Gospel Wednesday: Ephesians Chapter 4: Spiritual Maturity
Ephesians Chapter 4
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, “ Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:1-32 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.4.1-32.NKJV
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
Ephesians 4:15 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.4.15.NKJV
We are to mature in Christ. Not to remain as children tossed to and fro by every doctrine (Ephesians 4:14).
If we don't grow we will be knocked down by Satan again and again. Stuck in old patterns of sin whatever they may be. We will not walk worthy of the calling if we don't grow spiritually. (Ephesians 4:1).
We are also to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Not be condescending, rude, careless, or judgmental with our words. Even when confronting a fault in another, we are to speak the truth from a heart of Christian love. When we grow, the church as a body will grow and edify itself in love.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Hebrews 5:12 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.5.12.NKJV
We must go on to maturity.
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 5:13-14 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.5.13-14.NKJV
Without spiritual maturity we have no knowledge of righteousness. But with it we can discern between both and evil. So let's, with the help of God, grow into spiritual maturity.
If you have not obeyed the gospel, then please obey before it's everlasting too late.
The Gospel in a nutshell
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.15.1-4.KJV
1. Hear
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.10.17.KJV
2. Believe
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
John 8:24 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.8.24.KJV
3. Repent
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:3 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.13.3.KJV
4. Confess
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 10:32 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.10.32.KJV
5. Be baptized
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.16.16.KJV
6. Remain faithful
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:10 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/rev.2.10.KJV
For more information on obeying the Gospel contact your local church of Christ.
Baptism
Why Are There So Many Churches?
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, “ Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:1-32 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.4.1-32.NKJV
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
Ephesians 4:15 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.4.15.NKJV
We are to mature in Christ. Not to remain as children tossed to and fro by every doctrine (Ephesians 4:14).
If we don't grow we will be knocked down by Satan again and again. Stuck in old patterns of sin whatever they may be. We will not walk worthy of the calling if we don't grow spiritually. (Ephesians 4:1).
We are also to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Not be condescending, rude, careless, or judgmental with our words. Even when confronting a fault in another, we are to speak the truth from a heart of Christian love. When we grow, the church as a body will grow and edify itself in love.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Hebrews 5:12 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.5.12.NKJV
We must go on to maturity.
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 5:13-14 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.5.13-14.NKJV
Without spiritual maturity we have no knowledge of righteousness. But with it we can discern between both and evil. So let's, with the help of God, grow into spiritual maturity.
If you have not obeyed the gospel, then please obey before it's everlasting too late.
The Gospel in a nutshell
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.15.1-4.KJV
1. Hear
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.10.17.KJV
2. Believe
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
John 8:24 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.8.24.KJV
3. Repent
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:3 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.13.3.KJV
4. Confess
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 10:32 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.10.32.KJV
5. Be baptized
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.16.16.KJV
6. Remain faithful
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:10 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/rev.2.10.KJV
For more information on obeying the Gospel contact your local church of Christ.
Baptism
Why Are There So Many Churches?
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
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