The Big Idea
An Introduction to Be Mature
by Ken Baugh
Did you know that every carpenter and construction worker has one primary tool that they use more than any other? They use it dozens of times a day and would be lost without it. This tool doesn’t require electricity or batteries for it to work, it’s not sharp like a saw, and requires very little effort to use. Have you guessed what it is yet? It’s a tape measure. I’m a carpenter myself and have experience building furniture, framing, and remodeling houses, and I have even built a photography studio, so I know firsthand the importance of a tape measure. Without this simple little tool, you wouldn’t be able to make exact cuts—people would have to estimate and make trial cuts that might be close, but never exact. To build anything with any precision requires some type of measuring device like a tape measure.
Did you know that God is a construction worker also? Right now He is building you into the person He wants you to be, using the mold of His Son, Jesus Christ. The theological word for this process is sanctification. Others might also refer to this process as “spiritual formation,” and that phrase is okay too, but it can be a bit dangerous these days when almost any belief can fall into the category of “spiritual.” Therefore, I prefer to use the phrase “Christ-formation” so there is no confusion about the goal of the process. In fact, I believe that Christ-formation is God’s primary goal for our lives as His followers, and we see this emphasized over and over again in Scripture: God wants us to be transformed into the image of His Son.
For example, Paul refers to the Christians in Galatia as, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you …” (Gal. 4:19 NIV). This verse clearly implies this expectation of Christ-formation. Then in 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV), Paul emphasizes this fact again by saying, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness.” Christ-formation is God’s ultimate goal for every follower of Christ—that slowly, over time, we will begin to think like Jesus, see things as Jesus would see them, and treat people the same as Jesus would treat them. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that any human being in this life will ever become fully transformed—that won’t happen until we get to heaven. But this transformation process is supposed to be progressive, meaning that every day we should be more like Jesus than we were yesterday. So here’s my question: If God wants us to become more and more like Jesus, which He clearly does, how does this happen? The answer is simple: Scripture. God uses Scripture as a tape measure for the Christ-formation process. The apostle Paul outhnes this for us in Romans 12:2: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Let me briefly unpack what Paul means here.
When Paul tells us not to “conform any longer to the pattern of this world,” he is assuming that we are conforming, and he is commanding us to stop. The phrase “be transformed” is an imperative in the Greek text, which means that it is a command. Now, it wouldn’t make sense for Paul to command us to do something that we couldn’t do, would it? Of course not. Therefore, there must be something that we are able do that facilitates this Christ-formation process. What is it, you ask? Simply this: to study, meditate, memorize, and apply God’s Word to our lives.
Think of it like this: Bible study is kind of like going to the gym and working out. When you study your Bible, you are exercising spiritually. We see this analogy over and over again in Scripture. Paul told Timothy: “Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit” (1 Tim. 4:7 TLB). The Greek word used here for “spiritually fit” is gymnasia, which is obviously where we get our English word gymnasium. Paul is telling Timothy to exercise himself spiritually, the implication being that spiritual exercise will help him grow strong in his faith and character. Paul goes on to say in verse 8: “Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too” (TLB). Peter says the same thing: “… grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18 TLB).
Spiritual exercises need not be limited to Bible study, as you could also include prayer, fasting, solitude, silence, and a host of others. But the primary activity for transforming the mind is time spent in God’s Word. The bottom line is this: If you want to become more and more like Jesus Christ, study, meditate, memorize, and apply the Scriptures to your life. When you begin to take the initiative for this Christ-formation process in your own life, then you will know that you are on the path to spiritual maturity.
Now you might be wondering, what does all of this have to do with the book of James? Here it is: The central theme for the book of James is maturity. God wants us to grow up in our faith, and James tells us how to do it. In fact, about half of the verses in James contain verbs in the imperative form—these are not options, suggestions, or even good ideas, but requirements for Christhke living. For example: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (1:2 NIV); “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (1:22 NIV); “… don’t show favoritism” (2:1 NIV); “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil …” (4:7 NIV); “Humble yourselves before the Lord …” (4:10 NIV); “… do not slander one another …” (4:11 NIV); “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming” (5:7 NIV). The spiritually maturing person takes responsibility to read and follow these commands themselves—they don’t need to be spoon fed what they are to do, and they don’t blame others when they falter. So, if you want to become strong in your faith and more Christhke in your behavior, you need to take responsibility for your own spiritual growth.
Someone once asked Olympic swimming champion Mark Spitz how he won seven gold medals during the 1972 Summer Olympics. He said it was simple: “I just spent eight hours in the pool a day for four solid years.” I think it’s easy to admire Olympic athletes as they are racking up their medals during the events. When they stand on the platform to receive their medals we cheer, but what we don’t see is the daily routine that each of them had to commit to in order to become a champion. They had to make sacrifices, stay on strict diets, exercise constantly, and make their training a personal mission in life. As you grow and mature in your faith by reading and applying the Word of God to your life, it will have its affect in transforming you more and more into the person of Jesus Christ. And as you read and study through the book of James, let this book be the tape measure that you use to facilitate the exact cuts and changes in your life as you work out your salvation.
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Dr. Wiersbe’s commentaries have been a source of guidance and strength to me over the many years that I have been a pastor. His unique style is not overly academic, but theologically sound. He explains the deep truths of Scripture in a way that everyone can understand and apply. Whether you’re a Bible scholar or a brand-new believer in Christ, you will benefit, as I have, from Warren’s insights. With your Bible in one hand and Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary in the other, you will be able to accurately unpack the deep truths of God’s Word and learn how to apply them to your life.
Drink deeply, my friend, of the truths of God’s Word, for in them you will find Jesus Christ, and there is freedom, peace, assurance, and joy.
—Ken Baugh
Pastor of Coast Hills Community Church
Aliso Viejo, California