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Growing In Christ

Now, truthfully in love, grow up in all, to the extent of him, the one who is the head, Christ (Ephesians 4:15)

The word truthfully means come true, be realized, be true, be right; prove to be true. We see its meaning in the verse's context, truthfully in love we grow up in knowledge of Jesus, Ephesians 4:15, into mature adulthood, into the full measure of his image. Jesus is the word of God, the truth, thus we grow up in knowledge of Him, the head, like seeds in a sunflower. This word of truth is the gospel of our salvation and our salvation encompasses spirit, soul, and body, so we are to abide in the truth to know the truth, and be set free by it. It is continuing in truth that knowing or being proven to be true or mature is realized. With truth being realized, with growth in the truth, children of God become mature.

so that we are no longer children tossed and blown about by winds of doctrine in human cunning, that in craftiness with deceitful scheming, but truthfully in love grow up... (Ephesians 4:14-15)

Why are gifts given to the church? So that children grow up into maturity. This implies a child can not discern nor be obedient to God's will. Without transformation, the renewal of the mind, they will not approve of truth in regards to having the ability to practice, to accept it as good and pleasing. A church can grow in many ways without being in truth, but without truth being realized, you just have children. If we are not mature when the storms in this life come, the foundation will be revealed, and great is the fall of the house not built on the Rock, the words of Jesus, the truth. Thus truthful in love we grow up.

That person is not holding fast to the head, 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)

How do we grow? How does the church grow? holding fast to the head, who is Christ. We are to put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13; 1 Peter 2:1) and "like newborn babes, crave the milk that is pure and spiritual, so that by it you may grow up to salvation" (1 Peter 2:2). What are the signs of growth? "... your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of each one of you for one another is increasing" (2 Thessalonians 1:3). Truthfully in love the church grows. Faith is growing because of truth and love is the bond that leads to maturity (Colossians 3:14).

Now, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, alone the glory also at the present and to the extent of the eternal day, Amen (2 Peter 3:18).
 
Growth is from God. In this verse we see that growth will be in grace and the knowledge of Jesus. As God's grace is sufficient as it is his power maturing us in weakness (1 Corinthians 12:9). Great emphasis is put on growth through the knowledge of Jesus in the scriptures. Every thing in regards to life and godliness is through the knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 1:3). Also it is to the glory of Jesus Christ. We can not boast in ourselves about our salvation, it is a gift from God, neither can we boats about the wisdom needed to grow, as every perfect gift, for the purpose of maturing, coming from above is a gift from God. 
 
We can ask, as our heavenly Father gives generously and we must ask having faith. It can be difficult to have faith and receive wisdom to change when our identity has been so long a certain way, we may think, I have always been this way, I can not see myself changing, my mind always thinks on those things, I am easily tempted in this area... We can't even imagine that change is possible.

Now, to the one powerfully to do, over and above, beyond all which we ask or imagine, according to the power working in us (Ephesians 3:20-21)
 
Every good gift that comes down from above, will be wisdom and revelation in knowing him, so that the eyes of our hearts are enlightened, so that we grow into maturity in him. Faith is required to receive such wisdom, and grace to grow and stand in its truth. Meekness to receive it so it is implanted deeply, and endurance to be a doer, looking intently into its law of liberty, to abide in its truth so that it sets free. Like a plant having been deeply rooted, enduring until it grows up to maturity, we will produce fruit, fruit of obedience and righteousness. 
 
Truthfully in love is how God has purposed the church to grow, In truth, unity of faith and in knowledge of Jesus. Power in our inner being, Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith, rooted and founded in love, so we have strength to lay hold of the incomparable love of Christ, to be filled to the fullness of God in Christ, so we may bear fruit, some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundredfold.


 

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