For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. (Ephesians 4:12-15)
The True Path to Christian Maturity
Many view church as a place to go to receive something, like youth groups or emotional worship. However, Paul depicts the church as a living organism where every person contributes. We should not go to church to be served; we should go to church to serve and build others up. Christianity struggles when people use the church for selfish ends. The church exists so that I can serve others and build them up. These gifts Christ gave help me fulfill His vision: a living organism of interdependent parts fulfilling their purpose in the body to reach the goal of Christian maturity.
Stability and Growth in Christian Maturity
I will mature when I serve and build up others. Paul describes Christian maturity in Ephesians 4:13 as becoming a “perfect man,” meaning completeness. This maturity involves unifying in faith and the knowledge of Jesus Christ to become more Christlike. Growing up provides protection so we are no longer like children tossed by “every wind of doctrine” as described in Ephesians 4:14. Growing in knowledge sharpens discernment, allowing us to see false ideas clearly and stay stabilized like a house built on a rock, unaffected by raging storms.
Speaking the Truth in Love
As Paul says in Ephesians 4:15, the greatest sign of maturity is love. Love is the highest of all Christian virtues. The world knows we are Christians by our love, according to John 13:34-35. Furthermore, 1 John 4:20 and Galatians 5:22 remind us that love is the first sign the Holy Spirit lives in us. While knowledge can make us proud, 1 Corinthians 8:1 says love builds up. We must love God, one another, and the truth. Jesus described Himself as the truth, and the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth” in John 16:13.
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