A Full-grown Man by Baptist Weekly

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 25, 1886

A Full-grown Man.

By Baptist Weekly

It may seem to be very commonplace to speak of a full-grown man. There is not the slightest suggestion of originality in the expression as applied to people in general. But when referred to Christian people, one is strikingly impressed with the suggestiveness of the term. Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, speaks of several gifts which are imparted to Christian men as the result of Christ's ascension. According to the Revised Version, Paul is made to say that the object of creating the several offices of apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, and pastors, is "for the perfecting of the saints unto the work of ministry, unto the building up of the body of Christ, till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a full-grown man." Further on the apostle urges that we should "be no longer children." Now it is a blessed thing to be the "children" of God, and Paul would not be disposed to dispute this assertion; but by both precept and example he vigorously protests against the Christian remaining in spiritual childhood all the days of his life. The idea of being a Christian baby continually was repulsive to the aggressive and ever-growing apostle. Spiritual inertness was what he could not tolerate. And next to seeking the conversion of sinners, Paul sought with great diligence to have men and women "grow up" in the health and strength of men and women in Christ.

This is one of the greatest needs of our time. All through our churches are to be found a large number of little children in Christ, who are spiritually feeble. They have been long enough in the church to be full-grown; but, alas, they are still babes! They cling to the diet of milk, and prefer even to have that reduced. And we have reason to fear that their preference is too often gratified through the kind of milk-and-water preaching they get. If Christians would get out of their spiritual babyhood, they must be nourished on the "strong meat" of Bible doctrine. They must partake of the evangelical truths of inspired writ. For these they need an appetite which has been sharpened by much prayer and the Holy Spirit's presence. The true Christian does have an appetite for the bread of God and the meat of the gospel, and it is because of his abuse of it that his appetite ceases to act normally and progressively. If we would grow in grace, we must neither misuse nor neglect those spiritual cravings of our new natures which by divine impulsiveness call for supply and satisfaction. Let us so exercise ourselves as to become full-grown men.—Baptist Weekly.