We are called to stand firm in our salvation being by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and the freedom that it brings. Far too many Christians are too scared to live fully in the freedom that Jesus died for them to enjoy. Too easily convinced to go back into the slavery of sin or a system of human effort.

It's at the end of experiences that God reveals the benefits. And we know that it is through Christ's difficult experience that we receive all of His benefits. So, we strengthen one another, encourage one another, and commit one another to the grace of God as we journey home.

Failure and discouragement call for perspective. Success and elation must be tempered by reality. Jesus is with us and making us like Him in all of the ups and downs of life. Balance and stability is the result of learning to trust Jesus.

God’s plan is still people. We still have the message of salvation. We still have the good news that Jesus saves. God is still setting people free in everything. He has appointed to eternal life those who will believe, rejoice, and glorify God.

A fulfilled person knows who they are, what they're called to, and why it matters. When we have a deep sense of identity, calling, and purpose we are able to persevere through adversity and disappoint me no matter what.

God is the great change agent of our lives. He is always making us different in some particular. Transforming. Modifying. So that we become different. Namely, like Christ. So...we remain open, stay sensitive, let God do the calling, and obey when He calls.

Spiritual maturity is taking God seriously and knowing God intimately. That doesn't just happen. Hidden in the very mind and heart of God are the characteristics of godliness and it takes time in His presence to learn them.

The key evidence that you want spiritual maturity will be an internal drive to diligently stay at it and an invisible determination to persevere in pursuit of Jesus Christ and his life in you.

In Psalm 26 we learn that the spiritually mature are open to the Lord, obey out of God’s acceptance rather than for his acceptance, reject godless community, are marked by gratitude, are faithful in public worship, and view life theologically. It's a life that wants to please God regardless and model's Christ's life regardless.

God requires us to mature in Christ. This is why Christ came, lived, died, and rose again. However, we can find ourselves resisting that. Why? In Hebrews, we find 3 reasons we stall out in our spiritual growth.