The Marks of Spiritual Immaturity
Hebrews 5:11-6:3
1st. Laziness in learning spiritual truth
Hebrews 5:11 (NIV)
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.
Hebrews 5:10 (NLT)
And God designated him [Jesus] to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Romans 8:34 (NIV)
Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Hebrews 6:1-3 (NLT)
So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.
Hebrews 5:11 (NLT)
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull (lazy) and don't seem to listen.
2nd. Inability to teach or disciple others
Hebrews 5:12a (NLT)
You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others.
3rd. Spiritually regressing instead of spiritual growing
Hebrews 5:12b (NLT)
Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
You cannot stay where you are at spiritually. You are either going forward or you are going backward.
Hebrews 5:12b-13 (NLT)
Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant...
Hebrews 5:14 (NLT)
Solid food is for those who are mature...
4th. Don’t know how to use the Word of God
Hebrews 5:13 (ESV)
for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.
Psalm 119:105,
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:9-11 (NIV)
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:98, (NIV)
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:13, (NIV)
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
5th. Cannot discern good from evil
Hebrews 5:14 (NLT)
Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training [gumnazo, gumnasia] have the skill to recognize the difference between right [good] and wrong [evil].
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.
Hebrews 5:14 (NLT)
Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training [gumnazo, gumnasia] have the skill to recognize the difference between right [good] and wrong [evil].
Hebrews 5:14 (ESV)
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:14b (NKJV)
those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
