Press On to Maturity

Welcome, new brother or sister in Christ. When you are “born again,”1 you become an “infant in Christ” (see 1Co 3:1–2; cf. “little ones,” Mat 10:42; 18:3–10), a new baby Christian (1Pe 2:2), if you will, and immature in the faith. You must “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” and “press on to maturity” (2Pe 3:17–18; Heb 6:1; cf. Col 1:9–12, 28; Php 3:12–14; Heb 5:11–14; 1Co 14:20; Eph 4:11–16; 1Pe 2:2) so that you may fully understand “the way of peace” (Luk 1:79; cf. Luk 20:21; Joh 14:6; 1:23; Mat 7:13–14; Act 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22; 2Pe 2:21) and continue to “walk in the truth” (see 1Jn 1:6; 2Jn 4; 3Jn 3–4). This maturation process should continue throughout your life as a Christian. You mature in faith by reading and studying the Bible each day5 combined with a solid prayer life.6

YOU ARE ONLY JUST STARTING YOUR PILGRIMAGE

You have only just started your “pilgrimage” as a Christian (see Heb 11:13–16; 1Pe 2:9–11 KJV), and you have not reached your ultimate destination which is eternal life with God and His Christ Jesus in heaven (Rev 21:1–22:5). Please understand that even after you have been “born again,” you can still:

• “Fall away” from the faith (see Mat 13:21; 24:10; 26:31, 33; Mar 4:17; 14:27, 29; Luk 8:13; 1Ti 4:1; Heb 3:12; 6:6; 2Pe 3:17),2, 3
• “Drift away from it [the faith]” (Heb 2:1),
• “Wither away” (see Mat 13:5–6; Luk 8:6),
• “Shrink back to destruction” (Heb 10:36–39; Luk 9:62; 17:32),
• Let your faith be “choked out by the worries and riches and pleasures of this life” (paraphrase; Mat 13:7, 22; Mar 4:7, 18–19; Luk 8:7, 14; Mat 6:19–24; 19:16–24; Mar 10:25; Luk 3:14; 9:25; 12:15–21, 33; 16:13; 18:18–25; 22:3–6; 18:24–30; Act 5:1–11; 16:19; 20:35; Php 4:11; Col 3:1–3; Heb 13:5; 1Ti 3:3; 6:6–10, 17; 2Ti 3:2; 4:10; Tit 1:11; Jas 1:9–11; 5:1–6; Psa 49:5–6; 52:7; 62:10; Pro 11:4, 28; 23:4; 28:6, 11; 2Ki 5:20–27) and cares “of this world” (see Joh 8:23; 12:25, 31; 13:1; 15:19; 16:11; 17:14–16; 18:36; 1Co 3:19; 5:10; 7:31; 2Co 4:4; Eph 2:2; 1Jn 2:15–17; cf. Mat 6:19–21, 24; 13:22; 16:24–26; 19:16–24; Mar 4:18–19; 8:34; Luk 8:4–8; 9:23; 14:26–27; Rom 12:2; Col 3:1–2; Php 3:19–20; 1Ti 6:9–10; 2Ti 4:10; Gen 19:26),
• Become “entangled again” in sin and the world again like “‘A dog returns to its own vomit,’ and, ‘A sow [pig], after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire [mud]’” (2Pe 2:22; cf. Pro 26:11; Heb 10:26–27; 2Ti 4:10),
• “Disqualify” yourself by continuing to partake in sinful actions and behaviors (see 1Co 9:24–27; cf. Heb 10:26–27; 2Pe 3:14; Rev 3:4; 16:15),
• Become “lukewarm” or “leave your first love” (see Rev 2:4; 3:16), which is Jesus and a desire above all else to be obedient to Him and to be with Him in heaven, and
• “Desert Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel” (see Gal 1:6–9); that is, be lured, seduced, “enticed,” “tricked,” “deceived,” “bewitched,” “led astray,” “misled,” “exploited,” “moved away from [the truth],” “taken captive,” “carried away,” “tossed here and there,” or “turned aside” (either willingly or through sheer ignorance of God’s Word) into following the false teachings and “fake gospels” (paraphrase) of men, committees, and institutions. You must “continue in” and remain true to the “faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jud 3; cf. Col 1:23) in NT Scripture. You can, in fact, have your “crown of life” “taken from you” (e., stolen by those who teach and preach wrongly; see Rev 3:11; cf. Hos 4:6; Rom 10:1–2; 2Co 2:11; Jud 3; Col 1:23) by the “ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing” (paraphrase).4

PRESENT EVERY MAN COMPLETE

Furthermore, the wise Christian will learn what all of the commandments of Christ and the instructions of His apostles are (Joh 14:15, 21, 23–24; 15:10; 1Jn 2:3–5; 5:2–3; Mat 7:21; 12:50; Mar 3:35; Rom 2:13)7 so you are not “ignorant” (2Co 2:11; cf. Act 17:30) of what God expects from those who “call on the name of the Lord” (see Act 2:21; 22:16; Rom 10:13; 1Co 1:2; cf. Gen 4:26; Isa 12:4; Psa 91:14–15; 105:1; 116:4, 13, 17). Take heed of what is written: “Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it” (i.e., eternal life with God and Jesus in heaven, Heb 4:1). We are told that ignorance will not be an excuse on Judgment Day (Luk 12:47–48; cf. Lev 5:17–18; Hos 4:6; Rom 10:2).8, 9 While the love, grace, kindness, mercy, and forgiveness of God are absolutely massive, we must still live by the instructions we have been given in Scripture so we don’t forfeit our salvation. Wayne Jackson notes the following on Leviticus 5:17:10a

Ignorance and Accountability

Does God really hold people accountable for their conduct, even when they are unaware of the fact that they are violating his law? Some allege that he does not. They contend, at least in a practical way, that ignorance is bliss. The Scriptures do not support this notion.

Leviticus 5:17 (ASV) deals with this principle. Read it carefully. “And if anyone sin, and do any of the things which Jehovah has commanded not to be done; though he knew it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.” A sacrifice had to be offered so that atonement could be made for the matter “wherein he erred unwittingly and knew it not” (v. 18). Draw a block around Leviticus 5:17-18 and in your margin write: Ignorance does not change guilt into innocence. We must study the Bible and grow in knowledge, for the Lord expects us to know and obey his sacred will.

So, we still have much to study and learn. The remaining chapters in this book are, therefore, just as important as being “born again,” for they explain the various elements of the Christian faith and life so you are not uninformed and so you can truly walk in “the Way”10 (Act 9:2; 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22; cf. Joh 14:6) of a Christian, as you:

• “Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jud 3),
• “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1Ti 6:12; 1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 4:7),
• “Press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:14), and
• “Continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast” (Col 1:23).

You don’t receive your “crown of life” (Jas 1:12; Rev 2:10; cf. 2Ti 4:8; 1Pe 5:4; 1Th 2:19; Rev 3:11) until Jesus awards it to you on “the day of judgment,”11 which is also final eternal salvation. This is covered more fully in the next chapter.