so that we are no longer children tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, in human trickery, in craftiness, towards deceitful scheming. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
"... to equip the saints for the work of the ministry until we all attain... unto mature adulthood, unto the full measure of the stature of his image" (Ephesians 4:13)
The church is the fullness of Jesus, what does this mean? This is what God purposed in Christ making him the Head of the church. The Son reflects the image of the Father, his exact nature, therefore, maturity is into the full measure of his stature, his character, nature, of his image. So according to His manifold wisdom and purpose in which he chose us in Christ, he purposed that we grow up in Him who is the head (Ephesians 1:9-12, 20-23). What does it mean that he is head? In regards to the authority he is over all, but interestingly head also refers to the fruiting part of a plant that contains the seeds. Like that he is the Vine in which we bear fruit, he is the head in which the seeds will be brought to fruition. This is part of the mystery of the gospel, of faith and godliness (1 Timothy 3:9; 1 Timothy 3:16). It is why we see the emphasis on growth in the scriptures. Paul writes in Romans those he called according to this purpose he predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-30).
"he gave the apostles the prophets, the evangelist, the pastors, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of the ministry until we all attain... unto mature adulthood... so that we are no longer children... but maintaining truth in love, grow up into him who is the head..." (Ephesians 4:11-16)
He gave gifts, the evangelist, the pastors, and teachers for the work of the ministry. What is the work of ministry? "until we all attain... unto mature adulthood... so that we are no longer children..." Even evangelism is included in this purpose, if not Paul would have not placed it here but added it as a separate mission. If you think about evangelism in terms of election as I do, we see this gift is needed to bring salvation to the elect, "through this, I am enduring all for the elect so that they also may experience the salvation that in Christ Jesus together with eternal glory" (2 Timothy 2:9-10). This gift is important in bringing in the elect into the body, where salvation continues through growing up in the knowledge of Him. It is part of the work of ministry not it's totality. The emphasis that Paul places on the work of the ministry is to build up the body unto mature adulthood, so that we are no longer children. It is not a get them saved and then teach them to go evangelize and serve and give but to grow them up in the head so that they become mature and bear fruit.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
There is a sacrifice acceptable to God unto holiness which is our reasonable service that transforms by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). In which we grow up, or are taught to put off the old self and be renewed of the spirit of our minds (Ephesians 4:22-23 ). This means I can be a believer and still have a carnal mind, but renewal transforms my mind to be of my new self, of the spirit, that is why it is a renewal of the spirit of our minds, and why renewal produces the mind of Christ that will accept God's will as good, pleasing, and perfect. Unlike the carnal mind which is hostile toward God (Romans 8:7). This is why growth is so important because a child can not truly be obedient, and can not discern the will of God.
But other seed fell into good soil and produced grain, sprouting, growing, and bearing thirty, sixty, and even a hundredfold. (Mark 4:8)The importance of the growth of the church is a message very clear and close to me. I have seen the necessity of this personally, in my own life and family, one who was a minister and in school but divorced his wife and abandoned his children. One a well-known preacher called "his little preacher boy," but who did not grow up to be one. And one who returned as a missionary and left his wife and children. Did they put their hand to the plow and look back? Possibly, but I think the issue lies in the lack of emphasis on maturity and growth in the churches they were in, they were children sent to do adult things. Duly, God has spent a lot of time preparing me and still is, and I believe this is my task to raise children. Raise them from the dead to walk in newness of life, raise them up in the knowledge of Jesus, unto mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of Christ. There are exceptions but look in the scriptures Joshua, Moses, Ezekiel, David, Peter... all had many years of preparation. Paul spent many years in Asia and other places before he took his seat as an apostle in the early church.
and not adhering to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow. (Colossians 2:19)Think about the language Paul uses here, to describe a church that no longer has Christ as the head, like a body part no longer attached to the head (not adhering to the head) off doing its own thing. Elsewhere he writes it is a severing from Christ to be justified in laws, it is a falling from grace and an attempt at obtaining righteousness and maturity through the flesh (Galatians 5:4). We grow up into the Head, who is Christ. Jesus said, "my Father is glorified in this that you bear much fruit of becoming my disciples" (John 15:8). Jesus equates bearing fruit in discipleship which is abiding in his words (John 15:7). "If you abide in my words existing truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). The scriptures are very clear as to the fruit that glorifies God, it comes from growth into maturity in Him.
... adhering to the head from whom the whole body... grows as God causes it to grow. Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its decrees; do not handle, do not taste, do not touch (Colossians 2:19-21).
so that you become blameless and innocent children of God amidst a crooked and perverse generation among whom shining like stars in the universe, exhibiting the word of life to the extent I boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain (Philippians 2:15-16)
How can we shine if we are not blameless, and how can we be blameless if we do not bear fruit, if not exhibiting the word of life? How can we bear fruit if we are not mature? What is Paul laboring for? Growth in the church, raising children, "but, maintaining the truth in love, grow up in every way into him who is the head, Christ," (Ephesians 4:15). "In whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord," (Ephesians 2:21). "Finally grow strong in the Lord and in the might of his strength" (Ephesians 6:10). "From whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God" (Colossians 2:19). "We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of each one of you for one another is increasing," (2 Thessalonians 1:3). The body grows by maintaining truth in love which increases (grows) faith and love. Faith works through love. Raising children is what God has purposed in the Church so that they grow up into Christ who is the head.