Yes, the OP is about maturity. But using your example of a tree that grows, there is a disease within it that is hindering its growth.
Likewise, there is a spiritual disease within our hearts that dwarfs our spiritual growth, indwelling sin. If we are to grow fully, we must allow the Holy Spirit to deal with that issue. It's all about being spiritually mature.
For what it is worth: I am 73.
I was saved, age 14.
Yes, I have been baptized, in both water and Holy Spirit.
I have been a minister of the Gospel.
See, sometimes our assumptions can be wrong.
Really? No man can gather grapes off thistles, or figs off thorns. A tree is known by its fruit.
If your tree is diseased, you need to prune or cut it down to the root, so it can regrow, or dig it and dung it. Then will grow healthy. You might need to graft in branches. You need to water it.
Your example don't make sense. God wants to circumcise your heart, and He will cut the bad part out, Your heart may need to be broken first, then mended by Him.
You have changed your tune from purity to maturity and don't seem to understand how trees grow. what we need to do to look after them and that we reap what we sow.
I have not heard of a 'spiritual disease'. If people were sick, Jesus healed them. He cast out demons. He paid for sin. He delivered us from evil and then we just need to resist it with the armour He has given us.
Yes temptation is all around us, but we resist. Submit yourself to God, resist the devil and he will flee.
We don't need to keep on living with a spiritual disease. Jesus knows our every weakness.
If you going to explain something, it's better to give the examples Jesus gave in his parables to show a spiritual truth. The parable of the sower etc. That was about initial growth...and given the chance to reach maturity because the seed was planted in good soil. All the others tried to grow but they had obstacles in their path. It wasn't that they were diseased in themselves because there's nothing wrong with the seed. It's the soil that gives you the best chance. And its the pruning that can helps you bear more fruit.
I'm sure I mentioned pruning in my first post. You were going on about weeding. Pruning is what you do to train a tree (or vine) to grow the right way.
