--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I say theologically mature, I mean…" description: "\"“When I say theologically mature, I mean just this: formed by the Bible, proudly Trinitarian, grounded in justification by grace through faith, dedicat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/fleming-rutledge-28419_bible_when-i-say-theologically-mature-i-mean-j_1471917.jpg" --- # When I say theologically mature, I mean just this: formed… ![“When I say theologically mature, I mean just this: formed by the Bible, proudly Trinitarian, grounded in justification by grace through faith, dedicated to the person of Jesus Christ, convinced of his incarnation as Son of God, recognizing his death on the Cross as redemption from sin for the…” quote by Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/fleming-rutledge-28419_bible_when-i-say-theologically-mature-i-mean-j_1471917.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/fleming-rutledge-28419_bible_when-i-say-theologically-mature-i-mean-j_1471917.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/fleming-rutledge-28419_bible_when-i-say-theologically-mature-i-mean-j_1471917.jpg) > ““When I say theologically mature, I mean just this: formed by the Bible, proudly Trinitarian, grounded in justification by grace through faith, dedicated to the person of Jesus Christ, convinced of his incarnation as Son of God, recognizing his death on the Cross as redemption from sin for the whole world, boldly convinced of the truth of the Resurrection, and committed to a worldwide mission of witness in Christ's name.”” [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A mature Christian faith is fully rooted in Scripture, Trinitarian doctrine, grace, Christ’s incarnation, death, resurrection, and global mission. **In simple terms:** Deep biblical faith embraces Christ and mission. Key Takeaway Live out biblical truth in word and deed. Themes faith theology mission grace Christology Mood reverent inspired determined Type theological motivational When to use this quote - preaching - church leadership - personal discipleship - mission trips Key Concepts Trinitarianism justification incarnation resurrection evangelism Questions to Reflect On - How does your faith shape daily decisions? - What mission does God call you to? A Different Perspective May overlook cultural context or become legalistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Son of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son-of-god/) [Trinitarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trinitarian/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) ## Related quotes > [The bland assumption that the Church's life will continue to be fruitful so long as we go on praying and cultivating our souls, irrespective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-blamires/the-bland-assumption-that-the-church-s-life-will-continue-to-be/) [Harry Blamires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-blamires/) > [“Mormonism is sui generis—that is to say, it offers its own unique set of questions and answers for the world that overlaps with but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-q-mason/mormonism-is-sui-generis-that-is-to-say-it-offers-its-own-unique-set/) [Patrick Q. Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-q-mason/) > [“... prayer does not have to be theologically correct. It is a conversation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-goldingay/prayer-does-not-have-to-be-theologically-correct-it-is-a-conversation/) John Goldingay > [“Ironically, those with the least to say usually say the most and the most outwardly religious were often the most theologically unsophisticated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lister/ironically-those-with-the-least-to-say-usually-say-the-most-and-the/) [Michael Lister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lister/) > [I'm theologically in line with the Roman Catholic Church. I believe in the authority of the church, but I also have tremendous respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-m-theologically-in-line-with-the-roman-catholic-church-i-believe-in/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [You can be straight as a gun barrel theologically, and as empty as one spiritually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/you-can-be-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-theologically-and-as-empty-as-one/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“separation of church from mission is theologically indefensible. More”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/separation-of-church-from-mission-is-theologically-indefensible-more/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“A theologically astute, immature Christian is like a 5-year-old flying an Apache helicopter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/a-theologically-astute-immature-christian-is-like-a-5-year-old-flying/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [The common moral praxis of Jews and Christians is most definitely theologically informed by the doctrine we share in common: The human person, male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-novak/the-common-moral-praxis-of-jews-and-christians-is-most-definitely/) [David Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-novak/) > [Its theologically irresponsible to put off the promises of God into a time when we have no responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/its-theologically-irresponsible-to-put-off-the-promises-of-god-into-a/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [We need leaders who can reflect theologically and help develop more robust thinking that understands how context affects our understanding of God, humankind, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mcbain/we-need-leaders-who-can-reflect-theologically-and-help-develop-more/) [Ed McBain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mcbain/) > [The great need is for us to be taught theologically, not just stirred emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/the-great-need-is-for-us-to-be-taught-theologically-not-just-stirred/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [“Are you able—theologically, personally, and resource-wise—to be harmoniously, sweetly, and deeply in love with Jesus together in marriage?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/are-you-able-theologically-personally-and-resource-wise-to-be/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Salvation is Trinitarian, whether you know it or not; breakthroughs can happen when you move from not knowing to knowing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-sanders/salvation-is-trinitarian-whether-you-know-it-or-not-breakthroughs-can/) [Fred Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-sanders/) > [Manly natural religion - it is not joining the Church; it is not to believe in a creed, Hebrew, Protestant, Catholic, Trinitarian, Unitarian, Nothingarian.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/manly-natural-religion-it-is-not-joining-the-church-it-is-not-to/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) ## More by Fleming Rutledge > [“The cosmic battle being worked out between God and the Devil takes place in the lives of God's creatures, fallen though they are. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/the-cosmic-battle-being-worked-out-between-god-and-the-devil-takes/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“With all due respect to the religions of the world, there is no other story like the Christian story. The god who thunders, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/with-all-due-respect-to-the-religions-of-the-world-there-is-no-other/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“America had, I believe, a divine founding. Call it American exceptionalism if you like. But that makes America all the more vulnerable to God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/america-had-i-believe-a-divine-founding-call-it-american/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“In the final analysis, the book of job is asking this great question: Is there a living God beyond what we can imagine? Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/in-the-final-analysis-the-book-of-job-is-asking-this-great-question/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“Only those who are forgiven and who are willing to forgive will be capable of relentlessly pursuing justice without falling into the temptations to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/only-those-who-are-forgiven-and-who-are-willing-to-forgive-will-be/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“Because this is an urban church in a downtown neighborhood, it is not so easy to avoid the presence of the poor. We see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/because-this-is-an-urban-church-in-a-downtown-neighborhood-it-is-not/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“If some of those who listen to our sermons reject the message, that is not our worry - as long as it is truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/if-some-of-those-who-listen-to-our-sermons-reject-the-message-that-is/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“When are we closest to God? When we see ourselves as we really are:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/when-are-we-closest-to-god-when-we-see-ourselves-as-we-really-are/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“Now it's very interesting that although we are told that modern Christians don't believe in the Last Judgment anymore, no one objects when a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/now-it-s-very-interesting-that-although-we-are-told-that-modern/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“Paul the apostle, dictating his fierce message to the Galatians, writes, "Formerly, when you did not know God, you were in bondage to beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/paul-the-apostle-dictating-his-fierce-message-to-the-galatians-writes/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“If you and I are resting or shirking or slacking, his Spirit is nevertheless on the move with somebody else somewhere else, for "behold,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/if-you-and-i-are-resting-or-shirking-or-slacking-his-spirit-is/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“From this time forth I make you hear new things, hidden things which you have not known. They are created now... Before today you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/from-this-time-forth-i-make-you-hear-new-things-hidden-things-which/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“Here is what Isaiah says: "Verily thou art a God who hidest thyself, 0 God of Israel, the Savior" (45:15). God is still active,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/here-is-what-isaiah-says-verily-thou-art-a-god-who-hidest-thyself-0/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“Nothing in the Bible makes any religious sense unless we are people of faith who believe that God's own self speaks to us in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/nothing-in-the-bible-makes-any-religious-sense-unless-we-are-people/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [“Here is an image. The young woman who lives in the Port Authority Bus Terminal has been a crack addict; she has lied, cheated,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/here-is-an-image-the-young-woman-who-lives-in-the-port-authority-bus/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) [Explore all 19 Fleming Rutledge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) Stephen Taylor > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When I say theologically mature, I mean just this: formed by the Bible, proudly Trinitarian, grounded in justification by grace through faith, dedicated to the person of Jesus Christ, convinced of his incarnation as Son of God, recognizing his death on the Cross as redemption from sin for the whole world, boldly convinced of the truth of the Resurrection, and committed to a worldwide mission of witness in Christ's name.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fleming Rutledge" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/when-i-say-theologically-mature-i-mean-just-this-formed-by-the-bible/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/when-i-say-theologically-mature-i-mean-just-this-formed-by-the-bible/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/fleming-rutledge-28419_bible_when-i-say-theologically-mature-i-mean-j_1471917.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/fleming-rutledge-28419_bible_when-i-say-theologically-mature-i-mean-j_1471917.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/fleming-rutledge-28419_bible_when-i-say-theologically-mature-i-mean-j_1471917.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I say theologically mature, I mean just this: formed by the Bible, proudly Trinitarian, grounded in…” — Fleming Rutledge", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Fleming Rutledge", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When I say theologically mature, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/when-i-say-theologically-mature-i-mean-just-this-formed-by-the-bible/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/when-i-say-theologically-mature-i-mean-just-this-formed-by-the-bible/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```