The Process of Becoming Like Christ (James 1:2-4)

 

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ILLUSTRATION: Pinning posters of people you admire and want to be like. Becoming like them is the goal. Ephesians 5:1 – We must imitate God and Christ.

 

The Bible likens growth in Christlikeness to growing up. When we are first saved, we are little spiritual babies who need to drink of the milk of the Word to grow and thrive. Spiritual babies have trusted in Christ, and they have had their sins forgiven. More than that, there is the beginning of a relationship there. They know the Father (1 John 2:13). They are only just at the beginning. They have a lot of growing up to do. They need to be taught and encouraged and disciplined and fed.

 

Spiritual babies grow into spiritual young men and women. In physical terms, this term ‘young man’ would stretch from the late teenage years into the early thirties. This is a time of increasing spiritual strength in the Word of God. As that Word abides more and more within them, they have the strength to more and more overcome the evil one and his temptations. Eventually, the young men and women become totally mature.

 

According to recent studies by neurologists, physical maturity doesn’t happen until the early 30’s, because the brain is still changing until that time—though that time is different for everyone.

 

Spiritual maturity is also different for everyone. But this is the goal. To be fully grown. To be wise. To have a completely mature relationship with the Lord. To be holy and righteous and compassionate like the Lord.

 

Now, there’s still more wisdom to come. There’s still more relationship with the Lord to pursue. There’s still room to cut off sin and put on righteousness. Spiritual maturity is not the end of the journey. It is the goal, but it is not the finish line.

 

In Philippians 2:15, he exhorts: Let us therefore, as many as are mature, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. In other words, there is continued refinement of doctrine and godliness among those who are spiritually mature.

 

While spiritual babies need the milk of the Word, the mature are able to eat the solid food of the Word.  Hebrews 5:14 says that solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. With spiritual maturity comes a more developed discernment that is trained by the Scriptures.

 

We can understand this from a physical standpoint. Children are subject to their parents, both legally and by nature, because their powers of discernment are undeveloped. It takes years of instruction, and experience for that judgment to develop.

 

Mature adults, on the other hand, are left to handle most things on their own, because their judgment and discernment have been matured. They still benefit from consulting those with more knowledge and experience. But even that is left up to their discerning powers to know whether or not they need to seek godly counsel.

 

Spiritual maturity is the goal of every Christian. No one truly wants to remain a physical child forever. Why are so many content with being spiritual babies? Why are so many happy to be sucking on milk when they could be eating a delicious steak? Why are so many happy to have little or no discernment when even nature teaches us that discernment is of great value in life? Spiritual adulthood is the goal that every Christian should be striving toward.

 

Now that we have the concept well established, let me introduce the word that the Bible uses for this. The Greek Word is τελειος. The word points to fulfilled purpose. It happens when something fully carries out its purpose. A flower is not τελειος until it produces buds that flower. If a flower hasn’t put on buds—but is just a stem sticking out of the ground—it hasn’t fulfilled its purpose. If it does put on buds, but those buds never open, then we think something is wrong with the plant. It’s lacking something. It doesn’t have what it needs to be complete. That is often how translators have translated τελειος. Complete.

 

Colossians 1:28, this is the purpose for ministry, We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man COMPLETE in Christ.

 

Translators also use another word to translate τελειος. Perfect. Thus, τελειος refers to perfect and complete as to purpose. The Greek philosopher, Pythagorus, divided his students into the learners and the perfect. Philo divided his students into three classes: the beginners, the progressing, and the perfect. Students were not considered perfect until they could demonstrate a mastery of the subject. A man was not considered perfect until he was fully grown. Likewise, a Christian is not considered perfect until he is fully grown in Christ and has attained a mastery over his flesh. 

 

 

Now, we are able to come to James.

 

Right out of the gate, he states that this is his purpose for his readers. GOAL: ⁴ that you may be perfect [τελειος]. He fills this out a little more: perfect and complete [a word that means whole and faultless].

 

He adds one more thing to make sure we get the picture: lacking in nothing. We’re not lacking instruction. We’re not lacking discernment. We’re not lacking godliness. We’re not lacking fruitfulness. We’re not lacking obedience. We’re not lacking love. Or joy. We live a life of constant repentance over sin. A life of faith. We are τελειος in every way. Mature believers in every part of life.

 

 

MAIN POINT – We learn from this that God desires that Christians grow to be spiritually mature. This process is often called “growing in Christ-likeness,” because we are becoming more like Him. We often refer to it as “sanctification:” a progression in our holy character.

 

SO how do we become spiritually mature, perfect and complete, lacking in nothing? We need to become steadfast.

 

I.            STEADFASTNESS RESULTS IN MATURITY (v. 4)

 

What does it mean to be steadfast? It means to have endurance or perseverance. We understand what endurance is in the physical realm. What is the use of being able to run ten miles an hour if you can only do so for thirty seconds? What does it matter if you can deadlift two-hundred pounds if you don’t have the endurance to carry a man out of a fire?

 

I looked up an article online that lists five benefits of endurance training for the body.[1]

 

1.   It strengthens the heart. “A 2020 study found that first-time marathoners experienced beneficial reductions in blood pressure and aortic stiffness equivalent to approximately a four-year reduction in vascular age.”

2.   It makes your muscles resistant to fatigue. This will reduce the risk of injury, increase efficiency, and boost muscles power.

3.   It builds healthy joints. “One study on half-marathoners suggested that running acts as a ‘therapeutic tool’ to limit chronic inflammation.”

4.   It improves memory and mood. “Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain and releases feel-good neurotransmitters…[that] lay the groundwork for immediate…enhanced memory and increased focus and mental resilience.”

5.   It accelerates metabolism. “‘Think of it as the internal fire that keeps our energy processes going,’” said one expert the article quoted.

 

The benefit of spiritual endurance (steadfastness) is maturity.

 

1.   It strengthens the spirit. Whereas physical endurance lessens cardiovascular age, spiritual endurance increases your spirit’s strength and maturity. This is what Paul prays for in Ephesians 3:16 – that we would be strengthened with power through God’s Spirit in the inner man. How do we attain this? By God’s grace through enduring prayer and persevering godliness.

2.   Spiritual endurance makes your soul resistant to fatigue. It reduces your susceptibility to temptation.

3.   Spiritual endurance makes your soul less encumbered by worldliness. It turns our eyes upon Jesus. The old hymn says, “The things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Scripture becomes more precious. God’s promises become more real.
Prayer becomes more sweet.

4.   Spiritual endurance affects our minds. It causes us to grow in understanding, wisdom, and discernment.

5.   Spiritual endurance increases our passion for the Lord.

 

In short, it moves into place everything necessary for spiritual maturity. Therefore, James says, ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Friend, I trust that you pray. Do you persevere in prayer, even when you don’t feel like it? Do you have endurance of godliness? Do you watch and wait for the Lord with all steadfastness? Do you endure in your obedience to the Word? Or are you fickle? Off-and-on? Stop and go? Immature?

 

With all your getting, get steadfastness! SO where does steadfastness come from?

II.          STEADFASTNESS RESULTS FROM TRIALS (v. 3)

 

This is always surprising to new Christians. It may be surprising to veteran Christians who have been deceived by the teaching that God only desires you to be happy, healthy, and wealthy. No, the Bible is clear. Christians will experience much testing.

Later in the epistle, James will reference Job. I really don’t know what the health and wealth preachers do with Job. Job’s endurance through the most perilous of trials is legendary. His children died. Yet he persevered in faith. His servants and livestock all died. Yet he continued to praise God. Everything was taken from him, but he said, “The LORD gives and takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

 

His endurance through all of this wasn’t robotic. He lamented before the LORD. He questioned—not doubted—the LORD. He wished he could pull God down to earth and find out why this was happening. He had to endure the accusations of his three friends. He had to endure the doubting of his wife. In the end, he was vindicated. He passed the test. But he never found out what the testing was about. We at least know why God puts trials in our life.

 

James says, ³ You know that the testing [proving] of your faith produces steadfastness. God sends trials our way so that our faith would be evident—we will be assured it is the real deal—as we persevere in faith and godliness through it.

 

Therefore, Peter also says, “Don’t be surprised at the fiery ordeal which has come upon you” (1 Pet 4:12). Whether it is persecution, oppression, slander, people making fun of you for your faith. Or whether it is sickness, unbearable pain, suffering. Or whether it is financial ruin, poverty, litigation. Or whether it is dealing with abuse in the past, wayward children, or some other trauma. We can endure, because we know God has a purpose for this in our lives.

“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28). Do you know that? Do you trust it?

 

Listen to this progression in Romans 5:3 – We know that tribulation (TRIALS) bring about perseverance; and perseverance brings about proven character, and proven character hope. Paul agrees. Perseverance brings about endurance. This brings about maturity. Completeness.

 

 

THEREFORE, James exhorts us: ² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. That’s the way that James opens up the epistle. It’s jolting. It’s surprising. I know I’ve kind of softened that jolt by working backwards through the text. But I think you can see how attention-getting this is!

 

Count it all joy? How do we consider it a joyful thing when we fall into all kinds of different trials…often at the same time??? First, that is a fruit of the Spirit. Second, that is a command of Jesus. Third, because of everything that James lays out for us in these verses.

 

Trials are like weights that build our spiritual muscles. Trials create endurance. Steadfastness. Perseverance. That’s good for our spiritual health! That causes us to mature. Even in the physical realm, we understand that, don’t we? Enduring affliction makes a young man or woman grow up. It toughens us.

 

There is a reason that the generation that grew up during World War I AND the depression AND fought in World War II is called The Greatest Generation. Hardship built character. Maybe not Christian character. But certainly hardworking character. So also, the hardships and trials that a Christian endures produces a more mature Christian. Perfect, complete, lacking in nothing. Therefore, we count it ALL joy. Exceeding joy. Complete joy.

 

It doesn’t make us robots. Like Job, we will groan and grieve and question and wonder. But in the midst of it, there will be joy, because we know the process is working. The kiln is not pleasant, but the pure gold that results is worth it all!

 

Count it all joy, brethren, when you meet trials of various kinds. Notice that he doesn’t say “if.” He says “when.” Endure to the end, persevering in hope and love and faith; and you will know reward and exaltation beyond your wildest dreams.

 

IN CONCLUSION, the goal of God for us on this earth is for our perfection. Again, that is not sinless perfection. That awaits us in heaven when we have glorified bodies. But on this earth, we hope to be mature Christians. We want to have His nature. We want to be imitators of God as beloved children.

 

There is a process, that we call sanctification, wherein we are refined by affliction, trial, adversity, suffering, tribulation, persecution. Trials of various kinds. God’s will for us is to learn endurance in faithfulness, love, and hope. It is to draw our eyes to God and bring us into complete dependence upon Christ. Therefore, my beloved, rejoice in the midst of your suffering. Don’t let your trials pull you away from Him. Let them pull you to the throne.

 

Don’t try to go through the testing without Him. Run to Him! Take refuge in Him. Cry out to Him. Let the trials shape your prayers and teach you enduring, persevering prayer. Don’t allow yourself to react in a fleshly, worldly way. Let the trials help you learn to persevere in godliness even when you don’t feel you can. Endure the temptation to sin. Call out for forgiveness when you stumble. Repent often. Plead for strength at all times. Groan. Cry. But do it before His throne. Always.

 

Have this hope within you: soon the trial will be over, and you will see the progress God has made in refining you. And wait eagerly with great perseverance for the day when we will be in heaven with Him and the trials will be over and you will get to see the final, finished product that He has wrought. We see His reflection only dimly in the mirror now.

 

In that day, we will look just like Him: perfectly pure, holy, righteous, merciful, loving, and gracious.

 

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[1] https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/nutrition-health-and-wellness/5-benefits-of-endurance-running-you-should-know.html