Growing to Maturity in Christ's Life vs. Presenting Everyone Mature in Christ

 

Growing to Maturity in Christ's Life vs. Presenting Everyone Mature in Christ

Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it or am already perfect, but I press on so that I may take possession of it, for which Christ Jesus took possession of me.

Phil 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize to which God has called me upward in Christ Jesus.

Col 1:28 He whom we proclaim, warning and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone full-grown in Christ.

Col 1:29 To this end I also labor, striving according to the working of His power that powerfully works in me.

 

Analysis Item	Growing to Maturity in Christ's Life	Presenting Everyone Mature in Christ
Definition & Meaning	The process of individual believers growing, being transformed, and perfected in the divine life received at regeneration; progressing from infancy to the fullness and maturity as the terminal point	The ministry goal of apostles and ministers to dispense Christ into people, bringing them to perfection and completeness to be presented to God
Greek Original Meaning	"Maturity" (teleios) - terminal point, perfect, complete; pointing to the fullness of divine life	Same Greek word, but emphasizing the ministry work of bringing people to this terminal point
Subject	Individual believers	Ministers/Apostles
Object	One's own spiritual life	Everyone (those being ministered to)
Nature	Life process and experience	Ministry goal and work
Focus	Personal spiritual life growth and transformation	Completion and effectiveness of ministry work
Process Characteristics	• Gradual process from infancy to adulthood • Metabolic inner transformation • Being filled with divine life • Renewal of natural life	• Ministry work of dispensing Christ • Teaching and warning with wisdom • Supplying the riches of Christ • Completing the word of God
Maturity Standards	• Able to take solid food, senses exercised • Having body consciousness • Caring for Christ's Body • Body-centered living • Full of Christ's stature	• Perfect in Christ • Perfect in God's will • Full of faith and able to stand • Ready to be presented to God
Specific Stages	New believers: Like babes desiring milk (1 Pet 2:2) Growing: Able to take solid food (Heb 5:14) Mature: Having body consciousness (1 Cor 12:16-21) Perfect: Full stature of Christ (Eph 4:13)	Gospel preaching:  Dispensing life to unbelievers Shepherding: Supplying Christ's riches Teaching: Completing God's word Building: For church building
Practical Ways	• Pursue life, not self-satisfied • Let divine life transform natural life • Develop body consciousness • Press forward, strain ahead • Pursue full enjoyment of Christ	• Supply Christ as the saints' portion • Supply Christ's unsearchable riches • Complete God's word with Christ and church revelation • Supply Christ as God's mystery • Supply church as Christ's mystery • Supply Christ as life
Related Scriptures	Foundation Verses: Heb 6:1 - Press on to perfection Col 4:12 - Perfect in God's will Rom 12:2 - Renewed in mind 2 Pet 1:3-4 - Partakers of divine nature Growth Verses: Eph 4:15 - Grow up in all things into Christ 1 Pet 2:2 - Desire milk and grow Heb 5:14 - Mature ones take solid food Maturity Features: 1 Cor 12:16,18-19,21,24 - Body consciousness Eph 4:13 - Full stature of Christ Phil 3:12,14 - Press on diligently	Core Verses: Col 1:28 - Present everyone mature in Christ Col 1:29 - Labor striving according to His operation Ministry Content: Col 1:12 - Saints' inheritance Eph 3:8-11 - Christ's unsearchable riches Col 1:25-27 - Complete word of God Supply Content: Col 2:2,9 - Fullness of God's nature Eph 3:4 - Mystery of Christ Eph 1:23 - Church as Christ's Body Col 3:4 - Christ as our life
Practical Examples	• From drinking milk to eating solid food • From personal pursuit to caring for Body • From fleshly to spiritual • From childish to mature and stable • From self-centered to Christ-centered	• Paul warning and teaching everyone with wisdom • Epaphras striving in prayer for saints • Apostles feeding the Lord's flock • Perfecting saints for Body building • Dispensing Christ's riches to people
Challenges Faced	• Self-satisfaction without pursuit • Remaining in infant stage • Lacking body consciousness • Natural life not renewed • Tendency to retreat and weaken	• Unclear goals, only seeking salvation • Lacking rich experience of Christ • Avoiding church truth • Unwilling to supply church matters • Work without life dispensing
Ultimate Goal	Individual reaching Christ's full stature, becoming mature Christian	Bringing everyone to perfection in Christ for church building
Mutual Relationship	Receiver: Needs ministry's dispensing and supply to mature	Supplier: Must first be mature to supply others
Position in God's Economy	Personal realization of God's eternal purpose	Corporate completion of  God's eternal purpose
Relationship with Church	Mature individuals become material for church building	Ministry work directly for church building
Time Aspect	Lifelong continuous process until seeing the Lord	Specific ministry period but with lasting impact
Testing Standards	• Whether having Christ's stature • Whether having body consciousness • Whether able to discern spiritual things • Whether stable and mature	• Whether those ministered to are mature • Whether Christ is dispensed to people • Whether church is built up • Whether God's commission is fulfilled

 

Key Insights:

• Both concepts point to the same Greek word "teleios" (maturity/perfection) but with different focuses
• Personal maturity and ministry supply are complementary and indispensable
• The ultimate goal is for the building of the church as Christ's Body and the completion of God's eternal purpose
• The emphasis is on ministry work that goes beyond salvation to bring people to full maturity in Christ

 

*Please refer to the 2025 Memorial Day Blending Conference. General Topic: Preparation of the Bride. Chapter 3: Maturity of the Bride.