Mature

Colossians 1:28 NIV

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

What is ‘fully mature in Christ’?

Paul’s prayer before this expression of the goal might give a clue:

Colossians 1:9–10 NIV

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

knowledge

understanding of what God wants

Spiritual wisdom

pleasing the Lord

bearing fruit in every good work

What Paul discusses after gives a clue:

Colossians 2:1–7 NIV

I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Encouraged,

united in love

complete understanding, knowing the mystery of God, namely Christ.

Living in faith in Christ, rooted and buit up in him, strengthened in faith,

overflowing with thankfulness

Later in the letter, Colossians 4:12

Colossians 4:12 NIV

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

standing firm...

Paul’s parallel letter to the Ephesians gives a clue:

Ephesians 4:11–15 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Other traits:

Romans 15:1 NIV

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Mindset of the mature:

Philippians 3:13–15 NIV

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

How does one mature?

We see teaching and admonishing in Colossians 1:28.

Word of God

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NIV

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Persevering through trials

James 1:4 NIV

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Context, facing trials which test faith and produce perseverance… So, persevering through trials in Faith, remaining strong in faith is maturity.

God does the work:

Philippians 1:6 NIV

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:3 NIV

Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?