Bootstraps

What does it really mean to embrace maturity? There seems to be a lot of talk about the urgency of rising into the full stature of sons in these days. The paradox may surprise you.

"until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" - Ephesians 4:13 ESV

"Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God" - John 3:3 Young's Literal Translation

"And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me" ... "For when I am weak, then I am strong" - 2 Corinthians 12:9&10 NASV

"put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man" ... "be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man" - Ephesians 4:22-24 NKJV

"He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" - Ephesians 1:4 NKJV

"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me" - Galatians 1:15&16 NKJV

"he has put eternity into man’s heart" - Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV

"so as to create in Himself one new man" - Ephesians 2:15