Part 4 Christian Maturity Is Not Optional
Part 4 Christian Maturity Is Not Optional
(Christian Maturity is Wisdom)
October 14, 2025
Previous Lessons
Show that the scriptures insist on the need for spiritual maturity.
Show that those who fail to mature in their Christian walk never stay stagnant, but actually retrogress.
Show that while increase in knowledge is essential to growth, it is by itself insufficient and is actually misleading.
Objective #4
Show that Christian maturity is synonymous with wisdom, and wisdom itself is inseparable from the fear of God.
Following from the last lesson, a mere knowledge of God’s word, even a great knowledge cannot be considered as maturity, if that knowledge does not produce godliness in us.
The ultimate goal of Christian Maturity is Full Christlikeness.
According to 1 Corinthians, Christ was made into four things for us, the first of which is wisdom from God.
1 Corinthians 1:30 NKJV But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-
As we grow in Christlikeness, as we mature, we will grow in wisdom.
Where the wisdom from God is present, the other three attributes will follow… those who are wise will pursue holiness (righteousness,) will set themselves apart for the Lord, (sanctification) and will live as those who have been bought at a price (redeemed.)
In other words, the wisdom from God produces godliness in those who set themselves apart for God, because they value the price paid for their redemption.
Henceforth in this lesson, we will use the terms, maturity and wisdom interchangeably.
What Is Wisdom from Christian Perspective?
Wisdom is from God.
James 1:5 NKJV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Wisdom is a constant development of the heart by God.
Psalm 90:12 NKJV So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Proverbs 10:8 ESV The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
Proverbs 16:23 NKJV The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.
Wisdom is not a product of study like knowledge; not of practice like skill; nor is it of natural abilities like intelligence. It is gained by those who are taught by the Lord.
The first benefit of the fear of the Lord: Wisdom
Proverbs 9:10 NKJV "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Psalm 25:12 NKJV
Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
How does wisdom come?
Ecclesiastes 12:12-13 NKJV And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. [13] Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.
Wisdom, or its lack, can be seen in how our knowledge impacts our relationships.
As the fear of the Lord decreases, so will foolishness increase.
James 3:17-18 NKJV But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. [18] Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
All our relationships can be brought under three categories… God, (who is above us,) other humans, (who are around us,) and things, (which are beneath us.)
The more knowledgeable we claim to be, the mature we seem to be will be evident in how we handle our interactions with God, people and things, like our bodies, our time and even our money.
Nobody can be considered wise who is always at odds with all the important relationships in his/her life.
Test of Godly Wisdom
If you want to know if you are walking in wisdom, just assess all the important relationships in your life.
How are you doing with your family, your boss, your colleagues at work,
Controlling for the occasional ruffles, what is the general state of your relationships?
Are they peaceful and harmonious?
Are they long lasting? Are they productive and enjoyable? Are you sought out or are you the one everybody avoids? Do they sigh when you come or cry when you leave? This is one test of wisdom.
Our most important relationship Is the one we have with God, above.
Everybody has a relationship with God; even atheists, who deny His existence.
Not all unbelievers are atheists, but there is supposed to be a difference between the relationship between God and unbelievers, on one hand and between God and Christians, on the other hand. But sometimes, it is really difficult to spot the difference.
Unbelief is a spectrum, with atheists at one far end and those who believe in a god, but not Yahweh and Jesus Christ as the only way to him being on the other end.
The Bible defines foolishness as living without regard for God, as though He does not exist.
Psalm 14:1 NKJV The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.
Psalm 94:7 NKJV Yet they say, "The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand."
Psalm 10:4 NKJV The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.
Psalm 10:11 NKJV He has said in his heart, "God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see."
As stated earlier, even among Christians, it is hard to see a remarkable difference between how we live in relation to God, from how unbelievers live.
Do we act with more reverence towards God or has our increased knowledge made us become less honoring?
Does our increased knowledge improve our relationship with God?
The foolish have no fear for the One most to be feared.
Such lack of fear is not courage. It is stupidity.
Matthew 10:28 NKJV And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Isaiah 8:12-13 NLT "Don't call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don't live in dread of what frightens them. [13] Make the LORD of Heaven's Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble.
If wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, how does wisdom end?
The second benefit of the fear of the Lord: Living Above Sin
Exodus 20:20 [20] And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you so that you may not sin.” [21] So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.
Everything God asks from us, is for our good. There is a benefit we gain from having a healthy fear of God. This benefit is lost whenever one loses one’s fear of God.
Psalm 119:11 NKJV Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Sin can be pleasant. Sin is fun. Sin tastes good, but it is bad for your health.
Proverbs 9:17 NKJV "Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
Hebrews 11:25 NLT He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.
The Bible says sin is deceitful.
Hebrews 3:13 NLT You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
David’s love for God did not keep him from sinning with Bathsheba, but his fear of the Lord restored him.
We need to have a mature understanding. Our love for God must be balanced with a fear of Him.
Love for God alone will not be enough to keep you from sinning against God.
The fear of the Lord keeps us from sin. But if all we have for God is fear, we will live in such a dread of Him we will soon pull away from Him.
Exodus 20:18-19 NLT When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram's horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. [19] And they said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen. But don't let God speak directly to us, or we will die!"
Conversely, if all we have is love for God, we will soon be seduced by sin, and God will pull away from us.
Isaiah 59:1-2 NLT Listen! The LORD's arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. [2] It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
Proverbs 9:10 NKJV "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
If there is no fear of God, our most important relationship will be unhealthy.
The longer we have been walking with God, the more familiar we are likely to get with Him. But we must be careful to ensure that our familiarity does not breed contempt. We must never outgrow our fear of the Lord.
Could a loss of fear for God be the reason many ministers who start well, fall in their later years?
Numbers 20:12 NKJV Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."
The third benefit of the fear of the Lord.
A healthy relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Judges 16:20 NKJV
And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.
