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In v.11 we have "apostles" who were those who laid the foundation for the beginning of the church. Apostles were also used of God to write the 27 books of the New Testament.
Again, in v.11, we have the prophets who were those who spoke for God. In the early church before the New Testament was written, prophets spoke by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, speaking the truths that are now recorded in our New Testament.
Next, in v.11, we have the evangelists, who are those with a special gift for communicating the gospel in relevant, compelling terms and ways to people who are not Christians. Billy Graham was an outstanding evangelist.
Then there are pastors-teachers, who are those who take care of the church community. They feed and guide and meet the needs of people within the church. They are aware of and attempt to meet the spiritual needs, emotional needs, and physical needs of all in the church.
Through the years, the church has become identified with buildings, great massive cathedrals and imposing structures, and these were referred to as the church.
In our text here, the Apostle makes clear that our giftedness has specific purposes, to prepare God's people for the work of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach the unity of the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
In Ephesians 4:3, we are told to maintain the unity. Here, in Ephesians 4:13, we are told to reach or attain unity. In v.3 unity is a reality to be maintained. In v.13 it is a goal to be attained. The reason for this is that Christian unity has already been accomplished but we have to appropriate it.
As seen in v.13, the unity is appropriated in steps that lead from one to another. The first step is "to prepare God's people" or "to equip God's people." The equipment is the culture of God given through His word. It is training believer's to think like God.
This leads to a lifestyle of "service. We are most like God when we are serving. In Luke 12:35-37, we read, "35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them." In heaven, the Lord Jesus will serve us.
This leads to, "so that the body of Christ may be built up...in the faith and the knowledge of the Son." Christianity is relational. The idea that Paul is giving here is that we apprehend the unity and comprehend the teachings of the Son and we apprehend and comprehend the Son personally. That He becomes real and more real to us in a practical way.
This leads to "maturity." This "maturity" includes a deepening relationship with Christ wherein He is seen to be teaching each believer. This describes a fellowship with God that is tangible and as real as knowing our best human friends.
Finally, I like what Andy Stanley recently said about spiritual maturity, he said, "Spiritual maturity is measured in terms of persevering faith, not perfect behavior."
Through the years, the church has become identified with buildings, great massive cathedrals and imposing structures, and these were referred to as the church.
In our text here, the Apostle makes clear that our giftedness has specific purposes, to prepare God's people for the work of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach the unity of the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
In Ephesians 4:3, we are told to maintain the unity. Here, in Ephesians 4:13, we are told to reach or attain unity. In v.3 unity is a reality to be maintained. In v.13 it is a goal to be attained. The reason for this is that Christian unity has already been accomplished but we have to appropriate it.
As seen in v.13, the unity is appropriated in steps that lead from one to another. The first step is "to prepare God's people" or "to equip God's people." The equipment is the culture of God given through His word. It is training believer's to think like God.
This leads to a lifestyle of "service. We are most like God when we are serving. In Luke 12:35-37, we read, "35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them." In heaven, the Lord Jesus will serve us.
This leads to, "so that the body of Christ may be built up...in the faith and the knowledge of the Son." Christianity is relational. The idea that Paul is giving here is that we apprehend the unity and comprehend the teachings of the Son and we apprehend and comprehend the Son personally. That He becomes real and more real to us in a practical way.
This leads to "maturity." This "maturity" includes a deepening relationship with Christ wherein He is seen to be teaching each believer. This describes a fellowship with God that is tangible and as real as knowing our best human friends.
Finally, I like what Andy Stanley recently said about spiritual maturity, he said, "Spiritual maturity is measured in terms of persevering faith, not perfect behavior."
