Recently, a sister in our singles platform asked for clarity on spiritual growth and maturity after I used those the two terms while answering her questions.

Though the terms are similar in some instances yet they are not exactly the same. What is spiritual maturity and growth?

THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH AS A CASE STUDY

1 Corinthians 1:4-7 NLT

[4] I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.

[5] Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge.

[6] This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true.

[7] Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What did you observe about these verses?  Apostle Paul, the one whom God used to bring many Corinthian believers to Christ was thanking God for their Spiritual growth.

They grew even to the point where they had all the gifts of the Spirit working in their midst (vs 7). All the 9 gifts of the Spirit was present. Obviously, these believers were "hot" as some of us would have said If they were in our generation.

They could pray in tongues for hours and do prayer stretch. They were studious as well, knowing scriptures( vs 5). They had knowledge yet they were not mature spiritually. How did I know?

Let's read:

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NLT

[1] Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.

[2] I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,

[3] for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

What did you observe?

The very people apostle Paul commended for their Zeal, Knowledge and Spiritual Gifts (Spiritual Growth), he is now rebuking them for being spiritual babes because of their carnality.

Obviously, they grew Spiritually but they were not matured spiritually because they were carnal. In fact, the Corinthian church had serious issues with sexual immorality yet they were speaking in tongues and flowing in the gifts of the Spirit.

The metrics for measuring spiritual growth are zeal, knowledge of scriptures, fervency, spiritual gifts, etc, but the metrics for measuring Spiritual Maturity is Christlike living or godly character.

Talking about spiritual maturity, Paul prayed In Galatians 4:19 saying, My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.

Godly character is the evidence of spiritual maturity not gifts.

When Christ is formed in a child of God manifesting as godly living, then we can say the person is Spiritually mature.