Maturing in Christ

Its Necessity

Perpetual Motion

• We are perpetually in motion• What if the earth stopped moving?• Motion is beneficial• We are always in spiritual motion• Bible expresses this in metaphors

Movement Metaphors

• Metaphors beneficial for understanding

• The Race (1 Cor 9:24-27, Heb 12:1-2)

• Upward Calling (Phil 3:14)• The Narrow, Difficult Path

(Matthew 7:13-14)

All Metaphors: Motivation

• Motivation required for movement• Fear• Glory and Exaltation• Self-Motivation• Motivation by Brethren• Combination of forms of motivation

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

• The Race: Need for Continual Movement

• We must always be moving!• A long pause leads to difficulty in

moving• 1 Peter 5:8: it is harder to catch

moving prey!

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

• “Run so as to obtain the prize”• Running at breakneck speed?• Need for pacing• Pace may be different for different

people• Bursts of speed, slowing down

likely– but we must keep moving!

Hebrews 12:1-2

• Fans!• We are surrounded by the great

cloud of witnesses• Derive comfort from their

testimony• While race done in oval setting,

life’s path not often easy

Stadium in Delphi, Greece

Philippians 3:14

• Movement Up and Down• Either going up or down, cannot

stay the same• Constancy of change• Beneficial adaptation to change-

growth (Eph 4:15-16, 1 Pet 3:18)• Resistance-- loss

Matthew 7:13-14

• Need to Ascertain Path• Constant Forks in the Road• In life, we use maps• What is our spiritual map?• The Scriptures can guide us on

life’s road (2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17; Hebrews 5:14)

Matthew 7:13-14

• Path Not Easy• Path to eternal life: narrow, difficult• Path of death: wide, easily found• The many on the latter, the few on

the former• It may be hard, but we must keep

going on it!

Change is constant.

Continue on the path of the upward calling in Christ Jesus!