Over the last few days we have been looking at Ephesians 4:11-16 because this is one of the most concise texts in the Bible on New Testament church life. A healthy church life is crucial for a healthy Christian life. When we were called by the Lord, it was to be a member of a body of believers that includes hundreds of millions of others around the world. We have also been joined to the historic church that includes all of the believers who have served the Lord for the last two thousand years.

Have you ever considered that one reason many have a hard time believing in the resurrection is because they look at the weakness of the Lord's own body, the church, with less than 10 percent of its members functioning? Of course the church is given as the most frequent reason why people do not believe the gospel, and this is understandable. However, before the end comes the church is going to be the glorious bride that she is called to be, with a body that functions with a beauty, grace, and power that will cause the world to marvel. Why not now?

Today we will continue our study of Ephesians 4 by looking at verse 15,"but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ." As this verse implies, one of the primary ways that we grow up into Christ is by "speaking the truth in love." Jesus is the Truth, and if we are going to abide in Him we must be committed to truth.

       "But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days!" (Matthew 24:19)

 

This was a warning that the Lord Jesus gave when He was describing the last days. Another way that I think we could phrase this is "Woe to those pastors who keep their people in immaturity!"

 

Yesterday, we addressed the need for the equipping ministries listed in Ephesians 4 if the church is to function and mature as it is supposed to.

Yesterday we addressed why we must have unity in the church, as well as some practical ways to help bring and preserve unity, especially as outlined in Ephesians 4:11-13. We can become great at leadership and organization, but no amount of human organization or leadership will cause the church to grow up to "the measure of the stature that belongs to the fulness of Christ" (see Ephesians 4:13). Only the Spirit can bring forth that which is spirit (see John 3:6), and only the Lord can build His church.

Yesterday we considered II Corinthians 2:16, "But we have the mind of Christ, and John 17:23 where the Lord prayed that we would be "perfected in unity." We then briefly discussed the three basic stages of personality development, which are: co-dependence, independence, and inter-dependence. Today I want to view this a little deeper, applying it practically to a major thrust that the church is about to go through.

       But we have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16).

 

Note here that the apostle said "we" have the mind of Christ, not "I." No one person can have the whole mind of Christ, but each of us has been given a part. Therefore we must come together in unity to have His complete mind. The degree to which we are connected in fellowship with the rest of His church is the degree that we will have His whole council.

       "And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one;

       I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me,

       and didst love them, even as Thou didst love me" (John 17:22-23).

 

These two verses are worth a lifetime of study and contemplation.