... 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? And what is glory? The gifts are given to the saints for the work of ministry, what does it mean to be a saint? and what does it mean the gifts build the body up and how is this related to glory?
also ascending above all the heavens so that bringing to completion all and he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelist, the pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry...
The point of Christ ascending was to lead many sons to glory. He is the hope of glory, "the mystery hidden from all the ages and generations now at the present revealed to his saints, who God chose to reveal, who in the people, the glorious riches of this mystery, whom exists Christ in you, the hope of glory."* This mystery is being revealed in the church, the manifold wisdom of God being made known, Christ being revealed in us, not only us but to all rulers and powers in the heavenly realms.* There is so much going on within the purpose of the Church, it does us well to know fully what that purpose is. God has chosen the saints for a purpose to make known the mystery, the glorious mystery of Christ in us, the hope of glory.
... to equip the saints for the work of ministry...
The word saint has the root word meaning holy, it refers to purity, consecration as being apart, different from the world therefore a saint is one who is mature in Christ. There is a growth process for the believer that produces maturity, saints.* In this is our call to glory, to reflect the image of Christ, being transformed from glory to glory into the full measure of His stature.* So the saints are given gifts for the work of ministry. This implies the gifts are given to the mature, or the great have become servants, who walk with Him who is from the beginning. Otherwise giving gifts to children it is like children leading children. And this would be the work of the devil to introduce anything and everything against the goal of growing up the children. But the purpose of good doctrine would have a goal "so that no longer children tossed about by waves, blown about by all winds of teachings in human trickery and craftiness from deceitful scheming."
...to equip the saints for the work of ministry; to the extent of building up the body of Christ...
What is purpose of the work of ministry? each gift is given to build up the church. What is the purpose of building up of the body? Literally the body, the Church is to reflect his body, the glory of His ascended body, His image, so that we grow up to "mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of fullness of Christ." Think about it, the devil set out to corrupt the God created image of man, but Christ ascended on high taking that authority away and giving gifts to bring many sons to glory. What is glory then but to reflect his image, that this image is being restored in mankind in Christ. If there were a greater purpose of the Church it is this. The gifts are given for this purpose, "from whom the whole body, joined and united together through every supporting ligament, according to the working of each individual part, makes the body grow to the extent it builds itself up in love."* Paul gives us information about these gifts, that all the gifts together cause the body to grow, we are not all to be hands and feet, but there exist ears, noses, and mouths also, and we should give glory to the less honorable.* This we will look at more next time. The gifts are given for the work of ministry; to the extent of building up the body of Christ. So how do we build up or grow up the body?
... attain to the extent of unity of faith and knowledge of the Son...
We grow up in knowledge of the Son. Paul writes he counts all things loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.* All things are being completed, filled up in measure into Christ. James writes maturity is fulfillment of this purpose in Christ, wholeness, lacking in nothing.* We grow up into this fullness of Christ, which is the full measure of the stature of His image, "truth in love, grow up in all into him...* Jesus is truth and how God manifests his grace and love to us. Truth perfects and matures and the bond of love leads to perfection.* God's love is perfected in us when we grow up to maturity, when we keep his word and exist fully in him.* Truth increases faith until there is victory and freedom through sanctification and the outcome is life.* James writes there is a crown of life that comes through the proving of maturity.* In the natural, a child belongs in the family, but he is under a tutor, not yet a son until he grows up into maturity, then he receives fullness of his inheritance as a son. It is the same in the spiritual growth, the proving is passage into adulthood.
...to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ...
What is maturity, adulthood? fullness, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This is a saint. We are "predestined to be conformed to the image of His son, to the extent he exists firstborn among many brethren."* He came, he died the Lamb of God, he rose and ascended on high to bring many sons to glory. What is glory? having a glorified body will fulfill us, but he now, at the present, is bring many sons to glory, this is of the concept of newness of life, he is lifting us up, raising us up, to glory, which is to be transformed to his image, from glory to glory, he being the hope of such glory. The glory is that we are becoming like God, through creation from the first born, thus we are first fruits of a new creation, co-heirs, children of God, called to bear fruit of God, in this God is glorified that we bear fruit sharing His image.
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, grow up in all into him, who is the head, Christ...
The devil is working very hard to keep God's children from growing up, he knows immaturity will not bear fruit worthy of the kingdom of God. Really the good works we do pales in comparison to the glory that comes in knowing Christ. When we share in the image of Christ, we share in His glory, and our life shared in Him is placed on a lamp stand for all to see, a light among the darkness.* The light to the world is not the good works alone, but the good works that came from His workmanship prepared beforehand, built up into maturity bearing fruit. God is glorified in that we become like Jesus. Like an earthly father proud to call his child a son or daughter, God is glorified when he says this is my son in who I am a well pleased. Which means we have become Christ like, like Him in character. The Father is glorified in that we bear fruit in the Vine, Christ. Maturity yields fruit, fulfills purpose, and the will of God. This is the fruit of the Church, that we grow up to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of fullness of Christ, and become like Christ, Christians.
also ascending above all the heavens so that bringing to completion all and he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelist, the pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry...
The point of Christ ascending was to lead many sons to glory. He is the hope of glory, "the mystery hidden from all the ages and generations now at the present revealed to his saints, who God chose to reveal, who in the people, the glorious riches of this mystery, whom exists Christ in you, the hope of glory."* This mystery is being revealed in the church, the manifold wisdom of God being made known, Christ being revealed in us, not only us but to all rulers and powers in the heavenly realms.* There is so much going on within the purpose of the Church, it does us well to know fully what that purpose is. God has chosen the saints for a purpose to make known the mystery, the glorious mystery of Christ in us, the hope of glory.
... to equip the saints for the work of ministry...
The word saint has the root word meaning holy, it refers to purity, consecration as being apart, different from the world therefore a saint is one who is mature in Christ. There is a growth process for the believer that produces maturity, saints.* In this is our call to glory, to reflect the image of Christ, being transformed from glory to glory into the full measure of His stature.* So the saints are given gifts for the work of ministry. This implies the gifts are given to the mature, or the great have become servants, who walk with Him who is from the beginning. Otherwise giving gifts to children it is like children leading children. And this would be the work of the devil to introduce anything and everything against the goal of growing up the children. But the purpose of good doctrine would have a goal "so that no longer children tossed about by waves, blown about by all winds of teachings in human trickery and craftiness from deceitful scheming."
...to equip the saints for the work of ministry; to the extent of building up the body of Christ...
What is purpose of the work of ministry? each gift is given to build up the church. What is the purpose of building up of the body? Literally the body, the Church is to reflect his body, the glory of His ascended body, His image, so that we grow up to "mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of fullness of Christ." Think about it, the devil set out to corrupt the God created image of man, but Christ ascended on high taking that authority away and giving gifts to bring many sons to glory. What is glory then but to reflect his image, that this image is being restored in mankind in Christ. If there were a greater purpose of the Church it is this. The gifts are given for this purpose, "from whom the whole body, joined and united together through every supporting ligament, according to the working of each individual part, makes the body grow to the extent it builds itself up in love."* Paul gives us information about these gifts, that all the gifts together cause the body to grow, we are not all to be hands and feet, but there exist ears, noses, and mouths also, and we should give glory to the less honorable.* This we will look at more next time. The gifts are given for the work of ministry; to the extent of building up the body of Christ. So how do we build up or grow up the body?
... attain to the extent of unity of faith and knowledge of the Son...
We grow up in knowledge of the Son. Paul writes he counts all things loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.* All things are being completed, filled up in measure into Christ. James writes maturity is fulfillment of this purpose in Christ, wholeness, lacking in nothing.* We grow up into this fullness of Christ, which is the full measure of the stature of His image, "truth in love, grow up in all into him...* Jesus is truth and how God manifests his grace and love to us. Truth perfects and matures and the bond of love leads to perfection.* God's love is perfected in us when we grow up to maturity, when we keep his word and exist fully in him.* Truth increases faith until there is victory and freedom through sanctification and the outcome is life.* James writes there is a crown of life that comes through the proving of maturity.* In the natural, a child belongs in the family, but he is under a tutor, not yet a son until he grows up into maturity, then he receives fullness of his inheritance as a son. It is the same in the spiritual growth, the proving is passage into adulthood.
...to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ...
What is maturity, adulthood? fullness, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This is a saint. We are "predestined to be conformed to the image of His son, to the extent he exists firstborn among many brethren."* He came, he died the Lamb of God, he rose and ascended on high to bring many sons to glory. What is glory? having a glorified body will fulfill us, but he now, at the present, is bring many sons to glory, this is of the concept of newness of life, he is lifting us up, raising us up, to glory, which is to be transformed to his image, from glory to glory, he being the hope of such glory. The glory is that we are becoming like God, through creation from the first born, thus we are first fruits of a new creation, co-heirs, children of God, called to bear fruit of God, in this God is glorified that we bear fruit sharing His image.
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, grow up in all into him, who is the head, Christ...
The devil is working very hard to keep God's children from growing up, he knows immaturity will not bear fruit worthy of the kingdom of God. Really the good works we do pales in comparison to the glory that comes in knowing Christ. When we share in the image of Christ, we share in His glory, and our life shared in Him is placed on a lamp stand for all to see, a light among the darkness.* The light to the world is not the good works alone, but the good works that came from His workmanship prepared beforehand, built up into maturity bearing fruit. God is glorified in that we become like Jesus. Like an earthly father proud to call his child a son or daughter, God is glorified when he says this is my son in who I am a well pleased. Which means we have become Christ like, like Him in character. The Father is glorified in that we bear fruit in the Vine, Christ. Maturity yields fruit, fulfills purpose, and the will of God. This is the fruit of the Church, that we grow up to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of fullness of Christ, and become like Christ, Christians.