LET US GO ON TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Going On to Spiritual Maturity | Part 4
Scripture Focus: Hebrews 6:1–3
“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.”
Hebrews 6:1, NKJV
There comes a time in every believer's spiritual journey when we must make a decision.
Am I going to remain where I am spiritually, or am I going to continue growing into everything God has called me to become?
That is the question confronting us in Hebrews 6:1.
For the past three days, we have been examining what the writer of Hebrews teaches concerning spiritual maturity.
On Monday, we learned that spiritual growth begins with a heart willing to hear and respond to God's Word.
On Tuesday, we discovered that spiritual age is not the same as spiritual maturity.
On Wednesday, we examined how spiritual discernment develops through the continual practice of God's Word.
Now, today, the writer brings us to a powerful invitation:
“LET US GO ON TO PERFECTION.”
Those words are not merely a suggestion.
They are a call to spiritual progress.
God never intended for salvation to be the end of our spiritual development.
Salvation is the beginning of a lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus Christ.
1. THEREFORE, LET US GO ON
Notice how Hebrews 6:1 begins.
“Therefore...”
Whenever we encounter that word in Scripture, we need to examine what came before it.
In Hebrews 5:11–14, the writer has just explained that these believers had become dull of hearing.
They had remained spiritually immature when they should have been growing.
They still needed milk when they should have been ready for solid food.
Their spiritual senses had not developed through consistent practice.
Now comes the response to that condition.
“Therefore... let us go on.”
The Greek verb translated “let us go on” is pherΕ, here appearing in a form that conveys being carried or moved forward.
There is something beautiful about this expression.
Spiritual maturity is not merely something we manufacture through human determination.
We must cooperate with the work of God in our lives.
Paul explains this relationship in Philippians 2:12–13.
He instructs believers to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, then explains:
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:13, NKJV
God works within us.
We respond through faith and obedience.
Spiritual growth involves God's transforming power and our willing participation.
We cannot mature apart from His grace, but neither should we remain passive toward His Word.
2. WHAT DOES “PERFECTION” MEAN?
This is where understanding the original Greek becomes especially important.
Hebrews 6:1 uses the Greek word teleiotΔs, meaning maturity, completeness, or the state of being fully developed.
The writer is not teaching that Christians can reach a condition in this life where they never make another mistake.
He is calling believers toward spiritual completeness and maturity in Christ.
Paul expresses a similar goal in Ephesians 4:13:
“Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:13, NKJV
Notice the standard.
It is not another Christian.
It is not the pastor.
It is not the person who has attended church the longest.
The standard is Christ Himself.
God's purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son.
Romans 8:29 tells us that those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Think about that.
God's purpose for your life extends beyond forgiveness.
He wants His character developed in you.
His love demonstrated through you.
His truth established within you.
His righteousness reflected in your conduct.
Spiritual maturity is becoming increasingly Christlike in the way we think, speak, believe, and live.
3. LEAVING THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES DOES NOT MEAN ABANDONING THEM
Hebrews continues:
“Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.”
Hebrews 6:1, NKJV
This is a critical distinction.
The writer is not telling Christians to abandon the foundational truths of salvation.
He is telling them to build upon those foundations rather than continually starting over.
Think about constructing a house.
Before the walls can rise, the foundation must be established.
Without a solid foundation, the entire structure is unstable.
But imagine a builder who spends twenty years pouring the same foundation without ever building anything upon it.
The foundation is necessary.
But the foundation was never intended to be the completed house.
Jesus taught this principle in Matthew 7:24–27.
The wise man built his house upon the rock.
The foundation determined whether the house would stand when the storms came.
Likewise, spiritual maturity requires that our lives remain firmly established upon Jesus Christ and His Word.
Paul writes:
“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:11, NKJV
We do not grow beyond Christ. We grow deeper into Christ.
We do not graduate from repentance, faith, or obedience.
We grow in our understanding and application of these foundational truths.
4. SIX FOUNDATIONAL TEACHINGS
In Hebrews 6:1–2, the writer identifies six foundational subjects.
They are:
Repentance from dead works. Turning away from works that cannot produce spiritual life and turning toward God.
Faith toward God. Trusting God, His character, His promises, and His Word.
The doctrine of baptisms. Foundational instruction concerning washings and baptisms, understood within the broader biblical teaching.
Laying on of hands. A biblical practice associated with blessing, prayer, commissioning, and ministry.
Resurrection of the dead. The certainty that God will raise the dead, including the promised resurrection of those who belong to Christ.
Eternal judgment. The reality that every person is accountable before God.
These are not insignificant subjects.
They are foundational truths.
And there is something important we need to recognize.
A believer cannot build a mature spiritual life upon a foundation he has never properly understood.
This is one reason discipleship is so important.
Jesus did not simply command His followers to make converts.
He commanded them to make disciples.
Matthew 28:19–20 includes both making disciples and teaching them to observe everything He commanded.
Notice those words:
“Teaching them to observe...”
Not merely teaching them to know.
Teaching them to observe, to put into practice.
That is the difference between simply acquiring religious information and becoming a disciple who follows Jesus.
5. GOD IS LOOKING FOR GROWTH, NOT JUST ATTENDANCE
One of the great concerns facing the Church today is the possibility of confusing religious activity with spiritual maturity.
We can become very busy doing church activities while neglecting our personal development in Christ.
We can attend services regularly.
We can participate in programs.
We can know the language of Christianity.
Yet still struggle to demonstrate patience, humility, forgiveness, self-control, and genuine love.
Paul identifies these qualities as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23.
And Jesus gives us the key to producing that fruit.
“He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5, NKJV
There is our answer.
Spiritual maturity is not produced by religious activity alone. It develops through an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ, nourished by His Word and expressed through obedience.
The closer we walk with Him, the more His character should become evident in our lives.
6. MATURITY MEANS WE STOP BEING SPIRITUALLY UNSTABLE
Paul describes another important purpose of spiritual maturity in Ephesians 4:14.
He says believers should:
“No longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.”
Consider how relevant those words are today.
We live in a world filled with competing voices.
Social media.
Political opinions.
False teaching.
Cultural pressure.
Religious confusion.
People continually attempting to redefine truth.
Without spiritual maturity, believers can become vulnerable to every persuasive argument that comes along.
But a mature believer has learned to examine what he hears through the authority of Scripture.
He does not simply ask:
“Does this sound good?”
He asks:
“Does this agree with the Word of God?”
That is why our previous teaching from Hebrews 5:14 was so important.
Spiritual senses become trained through practice.
And trained senses develop discernment.
Maturity gives us stability because our faith becomes increasingly established in Christ and His truth.
7. “AND THIS WE WILL DO IF GOD PERMITS”
Hebrews 6:3 adds an important statement:
“And this we will do if God permits.”
Hebrews 6:3, NKJV
Notice the humility expressed here.
The writer is committed to moving forward.
But he recognizes that spiritual progress remains dependent upon God.
We cannot produce spiritual maturity by self-effort alone.
We need the Holy Spirit.
We need God's grace.
We need His Word.
We need His transforming power working within us.
Jesus said in John 15:5:
“Without Me you can do nothing.”
That is not a statement intended to discourage us.
It is a reminder of where our strength comes from.
The same Lord who calls us to maturity supplies the grace necessary for our growth.
And as we yield ourselves to Him, His Word continues transforming our lives.
THE QUESTION WE MUST ASK OURSELVES
As we come toward the conclusion of today's teaching, I want us to consider something personally.
How long have we been walking with the Lord?
Five years?
Ten years?
Twenty years?
Forty years?
Perhaps even longer.
Now ask yourself a more important question.
Am I spiritually stronger today than I was five years ago?
Do I understand God's Word more clearly?
Am I quicker to obey?
Am I more patient?
Am I more forgiving?
Am I better equipped to recognize deception?
Am I helping others grow in their relationship with Christ?
Am I becoming more like Jesus?
These are the questions that help us examine our spiritual progress.
And remember, this is not about condemnation.
It is about growth.
Paul said:
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”
Philippians 3:13, NKJV
Paul understood something every believer needs to understand.
Yesterday's spiritual growth does not eliminate the need for today's obedience.
There is always room to grow.
There is always more of God's Word to understand.
There is always another opportunity to demonstrate Christ's character.
And there is always a reason to keep pressing forward.
LET US GO ON TO MATURITY!
That is the invitation of Hebrews 6:1.
Do not become satisfied with spiritual infancy.
Do not become comfortable with merely hearing the Word.
Do not measure your spiritual condition by how many years you have attended church.
Instead, examine how deeply God's Word has transformed your life.
Keep growing.
Keep learning.
Keep practicing the Word.
Keep developing discernment.
Keep your eyes upon Jesus.
Because the Christian life was never intended to be a journey where we simply begin with Christ and remain unchanged.
It is a lifelong journey of becoming more like the One who saved us.
And by the grace of God, we can continue moving forward.
SCRIPTURE TRAIL FOR DEEPER STUDY
Hebrews 5:11–14 → Hebrews 6:1–3 → Matthew 7:24–27 → Matthew 28:19–20 → 1 Corinthians 3:11 → Romans 8:29 → Ephesians 4:11–16 → Philippians 2:12–13 → Philippians 3:12–14 → John 15:1–8 → 2 Peter 3:18
These passages reveal a beautiful progression:
Foundation → Instruction → Obedience → Transformation → Discernment → Stability → Christlikeness.
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for saving me and bringing me into Your family.
But Father, I understand that salvation was never intended to be the end of my spiritual growth.
You have called me to become more like Your Son.
Help me never become satisfied with simply knowing about You when You have invited me to walk in fellowship with You.
Establish me firmly in Your Word.
Renew my mind through Your truth.
Train my spiritual senses to recognize good and evil.
Give me a heart willing to receive correction and the humility to acknowledge where I still need to grow.
Holy Spirit, continue Your transforming work within me.
Let the character of Jesus become increasingly evident in my thoughts, my words, my decisions, and my relationships.
And Father, help me take what You have taught me and faithfully pass it on to others.
I do not want to remain spiritually immature.
By Your grace, I want to go on to maturity.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
GOING ON TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY | PART 4
LET US GO ON TO MATURITY!
Hebrews 6:1–3
God did not save us merely to begin a spiritual journey. He calls us to continue growing until our lives increasingly reflect the character of Jesus Christ.
TODAY'S QUESTION:
If spiritual maturity is measured by how much our lives reflect Jesus Christ, rather than how long we have been Christians, what area of your life is God calling you to grow in today?
Tomorrow, Part 5: "PRESSING ON TO MATURITY, A LIFE THAT CONTINUES TO GROW."
We will bring this week's teachings together and examine how the truths of Hebrews 5:11 through 6:3 become a lifelong commitment to spiritual growth, discipleship, and Christlikeness.
LET US GO ON TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Going On to Spiritual Maturity | Part 4
Scripture Focus: Hebrews 6:1–3
“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.”
Hebrews 6:1, NKJV
There comes a time in every believer's spiritual journey when we must make a decision.
Am I going to remain where I am spiritually, or am I going to continue growing into everything God has called me to become?
That is the question confronting us in Hebrews 6:1.
For the past three days, we have been examining what the writer of Hebrews teaches concerning spiritual maturity.
On Monday, we learned that spiritual growth begins with a heart willing to hear and respond to God's Word.
On Tuesday, we discovered that spiritual age is not the same as spiritual maturity.
On Wednesday, we examined how spiritual discernment develops through the continual practice of God's Word.
Now, today, the writer brings us to a powerful invitation:
“LET US GO ON TO PERFECTION.”
Those words are not merely a suggestion.
They are a call to spiritual progress.
God never intended for salvation to be the end of our spiritual development.
Salvation is the beginning of a lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus Christ.
1. THEREFORE, LET US GO ON
Notice how Hebrews 6:1 begins.
“Therefore...”
Whenever we encounter that word in Scripture, we need to examine what came before it.
In Hebrews 5:11–14, the writer has just explained that these believers had become dull of hearing.
They had remained spiritually immature when they should have been growing.
They still needed milk when they should have been ready for solid food.
Their spiritual senses had not developed through consistent practice.
Now comes the response to that condition.
“Therefore... let us go on.”
The Greek verb translated “let us go on” is pherΕ, here appearing in a form that conveys being carried or moved forward.
There is something beautiful about this expression.
Spiritual maturity is not merely something we manufacture through human determination.
We must cooperate with the work of God in our lives.
Paul explains this relationship in Philippians 2:12–13.
He instructs believers to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, then explains:
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:13, NKJV
God works within us.
We respond through faith and obedience.
Spiritual growth involves God's transforming power and our willing participation.
We cannot mature apart from His grace, but neither should we remain passive toward His Word.
2. WHAT DOES “PERFECTION” MEAN?
This is where understanding the original Greek becomes especially important.
Hebrews 6:1 uses the Greek word teleiotΔs, meaning maturity, completeness, or the state of being fully developed.
The writer is not teaching that Christians can reach a condition in this life where they never make another mistake.
He is calling believers toward spiritual completeness and maturity in Christ.
Paul expresses a similar goal in Ephesians 4:13:
“Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:13, NKJV
Notice the standard.
It is not another Christian.
It is not the pastor.
It is not the person who has attended church the longest.
The standard is Christ Himself.
God's purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son.
Romans 8:29 tells us that those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Think about that.
God's purpose for your life extends beyond forgiveness.
He wants His character developed in you.
His love demonstrated through you.
His truth established within you.
His righteousness reflected in your conduct.
Spiritual maturity is becoming increasingly Christlike in the way we think, speak, believe, and live.
3. LEAVING THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES DOES NOT MEAN ABANDONING THEM
Hebrews continues:
“Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.”
Hebrews 6:1, NKJV
This is a critical distinction.
The writer is not telling Christians to abandon the foundational truths of salvation.
He is telling them to build upon those foundations rather than continually starting over.
Think about constructing a house.
Before the walls can rise, the foundation must be established.
Without a solid foundation, the entire structure is unstable.
But imagine a builder who spends twenty years pouring the same foundation without ever building anything upon it.
The foundation is necessary.
But the foundation was never intended to be the completed house.
Jesus taught this principle in Matthew 7:24–27.
The wise man built his house upon the rock.
The foundation determined whether the house would stand when the storms came.
Likewise, spiritual maturity requires that our lives remain firmly established upon Jesus Christ and His Word.
Paul writes:
“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:11, NKJV
We do not grow beyond Christ. We grow deeper into Christ.
We do not graduate from repentance, faith, or obedience.
We grow in our understanding and application of these foundational truths.
4. SIX FOUNDATIONAL TEACHINGS
In Hebrews 6:1–2, the writer identifies six foundational subjects.
They are:
Repentance from dead works. Turning away from works that cannot produce spiritual life and turning toward God.
Faith toward God. Trusting God, His character, His promises, and His Word.
The doctrine of baptisms. Foundational instruction concerning washings and baptisms, understood within the broader biblical teaching.
Laying on of hands. A biblical practice associated with blessing, prayer, commissioning, and ministry.
Resurrection of the dead. The certainty that God will raise the dead, including the promised resurrection of those who belong to Christ.
Eternal judgment. The reality that every person is accountable before God.
These are not insignificant subjects.
They are foundational truths.
And there is something important we need to recognize.
A believer cannot build a mature spiritual life upon a foundation he has never properly understood.
This is one reason discipleship is so important.
Jesus did not simply command His followers to make converts.
He commanded them to make disciples.
Matthew 28:19–20 includes both making disciples and teaching them to observe everything He commanded.
Notice those words:
“Teaching them to observe...”
Not merely teaching them to know.
Teaching them to observe, to put into practice.
That is the difference between simply acquiring religious information and becoming a disciple who follows Jesus.
5. GOD IS LOOKING FOR GROWTH, NOT JUST ATTENDANCE
One of the great concerns facing the Church today is the possibility of confusing religious activity with spiritual maturity.
We can become very busy doing church activities while neglecting our personal development in Christ.
We can attend services regularly.
We can participate in programs.
We can know the language of Christianity.
Yet still struggle to demonstrate patience, humility, forgiveness, self-control, and genuine love.
Paul identifies these qualities as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23.
And Jesus gives us the key to producing that fruit.
“He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5, NKJV
There is our answer.
Spiritual maturity is not produced by religious activity alone. It develops through an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ, nourished by His Word and expressed through obedience.
The closer we walk with Him, the more His character should become evident in our lives.
6. MATURITY MEANS WE STOP BEING SPIRITUALLY UNSTABLE
Paul describes another important purpose of spiritual maturity in Ephesians 4:14.
He says believers should:
“No longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.”
Consider how relevant those words are today.
We live in a world filled with competing voices.
Social media.
Political opinions.
False teaching.
Cultural pressure.
Religious confusion.
People continually attempting to redefine truth.
Without spiritual maturity, believers can become vulnerable to every persuasive argument that comes along.
But a mature believer has learned to examine what he hears through the authority of Scripture.
He does not simply ask:
“Does this sound good?”
He asks:
“Does this agree with the Word of God?”
That is why our previous teaching from Hebrews 5:14 was so important.
Spiritual senses become trained through practice.
And trained senses develop discernment.
Maturity gives us stability because our faith becomes increasingly established in Christ and His truth.
7. “AND THIS WE WILL DO IF GOD PERMITS”
Hebrews 6:3 adds an important statement:
“And this we will do if God permits.”
Hebrews 6:3, NKJV
Notice the humility expressed here.
The writer is committed to moving forward.
But he recognizes that spiritual progress remains dependent upon God.
We cannot produce spiritual maturity by self-effort alone.
We need the Holy Spirit.
We need God's grace.
We need His Word.
We need His transforming power working within us.
Jesus said in John 15:5:
“Without Me you can do nothing.”
That is not a statement intended to discourage us.
It is a reminder of where our strength comes from.
The same Lord who calls us to maturity supplies the grace necessary for our growth.
And as we yield ourselves to Him, His Word continues transforming our lives.
THE QUESTION WE MUST ASK OURSELVES
As we come toward the conclusion of today's teaching, I want us to consider something personally.
How long have we been walking with the Lord?
Five years?
Ten years?
Twenty years?
Forty years?
Perhaps even longer.
Now ask yourself a more important question.
Am I spiritually stronger today than I was five years ago?
Do I understand God's Word more clearly?
Am I quicker to obey?
Am I more patient?
Am I more forgiving?
Am I better equipped to recognize deception?
Am I helping others grow in their relationship with Christ?
Am I becoming more like Jesus?
These are the questions that help us examine our spiritual progress.
And remember, this is not about condemnation.
It is about growth.
Paul said:
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”
Philippians 3:13, NKJV
Paul understood something every believer needs to understand.
Yesterday's spiritual growth does not eliminate the need for today's obedience.
There is always room to grow.
There is always more of God's Word to understand.
There is always another opportunity to demonstrate Christ's character.
And there is always a reason to keep pressing forward.
LET US GO ON TO MATURITY!
That is the invitation of Hebrews 6:1.
Do not become satisfied with spiritual infancy.
Do not become comfortable with merely hearing the Word.
Do not measure your spiritual condition by how many years you have attended church.
Instead, examine how deeply God's Word has transformed your life.
Keep growing.
Keep learning.
Keep practicing the Word.
Keep developing discernment.
Keep your eyes upon Jesus.
Because the Christian life was never intended to be a journey where we simply begin with Christ and remain unchanged.
It is a lifelong journey of becoming more like the One who saved us.
And by the grace of God, we can continue moving forward.
SCRIPTURE TRAIL FOR DEEPER STUDY
Hebrews 5:11–14 → Hebrews 6:1–3 → Matthew 7:24–27 → Matthew 28:19–20 → 1 Corinthians 3:11 → Romans 8:29 → Ephesians 4:11–16 → Philippians 2:12–13 → Philippians 3:12–14 → John 15:1–8 → 2 Peter 3:18
These passages reveal a beautiful progression:
Foundation → Instruction → Obedience → Transformation → Discernment → Stability → Christlikeness.
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for saving me and bringing me into Your family.
But Father, I understand that salvation was never intended to be the end of my spiritual growth.
You have called me to become more like Your Son.
Help me never become satisfied with simply knowing about You when You have invited me to walk in fellowship with You.
Establish me firmly in Your Word.
Renew my mind through Your truth.
Train my spiritual senses to recognize good and evil.
Give me a heart willing to receive correction and the humility to acknowledge where I still need to grow.
Holy Spirit, continue Your transforming work within me.
Let the character of Jesus become increasingly evident in my thoughts, my words, my decisions, and my relationships.
And Father, help me take what You have taught me and faithfully pass it on to others.
I do not want to remain spiritually immature.
By Your grace, I want to go on to maturity.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
GOING ON TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY | PART 4
LET US GO ON TO MATURITY!
Hebrews 6:1–3
God did not save us merely to begin a spiritual journey. He calls us to continue growing until our lives increasingly reflect the character of Jesus Christ.
TODAY'S QUESTION:
If spiritual maturity is measured by how much our lives reflect Jesus Christ, rather than how long we have been Christians, what area of your life is God calling you to grow in today?
Tomorrow, Part 5: "PRESSING ON TO MATURITY, A LIFE THAT CONTINUES TO GROW."
We will bring this week's teachings together and examine how the truths of Hebrews 5:11 through 6:3 become a lifelong commitment to spiritual growth, discipleship, and Christlikeness.
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