Maturity Archives - Word of Grace Studies

The Place of Maturity for all Who are in the Christ

υἱοθεσία (placement of a son) is a word that expresses the cultural concept of when a child has matured enough to no longer be required to be under guardians and stewards, he is placed as a son. While the child is an inarticulate babbler, he is under guardians and stewards until the appointed time of the father. During this time the child does not differ from a slave of the household (Galatians 4:1-2). Although typically used of a mature male child, a mature female child could also hold the position in homes that lacked a son.

This aspect is brought over into the Church because all those who are immersed into the Christ (the new creation God made when He raised Christ), are placed as sons.

… while having marked off our bounds to the placement of sons through Jesus Christ unto Himself, according to the good pleasure of His desirous will, Ephesians 1:5.

The significance of this, is that all who are placed as sons are not under law. Those under law, before faith in Christ came, were kept under guardians and tutors (Galatians 3:23-24). When the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those who were under law that they should be placed as sons (Galatians 4:4-5). As members of the Church, we did not receive a spirit of bondage, but one of son placement (Romans 8:15). Therefore, we live out from faith (Romans 1:17), not by law for the law does not require faith (Galatians 3:12). The placement of sons actually belongs to Israel but when they rejected righteousness through Christ God opened it up to the Gentiles who accepted the truth (Romans 9:4).

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Taking Each Step By the Spirit

Since we are living by the Spirit, we should also step by the Spirit, Galatians 5:25

Stepping by the Spirit is when we are carefully paying attention to how we are governing our lives. As we learn new truth from the Scripture, applying them to our lives correctly takes practice. We need to pay closer attention to what we are doing and constantly remind ourselves of the truth and allow our actions to align to it. Those who are more mature in their spiritual lives have the experiential knowledge of how important it is to follow Scripture accurately, especially when under an attack from one of our spiritual enemies. You do not get sloppy when putting up a defense against Satan, the sin nature, or the world system. If you do, you will lose.

In Galatians 5:16 we are instructed that when we walk¹ by the Spirit we will in no way fulfill the desires of the flesh, after dealing with the works of the flesh and the fruit belonging to the Spirit, Paul comes back to governing our lives by the Spirit, but points out that there are time when we need to not only look at the big picture (walking), but also smaller details (each step).

As we press on toward the mark, let us who are mature minded step according to the high calling of God. We are now part of the new creation (the Christ). We have been crucified with Christ and raised to walk in newness of life before God. Therefore we are no longer slaves to the sin nature to obey its passions and desires. As we step according to this truth peace – an unruffled mind – and mercy – […]