Christian Maturity and Growth

(#890, Imperial, 1960)

Read Ephesians 4:7-16.

Our theme is taken from such words and phrases as these...

w    v12: perfecting the saints.

w    v12: edifying (building up) of the body.

w    v13: perfect man.

w    v14: no more children.

w    v15: grow up unto Him.

w    v16: increase of the body.

Spiritual maturity and growth has always been a problem in the church.  Paul had it in Corinth (1 Cor. 3).  They were babes in Christ, full of envy, strife and division.  Paul had it in mind when he said "forgetting those things that are behind..." (Phil. 3:13-14).

ƒ      The need for maturity and growth stated, vs. 14-15.

Immaturity is detrimental to the unity of the body.  Maturity involves doctrinal stability (v14) whereby we are no longer children.  In this passage childhood represents immaturity.  The child is bound to the elements of the world (Gal. 4:1-3). The child thinks and understand in a particular way that must be outgrown (1 Cor. 13:11).  Spiritual children are unskillful in the Word (Heb. 5:13).  Individuals must grow to spiritual adulthood for the whole church to grow (v16).

ƒ      The measure of spiritual maturity and growth, v13.

The measure is "the stature of the fullness of Christ."  God's ultimate purpose is conformity to His Son (Rom. 8:29).  Christian growth is the process of being renewed in the image of Christ (Col. 3:10) and to this we labor (Phil. 3:12-14).

ƒ      The method or means of maturity and growth.

w    Gifts are given to the Church by Christ (v7,11).  In Christ there is a fulness answering to all our individual needs.

    1.  Apostles and prophets are foundational gifts (Eph. 2:20).

    2.  Evangelists, pastors and teachers are ongoing gifts.

w    We are joined with Christ (vs. 15-16).  Our growth is related to Christ as the Head and proceeds from His supply.

w    Love ("oil for the joints" according to Spurgeon) enables the growth to take place in the context of the body of believers.

I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (Phil. 3:12)

Exhortation to Unity in the Body -- A Worthy Walk

(#889, Imperial, 1960)

Read Ephesians 4:1-6.

We now come in this epistle to the practical.  The first 3 chapters deal with the doctrinal; the last 3 deal with the practical. The two go together.  We must have the doctrine correct to have the practice correct.

ƒ      The Christian's walk, v1.

Much is said in the Epistles about our walk.  The consistent life of the Christians is one of the greatest testimonies to the unsaved.  Inconsistency is a major hindrance.

We are to walk in keeping with our "calling".  We are...

    1.  Called out of darkness into God's marvelous light.

    2.  Called into the grace of Christ.

    3.  Called into the fellowship of Christ.

    4.  Called into holiness.

    5.  Called into glory and virtue.

    6.  Called into peace.

This is a high, holy and heavenly calling.

ƒ      The worthy walk, vs. 2-3.

w    Lowliness.  A low estimate of oneself.  The demand for recognition is absent. It is a deep humility as opposed to pride, arrogance and conceit.  God requires it (Micah 6:8), Christ exemplified it (Matt. 11:29), and it is essential in our relations with believers (Rom. 12:3; Phil. 2:3; Col. 3:12).

w    Meekness.  Absence of resentment, willing to be wronged.

w    Long-suffering.  Patient endurance, not a short temper.

w    Forebearing one another in love.  Christians are not to resent injuries or retaliate for wrongs done.

w    Keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  The foregoing virtues enable us to keep this unity.

ƒ      The source of Christian unity, vs. 4-6.

    1.  One Body.  The church is not many groups but One.

    2.  One Spirit. 1Co.12:13: one Spirit animates the Church.

    3.  One Hope.  Titus 1:2; 2:13; 3:7; 1 Tim. 1:1.

    4.  One Lord.  Only one allegiance in the body of Christ.

    5.  One Faith.  That allegiance expresses itself in faith.

    6.  One Baptism.  Again, see 1 Cor. 12:13.

    7.  One God and Father of All.

These unities should incline us to the unity of the Spirit.

Psalm 62

As we write this it is in the midst of turmoil in Israel involving Palestinians who have taken to stabbing Jews.  It is the cause of much fear.  Our companions in the gospel in Jerusalem tell us the streets, shops and mass transportation are much emptier than normal, although visits to the Garden Tomb are continuing at a good pace.  In other words, among the Jews there are significant levels of fear.  The government is seeking to deal with the situation, with mixed success.  And of course Israel has had to deal with the opinions of the nations as, among others, the US Secretary of State and the head of the UN have made their presence known.  

All of that provides an interesting backdrop for Psalm 62.  This Psalm exhorts us to waiting silently (v1-2, 5-7), for God alone (v5), and not in men or money (v9-10).  We are called to trust in God Who has both the ability (power) and motivation (mercy) to help us, and/but Who will render to each one according to his work (v11-12).  Notice the very symmetrical layout to the Psalm:

v1-2: my soul is silent before God		v5-7: wait in silence before God
v3-4: speaks to the attacker (you will not succeed)		v8-10: speaks to the people (trust God and no one/nothing else)
	v11: God can be trusted!

Verses 1-2 and 5-7 are of course quite similar and give us the view of God that is critical for this situation.  God is my rock … my salvation … my defense (strong tower).  The situation is an attack (v3, lit. to shout out or rush in).  We are exhorted to trust God in this.  Does this mean we are not allowed to protect ourselves?  Certainly not.  What we call self-defense can be part of God’s defense for us.  But it does mean we don’t live in fear.  We can speak to the enemy with confidence as David does in v3-4.  We can confidently affirm, He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).  We are overcomers but only because our trust is in God who is for us (Rom. 8:31; 1 John 5:4).

Another way to think about this is suggested in the closing stanza of this Song.  God has both power and mercy.  I love the way David says this: God has spoken once; twice I have heard this.  In other words this is a sure thing.  God will always do what is righteous.  But what that means is that He will render to each one according to his work.  So when we are attacked/shouted at/rushed in upon, we trust in God and not in men (v9) or money (v10).  In other words, we do not become like the attacker!  What this means quite often is that our trust keeps us silent while we wait for God to do what He has power and mercy to do.  He is our rock!  He is our defense!  Amen!