Love Fulfilled Ministry

and he gave the apostles, the prophet, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry; to the extent of building up the body of Christ. * The work of ministry is the building up the body of Christ, until it is no longer children, but grows up in to the full measure of the stature of Christ. The fruit of the Church in regards to building up is bearing fruit of maturity. * The gifts are given unto or to the extent of this purpose. Does Paul write here all the gifts are given for the building up of the body? no, he writes the gifts of apostles, the prophet, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers. This implies growth is of first importance. The mature plant bears fruit. Are there other gifts given and what are their purpose in the body? The body is complete when all the gifts are joined and linked together so that the body builds itself up, truth in love. This growth is in knowledge of the Son, to maturity, complete to the full measure of H...

... to equip the saints for the work of ministry; to the extent of building up the body of Christ. Until we all attain to the extent of unity of faith and knowledge of the Son, to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of fullness of Christ, so that no longer children tossed about by waves, blown about by all winds of teachings in human trickery and craftiness from deceitful scheming. Instead, truth in love, growing up in all, into him, who is the head, Christ... * Jesus ascended on high leading a host of captive people, giving gifts to men. * Jesus through whom all things were made, he came as a man in sinful nature, who died without sin, and ascended on high to lead many sons to glory. He leads a host of people who were taken prisoners to glory, giving gifts to men. Now, that he has ascended on high, how does he lead sons to glory? He gives gifts to the saints for the work of ministry. For what purpose is the work of  ministry, but to bring many sons to glory? A...

...that heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as also in the entire world, existing bearing fruit and growing just as also among you from the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth. * The true grace of God exists bearing fruit and growing. What kind of fruit does it bear? "Because everyone born from God conquers the world, and this is victory that overcomes, our faith." * Jesus came to give us the right to become children, not of this life and world. We become children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God. * Flesh is flesh but Spirit is Spirit, and those born from above, of Spirit enter the kingdom of heaven. In Christ we are born not of fleshly seed and life but of an imperishable seed, that which endures unto eternal life. * We were chosen in Christ, given birth through his word, to be first fruits of a new creation, bearing fruit of God. * God is glorified in that we bear fruit and prove ...

In him exists life and that life exists the light of men. * What is evangelism, if life exists the light of men? The life we have in Christ is of the concept of abundant or fullness of life. It is related to the concept of growth wherein maturity is bearing fruit. This is the growth process, the seed dies, it starts to grow, not upward but downward growing deep roots, then upward enduring the weeds it matures to bear fruit unto God. God is glorified in this that we bear fruit. * The outcome of the discipline of God is that we share in his character. * So true fruit is being like him which comes from growing up in him, into maturity, his workmanship prepared beforehand to do good works. The same concept of bearing fruit we see in this verse in regards to life. The life exists a light unto the world. The one bearing fruit of life exists a light unto the world. The testimony is of the glorious calling out of darkness into life, a life above the life of this world. It is maturity of...

this person existed in the beginning from God, all things were created through him nothing came into existence apart from him. In him exists life and the life exists the light of men. * He was in the beginning with God, and all things came into existence through him, he was the word of God that existed with God, that became flesh and dwelt among men. He was a light in the darkness and the darkness could not comprehend it, and he was in the world and the world was created by him but the world did not know him. He came to his own people but they did not accept him. Now, to as many as receiving the light, he gave the right to become children of God. A light shined forth in the world that enlightens all men, and this light shows us the way to true life. that which existed in the beginning we have heard, like as seeing with our eyes, like as gazing upon, and our hands have touched concerning the word of life. * The light pointed men to eternal life, which is not just a ticket to heav...

who gave himself for us so that redeeming us from all lawlessness and purifying himself a special people, zealous for good works. * Jesus gave himself for us to redeem us. It is by grace through redemption that we are justified. * We have received redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sin, from the riches of his grace. * The word special refers to a people of His own , (perioúsios (from perí , "all-around, encompassing" and eínai , "being, to exist") The special people are the highly favored people in the Beloved, of his creation not created by the hands and will of men, but a new creation receiving from the riches of his grace; adoption, redemption, the forgiveness of sin. * The special people are his workmanship prepared beforehand to do good works thus he gave himself not for a people to do good works alone, but to prepare them, to consecrate them, a special people of his own. for if the transgression of the one, death reigned through...

Blessed are the pure in heart because they see God. * The word see ὁράω ( horaō ) meaning to see, look upon, experience, perceive, discern. It speaks not of the future tense thus the pure in heart are blessed not because they will see God in the future but they see him now. How can one see God? God can not be seen, he exists invisible to the eye, like his Spirit, which in regards to this is like the wind which you know is there but can not see. The word pure is καθαρός ( katharos ) meaning to make clean, cleanse, purify. Blessed are the pure because they see God, such speaks of knowing God through growth, which is in knowledge of Jesus, the outcome of is life and holiness, purity. faith perceives the universe was created by the word of God, to the extent that seen not becoming of that observable. * Faith exists evidence of things unseen. * Jesus is the author of faith. He exists the radiance of his glory and represents the nature of God. *  Jesus reflects God's divine cha...

And this in the sight of knowing that we know Him, if keeping His commands. * There is a time to be a child and a time to grow up. A child has certain characteristics John writes, they know the Father and that their sins are forgiven. Knowing God is being a new creation, God's Spirit is placed within you and you have testimony that you are His child. A child has testimony of blood, in that their is peace before God in the blood of Christ, their sins have been forgiven. In regards to growth Paul writes what counts is being a new creation, and faith energized in love. A child which is deeply rooted in faith and love will grow up into Him, truth in love. How does the child grow up? Paul writes there is one more thing that counts, keeping his commands. I believe this is the testimony of water, not like washing of dirt from the body, but a purification or ruling over sin in the body. John writes, the young person is strong and has overcome the evil one as the word of God abides in Hi...