Christian Maturity: Conformity to Christ

In Colossians 1, the apostle Paul identifies one of the defining aims of Christian ministry: “to present everyone mature in Christ” (v. 28). This goal, Paul says, is worth toiling and struggling with all God’s energy that powerfully works within him. A similar emphasis appears in Ephesians 4, where Paul teaches that gospel ministry exists to build up the church until the saints attain “mature manhood” (v. 13).

These passages raise an essential question: what is Christian maturity?

What Is Christian Maturity?

In the simplest terms, Christian maturity is conformity to Christ. When a sinner receives Christ by faith and rests in Him alone for salvation, that believer is immediately and permanently declared righteous before God. Scripture calls this act justification. At that moment, the believer’s legal standing before God is complete and perfect. There is no higher degree of righteousness to be attained in terms of acceptance before God.

At the same time, salvation does not end with justification. The image of God, which was marred by the fall, is renewed in the believer, and God begins a lifelong work of transformation. This ongoing work is called sanctification. In sanctification, God progressively conforms His people to the image of His Son by the power of the Holy Spirit.

While believers do not grow in justification, they do grow in holiness. There are real and observable degrees of spiritual growth among Christians. Christian maturity refers to this Spirit-wrought process by which a believer is increasingly conformed in heart, mind, and conduct to the likeness of Christ.

But what does Christ-likeness actually look like?

1. A Life Ordered Toward God

Christ-likeness begins with a life fundamentally oriented toward God. In the earthly life of Jesus, this Godward orientation is especially clear in three areas.

First, Christ trusted the Father completely. Jesus lived in constant dependence upon the Father. He regularly withdrew to pray, sought the Father’s will, and entrusted outcomes to Him. His life was marked by confidence in the Father’s wisdom and goodness, even in suffering.

Second, Christ delighted in obedience. For Jesus, obedience was not merely duty but joy. He declared, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34). His life was ordered by the Father’s will even above immediate physical needs. Obedience was sustaining to Him.

Third, Christ was zealous for the Father’s glory. This zeal is vividly displayed when Jesus cleansed the temple (John 2:13–17). Acting publicly and decisively, He defended the holiness of God’s worship. John interprets this event through Psalm 69:9: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The honor of God outweighed any concern for His own reputation.

A Christlike person, therefore, is one whose life is shaped by trust in the Father, joyful obedience to His will, and zeal for His glory.

2. A Life Marked by Love for Others

Christ-likeness is also inseparable from love for others. Love toward God necessarily expresses itself in love toward neighbor, and Jesus embodied this perfectly.

Christ’s love was self-giving and sacrificial. He defined the highest form of love in these words: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Christian love is not defined primarily by emotion, but by action. It is measured by the willingness to give oneself for the good of another. Christ freely laid down His life, absorbing the cost for the salvation of His people.

Christ also demonstrated compassion for the weak and the marginalized. He showed concern for the poor, the oppressed, the broken, and the sinner. He did not allow social stigma or reputational risk to prevent Him from extending mercy. Again and again, He moved toward those whom society dismissed.

Finally, Christ’s love is seen in His service. Scripture consistently presents love as active. In 1 Corinthians 13, love is described almost entirely with verbs. Jesus embodied this active love by taking the form of a servant. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, instructed patiently, corrected gently, and bore with His disciples’ weaknesses. He humbled Himself to the lowest role and washed His disciples’ feet. Above all, He served by giving His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Even now, He continues to serve His people by interceding for them before the Father.

Concluding Thoughts

Much more could be said about Christian maturity, but one truth stands clear: to understand maturity, we must look to Christ. In Him, we see that maturity is not mere knowledge, longevity, or outward discipline. It is a life increasingly shaped by love for God and love for others. To grow in maturity, then, is to grow in Christ-likeness, until we are presented complete in Him.