recorded in the last book of the Bible. In Revelation 22:18-19 issues a stern warning which says, “I testify to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this book.”
My friend I truly believe we are in the last days. We are told many false prophets will come to us as wolves in sheep’s clothing. Be careful, be wise and be discerning. Be constantly in prayer and Bible study. Do not be deceived.
Go where you can be fed from God’s word and sound biblical teaching and doctrine so you can grow to be a big and strong Christian.
Have a great day!