*This week’s blog post is a re-post from 3/20/23
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. –Ephesians 4:11–16
We’ve already discussed what the gospel is, and we’ve looked at a few of the things that are true of us because of what Jesus has done for his people. As the Spirit shapes us into gospel fluent people, we glimpse how this is lived out in Ephesians 4:11-16.
In this passage, the apostle Paul teaches that the Church is to grow up into maturity. God gives certain people to the Church to equip all believers for ministry (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds/Pastors, and Teachers). As the body is equipped and living out its role, the body of Christ is built up to maturity and the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Paul continues to describe what must take place for growth to occur:
1. We are to speak the truth in love: Speaking the truth in love is how we are built up and matured into greater Christ-likeness. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). So as we speak God’s truth to one another, we are speaking the gospel to one another.
2. We are to minister and live on mission: The body is built up when each part ministers to others (v.16). In ministry and on mission, we become aware of where each of us needs to be built up in the gospel.
To grow up in Christ and help others grow up in Christ, we need to become gospel fluent people—people who think, speak, and act on the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done! We are to call people to live lives that demand the power of the gospel and, in love, reveal where we are not living in the truth of the gospel.
Think it Through:
Often, we struggle with gospel fluency because we don’t know what God’s word says is true of us. Take some time to look at the following verses and ask: “What is now true because of Jesus?”
- John 5:24
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Romans 5:1
- Romans 8:1-2
- Ephesians 1:5
- Ephesians 3:16-18
- Colossians 3:1-4
- 1 John 4:7-12
- Revelation 12:10-11
May we learn to speak the truth in love to one another! Praying for you, FBC!
–Pastor Wade