Growing in Christ

GOLDEN TEXT: “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ.” —Ephesians 4:15

EPHESIANS 4:1-6, 11-16

PAUL admonishes that we walk worthy of the “vocation” to which we have been called as Christians. Living the Christian life should be considered our vocation, that is, the chief business of our lives, that, indeed, upon which our eternal life depends. This reminds us that becoming a Christian is not merely a matter of being saved, but of becoming a “co-worker” with God in the carrying out of his plan for the ultimate blessing of all the families of the earth.

“Keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” Paul urges. In the light of the previous chapter, which we discussed in last Sunday’s lesson, the unity here referred to by the apostle relates particularly to that which he was encouraging Jewish and Gentile Christians to maintain. In principle, however, the spirit of unity should prevail among all God’s consecrated people. Where the Spirit of the Lord prevails, and there is soundness in doctrine and purity in practice, there will be Christian unity.

There is “one body,” Paul states; that is, not one body of Jewish believers and one of Gentiles. Nor should any other human barrier prevent the Lord’s people from rejoicing in the fact of this “one body,” for we are all called in the “one hope” of our calling.

There is “one Lord, one faith,” and “one baptism.” When Gentiles become “fellow-citizens with the saints” they also become a part of the “household of God,” so they have the same God as Jewish Christians. This is not difficult for us to understand today, but it was a serious doctrinal problem in the Early Church. The service rendered to God depends largely on our understanding of his plans and purposes. The God of the Bible is one of love. The god of the creeds of the Dark Ages is a torment deity, and it would be impossible to enjoy Christian unity with those who worship such a god. Their faith is not the one true faith of the Gospel.

God’s arrangement for edifying the body of Christ is through the use of human instruments, or servants. Paul enumerates them as prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These are all servants who handle the Word of God and disseminate its message. The fact that God has provided evangelists, pastors, and teachers, in addition to apostles and prophets, indicates that the Word of God is not in itself sufficient for our edification, that we need help in understanding its message.

One of the most serious mistakes made by some Christians is their insistence that they need no help from other Christians in order to understand the Bible. Many of the gross errors of doctrine are devised by those who never allow themselves to benefit from the balancing thoughts of others.

And this mistake in Christian practice can be relative. In our “fellowship” with the brethren we may be prone not to listen to what another is saying, but thinking only of the viewpoint we wish to communicate to him as soon as he is through speaking. The most confused minds in the world, and those most barren of true logic and sound deductions, are those who never listen to what the other person is saying. This applies to Christians as well as to others.

Evangelists are needed among the people of God, as well as pastors and teachers. And to maintain healthy spiritual growth, the Lord’s people need to keep actively interested in all the phases of Christian life which these services represent. If we allow the spirit of evangelism to die out, spiritual energy and enthusiasm will correspondingly suffer.

The fact that teachers have been provided by God indicates the importance of a careful and continual study of the Word that we may be approved by God, “workmen that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.” (II Tim. 2:15) If we do not continue to study the Word, making use of teachers whom the Lord has supplied, we will cease to grow spiritually, and will never attain unto the “stature of the fullness of Christ.”

The service of a “pastor” is one of general care for the Lord’s people. Some are specially adapted for this service, and greatly used along this line by the Lord. But we should all have the interests of our brethren at heart, and seek to help them in whatever way we can, especially along spiritual lines.

Paul refers to “speaking the truth in love” that thereby we may “grow up into” Christ in all things. This indicates that it is the truth of the Word which is the energizing power in our lives. But it needs to be spoken, to be kept circulating, in order to exert its maximum energizing power which enables the Christian to grow up into Christ and to reach the full stature of manhood in him. If we keep the truth to ourselves it will lose much of its power in our lives.

QUESTIONS

Why does Paul speak of the Christian life as a vocation?

What did Paul have particularly in mind when urging “unity of the Spirit.”

Is there a different Gospel for the Jews than for the Gentiles?

Do Christians need more than the Bible in order properly to understand the plan of God?

Explain the different aspects of the Christian life represented in the services of evangelists, teachers, and pastors.

What is the food which promotes true spiritual growth?

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