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The True Purpose of Christ’s Ministers
Ephesians 4:11-24
Vs. 11 And he (Jesus Christ) gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.
Who did Jesus give these “gifts” to? He gave them to the church (“unto men” from vs. 8).
Being an apostle isn’t receiving a gift. It’s being a gift….to the church. Same with the other gift ministries mentioned.
Vs. 12 For (pros – ultimate goal or objective or purpose) the perfecting (artizo – equipping) of the saints, for (eis – immediate goal or objective or purpose) the work of the ministry, for (eis) the edifying (building) of the body of Christ.
The ultimate purpose of the gifts, the ministries of service, that Jesus gave the church is to equip the saints to be able to perform the service of building the body of Christ.
Notice the Word of God doesn’t say to lead the saints. Neither does it say, to get them to follow. It doesn’t say to organize the saints. Other things it does not say is to direct, set the vision for, or manipulate the saints. It says to equip them. Telling people how they ought to live their lives does not equip them. This “equipping” is a word that would be used in “mending” nets. It means to bring someone or something to the place of being ready to do what they (or it) were intended to do.
There are a couple of home-type fellowships of which I am a part of, and more or less oversee. People come, and they stay (perhaps) for a while. And then they go……but they go more equipped. Equipped to serve the Lord Jesus Christ by ministering to his body of believers. They can read and understand the Bible, they can rightly divide the Word of God, they can walk by the spirit, they can discern truth from error. And they can communicate what they’ve learned to others. Christ did not call me to build a big organization, a big group of people…..only Christ can do that…… He called me to equip the saints!
And so, though our home fellowships are small, they have a powerful effect. They have been the cause of bringing the influence of Christ to the whole world. Literally. I personally know of people in China, Norway, and Canada ……. California, Florida and Massachusetts …. who have been equipped to further serve the body of Christ because of the influence received in our little fellowships.
No man can see the power of this equipping. Only the spirit of Christ.
Vs. 13 Till we all come in the unity (oneness) of the faith, and of the knowledge (epignosis – intimate experiential knowing) of the son of God, unto a perfect (fully initiated, fully mature) man, unto the measure of the stature (adultness) of the fullness of Christ;
In other words, the gift ministries given to the church will be functioning until Christ returns. But this is a wonderful way of describing the process that will be going on until that time. We’re all going to be growing and maturing in the spirit of Christ.
Too many Christians are all about what’s right and what’s wrong. (See study on What was The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?) We need to be about what is Christ and what is the world.
Trying to be right is eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Only Christ is right. In Christ, there is so much freedom to grow and improve and learn!!!
You’ve arrived when you’re on the journey in Christ.
Vs. 14 That we be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight (kubio – dice…..a direct reference to the idea of loaded dice, a crooked game of chance) of men, by cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive (this last is a bad translation…..what the original text does say is……with a view to the systematizing of error).
“Loaded dice” = a game you only think you can win, but never will. Like, for instance, arguing. Ever won an argument? A heated argument? The only time you ever win one of those is when you stop arguing! How about anger, righteous anger, bitterness, jealousy, envy, spite, revenge, depression, guilt…..ever won one of those?
Time to grow up! Go to a Christian bookstore and you will see “every wind of doctrine (teaching)”. Many Bible studies today are not Bible studies….they’re book studies! They study the popular book of the moment. The popular teaching.
Why not study God’s Word? Because Satan has shrouded it’s understanding in darkness for so long. He’s good at what he does. Not only does he bring error into our understanding, he systematizes it.
For example, many people have the idea that a church building is somehow a place where God dwells, so the building itself is holy. This is totally erroneous, and upon that lie has been built a whole system of errors. Such as: People think God wants them to pay others to “take care of His house.” In many services in such buildings, the congregation says nothing, unless they are invited to. This is not fellowship (see the study Do I HAVE to go to Church?). And the list goes on.
One of the big consequences of this huge system of error is that people find it almost impossible to live in the presence of God throughout the week. Because their lives just don’t feel as “holy” as the church building does, they feel God can’t, or doesn’t, dwell with them in their day-to-day routine. If they only knew that God doesn’t dwell in buildings made with hands, but rather in people’s hearts!!!
Oh, you’ll be doing some unlearning and relearning as you get into the heart and meat of God’s Word….that portion which is applied to you. And by the acceptance and belief of some basic, simple truths…..whole systems of error will simply disappear in your life….whole sets of problems will simply cease to exist. Life will grow simpler, more powerful, more enjoyable. Praise the Lord!
Vs. 15, 16 But speaking the truth (verb form of “truth”….can be translated “living out the truth”) in love may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, Christ; From whom the whole body fitly joined together (fit together properly) and compacted by that which every joint (relationship) supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The more the spirit of Christ works within you, the more powerful will your relationships be with other members of the body of Christ.
One very important thing to note here: We are each and every single one of us to grow up into Christ. The spirit of antichrist says that you need some other person between you and Christ….to interpret his will for your life. But that is what Satan wants….to keep you from Christ. Don’t let that happen. A true minister of Christ leads you into Christ. He teaches Christ. He preaches Christ. He magnifies Christ. He looks to, follows, obeys, serves, and talks about Christ. (See study What or Who is antichrist?)
If he’s a true minister of Christ….he’s helping you serve Christ, follow Christ. He’s definitely not asking you to follow him. Next time you’re at a church, or reading a Christian book….take special note of what is being proclaimed and taught. Is it Jesus Christ?
Verse 17-19 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you henceforth walk not as other (strike “other”, it’s not in the original text) Gentiles walk, in the vanity (fruitlessness, profitlessness, going nowhere) of their mind. Having the understanding (dianoia – ability to diagnose) darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance (agnosis – no experiential knowing) that is in them, because of the blindness (calcification – callousness) of their heart; Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, (excessive wantonness) to work all uncleanness with greediness.
The more your sensitive skin interacts with a rough surface, the more calloused it becomes, the less able to feel. The more calloused you are in your heart, and the more you want to feel, the harsher and more extreme your behavior will become.
Verse 20 But you have not so learned Christ.
One of the big but‘s in the Bible.
Verse 21-24 If so be that you have heard of him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus; That you put off concerning the former conversation (behavior) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that you put on the new man, which according to God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Lusts are deceitful because they never give what they promise…..fulfillment, satisfaction.
Put off ……Put on These phrases are exactly the ones used regarding clothing.
Take off the old man…..put on the new man….like clothing.
Clothe your mind with the new man….when Adam & Eve sinned, the first thing they noticed was that they were naked. When we put on the new man, we are clothed in the presence of God. With what? With righteousness and true holiness (not that phony holiness, which comes from trying to act and look good by your behavior, but which is in reality just standing approved before man, wanting others to look up to you and approve of you).
Our true holiness comes as a gift from God by means of Jesus Christ. We just need to put it on!
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Related studies are:
An Un-Polluted Gospel
What Christian Group Should I Belong To?
The Mystery of Christ
IN CHRIST – what does it mean?
