Title: Now as a Mature Saint
Contents
In today's text, we are talking about the 'disease of immaturity' of our soul. There are five warnings in Hebrews. The content of this warning is to beware none other than the disease of immaturity. What are the consequences of this ‘immature disease’?
First, I can't eat solid food.(:12) This is a spiritual word. It is that they do not understand the deep things of God, the deep doctrines of the Bible. These people do not know what the joy of sacrificing myself for Jesus Christ is. Also, in a relationship, I don't know what joy I give in, I don't know what I lose. It is characteristic of those who are afflicted with the disease of spiritual immaturity. As a result, more serious things happen.
Second, we do not experience the word of righteousness (:13). Here, 'experience' is important. It is a failure to experience the righteous words of God. There is a church, but there is no meeting with God. Without the experience of the word of God changing my life, only the church goes back and forth. This is the problem of the church today.
Thirdly, it insults the cross. (6:4-8) If you know the Word, the Gospel, and the hymns, but do not experience the Word, do not apply it, and do not grow in the Word, you cannot see yourself properly and ultimately shame Jesus. You can live the life you create.
So what causes this disease?
This is because hearing first is dull.(:11) The word 'dull' here means 'negligence'. Lazyness and negligence, this is referred to as 'dull hearing'. It is said that when our passion for the Word of God cools down in our hearts, our souls are afflicted with the disease of immaturity.
Second, it is because they do not respond to the word of God. When our souls become dull in hearing, when we fail to respond to God's Word, we can fall into a dreadful disease of immaturity.
Finally, here are some remedies you can use to cure this disease.
1) You must eat the right food. As you get older, you have to find and eat what you want to eat. In order to break free from spiritual immaturity, we must be able to receive the Word of God ourselves.
2) You need to practice right. We need to apply God's Word to our lives. The reason why our souls cannot escape from immaturity is that we know a lot in our head but do not practice.
3) You must have correct discernment.(:14) It is really important to distinguish between good and evil. However, he says that this distinction between good and evil does not happen automatically. At the end of verse 14, it is written, 'Receive refinement'. The Word of God is not just heard. Through the refinement of embracing the wounds in my life, I will be able to distinguish between good and evil.
I earnestly pray that all of us will open our hearts to these words, look over our souls, and become the Lord's blessed people who continue to grow before God.