“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy,which so powerfully works in me.”As Stott says, the word “perfect” does not mean sinless perfection or complete maturity. We continue to grow continuously throughout our lifetime. (See Philippians 3 especially verses 12-15). Another point that Stott considers to be of major significance is that Paul is seeking to disciple “everyone” in his sphere of ministry; so that they all may become mature in Jesus Christ. No one gets a “free pass.” Everyone is called to maturity. Some have more potential than others but everyone is called to be all we can be in Jesus Christ. We should also observe that Paul as a mature saint works hard (no shortcuts for him), but he does labor in the strength of the Lord.
The marks of maturity are seen in how Paul conducted his ministry among the churches he founded and those he had contact with (e.g., the Roman and Colossian churches). A sample passage illustrating Paul’s manner of life among his church brethren is I Corinthians 4. Paul had written to this highly charismatic but woefully immature church in order to set them straight on Christian doctrine (e.g. CHS. 12-15). , church polity (CH. 11), personal piety and love for one another CH.13). They were in danger of cutting each other to pieces (even suing each other in court, see chapter 6) and boasted about their spiritual gifts while they exhibited a party spirit (see Chapters 1-3 and especially 3:1-9). There were rivalries and quarrels among those who claimed allegiance to Paul or Apollos and even Peter (see 3:22). In Chapter 4, Paul displays his maturity in that he reminds his readers that there are no celebrities in the church including himself. Everyone in the church including the leaders are servants of Jesus Christ. In verses 1-7 Paul makes it clear that the time will come when God will reveal all the secrets of men and give recognition to those who have served Him faithfully. He says that whatever we have (that is good or notable and by implication whatever we have accomplished) has been given to us by the Lord. Therefore there is no room for boasting. The mature saint boasts in the Lord (see especially II Corinth. 10:17,18) Boasting about our so called achievements causes us to have inflated egos that can easily be provoked when “our reputation” is impugned.
Paul then alludes to the sacrifices he and others have made in order to spread the gospel (verses 8-13). He reminds the Corinthians that the cause of the gospel can even demand from us “blood, sweat and tears.” But he does not remind them of this in order to shame them so much as he is warning them that it is crucial for them to follow his example of dedication to the cause of Christ. One is reminded here of Christ’s own admonition that no servant is greater than his Lord (John 13:16). Paul elsewhere says that if we suffer with Jesus we shall also reign with him (II Tim. 2:12 KJV). So the mature saint is not all about reveling in his “press clippings” but he is all about bearing the “marks” of Jesus (Gal. 6:17) in his desire to model for others what it means to follow Jesus. Paul wants the Corinthians to be followers or imitators of him even as he is a follower of Christ (see I Corinth. 4:16, as well as 11:1 and Phil. 3:12-15). In short, the mature saint inspires others to be like Christ.
Finally, in I Corinth. 4:18-21, Paul tells us that us that the “Kingdom of God is not about talk but of power.” Talk is cheap, but the mature saint is a powerful witness to the effectiveness of the gospel to change people’s lives. The challenge to us is whether we talk a good game or play a good game. See I Corinth. 9:24-27.
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Marcos Andre - Teacher
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