The prize pursued (3) The measure of maturity

To live is Christ: he is the fountain, centre, and object of life. Paul's goals were Christ-centred: complete conformity to and fellowship with the Lord Jesus were the touchstone of his existence. The apostle's appetite for the Lord corrects, rebukes and instructs us as he pursues the prize of the upward call in Christ - the blessings of everlasting life consummated in glory.

In the third and final sermon in this brief series, we turn to the 'gold standard' of apostolic Christianity, against which we must assess our Christian maturity. To what extent to we possess and manifest the apostolic mind?

To enable us to answer this question, we consider, firstly, the mark of the mature Christian (an increasingly apostolic appreciation of truth, an increasingly apostolic appetite for Christ, and an increasingly apostolic attitude to life). Secondly, we observe the moulding of the mature Christian (the supernatural operations of the Spirit of God through the Word of God, bringing a man into increasing conformity to Christ of mind, heart, will and action). Thirdly, we behold the march of the mature Christian (pressing on in accordance with truth known and felt to lay hold of the prize).

In the light of all this, we note: the vital need for an accurate representation of the apostolic mind (as derived from the Scriptures); the vigorous challenge to every negligent response to the apostolic mind; and, the vibrant encouragement wholeheartedly to embrace the apostolic mind.