A mature christian

But Paul has said how much he comes short of what he should be or will be. After salvation, every Christian begins the process of spiritual growth, with the intent to become spiritually mature. You can never keep doing that and also be moving forward. Work hard for the Lord, but take time also to rest. Of the newest believer taking his toddler steps in the Christian race they are true. You are one if you are constantly looking to the past. Yes, you will make mistakes and stumble, but God is not looking for perfection, He is looking for a willingness to love and serve Him.

Paul knew all those things were true of himself because they are true of every single Christian. Do not trade on your maturity, your position, your years of experience, your office as a Christian, a minister, an elder, a deacon, whatever. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Faith, goodness, knowledge of God from His Word, self-control, perseverance through hardships, godliness imitating Christ , mutual affection for other believers and for the Church, doing our best to love other people both Christians and non-Christians well according to 1 Corinthians In short these are basic doctrines. The apostle has a great series of exhortations to the church in Rome in the twelfth chapter of his letter to the Romans.

As I have loved you, so you must love one another. It means you refuse to accept the joyless, bored life that often associates adulthood. It is not a linear path, where we are continually helpless and have no part to play. I hope Jonathan Aitken can do the same. There can be a despair over our past falls, and in their severest form they can make us doubt if we have ever been forgiven.