There is much discussion today regarding what the church is “to be.” What does a biblical church look like? How does a biblical church operate? We have been asking such poignant questions since the book of Acts. However, among the many answers that are varied and unbiblical, God has not left His church to grope […]
Speaking the Truth in Love: The Characteristic of a Mature Believer Read More »
In Ephesians 4, the Apostle Paul is preeminently concerned with the unity of the body of Christ––how they function as one unit, how they strive for one mission, how they reach one goal. From the beginning of chapter 4, Paul takes up the task of identifying this “one body” (Ephesians 4:4). He identifies them as
“Tossed To and Fro”: The Necessity of Sound Doctrine Read More »
Ephesians 4:12-13, “To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” What does “the work
Ephesians 4:11, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers…”. As part of the overflow of his amazing grace toward his people (Eph 2:1-10), Jesus gave five offices to the church, four of which are mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 and one of which is mentioned in 1 Timothy 3:8-13:
Ephesians 4:8-10: “Therefore it says, ‘When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.’ (In saying, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the
Christ’s Descension and Ascension: His Glory, Our Privilege Read More »
Eph. 4:7, “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” Maintaining the unity of the Spirit, the unity of the body of Christ, takes grace. God through Christ has given that to us. God is a gracious God. When Moses asked God to reveal His glory to
Eph. 4:5-6, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” The Holy Spirit called us to one hope. Within that hope, we have one Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ. We have one faith, the gospel. And we have one baptism, we
Eph. 4:4, “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call” Paul implores us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling and part of that is maintaining the unity of the Holy Spirit. The unity comes as we understand there is only
