Ephesians 4:13-16

Spiritual Maturity

Introduction

Another aspect of unity is Christian maturity. As we get closer to the Lord and mature in Him, so we get nearer to one another. Pressing on to maturity is vital. Neglect of this is the cause of so many problems in Christians’ lives and in churches. It is a matter of growth, development and maturity, of getting out of babyhood, and being adult and grown up in our faith.

Some assume that being converted is all that matters. But this is only the beginning and not the end. At conversion we are baby members of God’s family, taking first steps along the road. Immaturity is to be avoided. Must seek maturity. Going to discover the means by which this maturity is found.

Immaturity we are to avoid

We will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:14). We begin as babes and children in Christ, when in Christ by the Holy Spirit we have new birth, a new creation. We are young in knowledge, in experience, understanding, and Christian character. Always wonderful when someone receives new birth in Christ, but they are only a baby, need plenty of help, protection, support, teaching. They are in danger and great weakness. There are two problems:

(a) Lack of stability. Tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching (Ephesians 4:14). periferomenoi “by every fresh gust of teaching”. The immature Christian never seems to know own mind and have settled convictions. Swings from one extreme to another. Sticks at nothing for more than 5 minutes. Life in influenced by the last preacher he heard, the latest book he read, he follows the latest bright idea from latest theologian. In his Christian life he goes from one thrill to the next- entertainment, excitement, novelties, attracted by big event. Faithful, patient commitment to the Lord and His people, perhaps in difficult and trying circumstances, is not for him.

Need look no further than the New Testament to see this. Peter walked courageously in the waves – then called out “”Lord save me” (Matthew 14:28-30. He confesses Christ – then in the next breath he rebukes Christ (Matthew 16:22). He says he would lay down his life for Christ – then he denies Him before a servant girl (John 13:37; 18:17,25). Even after the resurrection and great preaching and service, Peter says he will eat with Gentiles – then he withdraws from them (Galatians 2:11,12). No wonder Paul withstood him, opposed him to his face, because he was in the wrong. Immaturity means no depth, no stability, no sticking power.

(b) Lack of discernment. Blown here and there …. by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:14). Easy prey to false teachers. Repeated warnings in the New Testament about right and wrong teaching, truth and error. We have the words of Jesus about false teachers and false prophets (Matthew 7:17; 24:23f). Paul warned the Ephesian elders to “take heed” because of savage wolves who would enter in and not spare their flock (Acts 20:29). Similar warnings in his letters, and other New Testament books: 2 Corinthians 11:3; Galatians 1:5; Philippians 3:2,18; Colossians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Peter 2; Jude; 1 John 4; Revelation 2-3.

In today’s world we are told not to be judgemental, and instead to be loving, be positive. But the New Testament does not say that. Urgent need to be discerning. Missionaries have more trouble with false teaching and error and false religion than they have with plain unbelief. In this country, cults win converts from young Christians. They come to their doorstep, appear very nice people, speaking about the Bible and prophecy and Jesus, but the young Christian lacks the discernment to see that mark of error, the denial that Christ is central, unique, sufficient and essential.

Lack of stability and discernment are the marks of immaturity. Many believers are in this state. Having begun as children they end as children, never growing, at the same stage of their Christian experience where they were 20 or 30 years ago.

Maturity we are to seek

From the negative to the positive. Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the Knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). We need to press on in knowledge and faith of the Son of God, going on to be mature Christians, knowing Christ’s fullness, as branches receiving life from the vine.

We know and belong to the Lord now, and know His work in our life, but for all of us there is still much more. More knowledge, faith, fellowship, communion with Him, all can go much further. Not yet fully conformed to Christ. So much more of His grace and power and gifts and life and fullness of Christ yet to be enjoyed. Christ’s image is not yet fully formed in us. We all need these things. None of us have arrived. The more we grow in these areas, the closer and more united we become. There is so much more the Lord has for us and to do in us and make of us.

New Testament’s presentation of this increase and growth: From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another (John 1:16); Paul, after all his letters, and missionary journeys and sermons, still wishes I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection (Philippians 3:10) – not satisfied, wanting to know more; Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). This growth will not be completed in this life, not till we see Him as He is shall we be perfectly like Him.

But growth is real down here. A high degree of maturity can be attained here and now. Most of the time this growth is gradual. No short cuts here. Undoubtedly there can be spurts of rapid growth in times of crises and special quickening and removal of hindrance, when new levels of spiritual power and reality, never known before, are experienced. But over all the pattern of spiritual maturity is gradual growth.

Then as we grow up into Him in all things, enjoying greater unity, as He fills us with His life, He binds us together enlarging our love, sympathy and understanding for one another.

Is growth a reality in your life? Look back over last 12 months – have you just repeated previous year’s Christian experience, or have you moved on in Christ? Do your prayers and thoughts reflect growth? Do the glorious truths of the Gospel grip you more than ever? Do you have an increasing sense of wonder at His dealings with you? Does Christ mean much more now than when you came to know Him? Is the power of His Word and its truth greater than ever before? Does the more you know the truth, the more you are moved by it?

The Means whereby we gain this maturity in Christ

How does all this take place? Speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) is not the best translation of alh qeuontes en agaph. “Truthing it in love” is closer – meaning holding, maintaining, walking in, living and doing the truth. God uses the teaching of His Word to cause us to mature. He presents the truth to us and then enables us by His Spirit to respond to it.

“Father sanctify them through your Truth

Your Word is Truth”

We are not sanctified, nor do we grow, through emotional experiences, but through the Truth.

Significantly, this section began with the gift of the risen Christ, giving some to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and Pastor-teachers (Ephesians 4:10-11). The ministry of Apostles and Prophets was temporary, and through them God’s Truth was revealed. The ministry of the Evangelists is to bring this Truth to the unsaved. The ministry of the Pastor-teachers is to build up the people in this Truth. God’s Truth is to be understood and then believed and acted on. The Holy Spirit was given to act with the Word to enable us to grasp and live out this Truth.

There must be clear and definite teaching about God and Christ and the Holy Spirit. We must have clear understanding about truth and error. We need to realize our resources and God’s power. This gives stability, and a yardstick or standard by which to judge what people say.

John Newton, slave ship captain, led most degraded and brutal life, converted in storm at sea. Entered the ministry. Penned such verses as “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds”, “Glorious things of thee are spoken”. In one of his letters he wrote, “Those who study the Scriptures in humble dependence on divine teaching, convinced of their own weakness… make a true estimate of everything around them… learn to submit to God’s will. His Word dwells in them richly…. preserves them from error …light to feet…. spring of strength and consolation. By treasuring up doctrines, precepts, promises and examples in their minds and comparing them with the rule by which they walk, they grow into an habitual frame of spiritual wisdom, acquire gracious taste enabling them to judge right and wrong with the certainty of a musical ear judging sound. They are seldom mistaken because they have the glory of God in view.”

It is the Word of God doing these things in the life. How crucial it is that every day of our lives the Word of Christ dwells in us richly. We need to be like the Bereans who received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11). How important for the preacher not to be concerned with entertaining, or expressing his own opinions about religion and morality, but to simply let God’s Word speak to souls in its truth, power and with its promises, warnings and expectations. He must urge the congregation that, by the Holy Spirit who inspired the Word, they might grasp it, live by it, obey it and feed on it. Remember we are not conferring favour on God by coming to church – His worship, Word and fellowship are complete necessities if we would know anything about growth and maturity.

Being preserved from error, knowing the truth, gaining stability, and growing in grace are life and death matters. We must hold and live by the Truth in love. The Truth needs love – else it will become strident and hard. Love needs truth - else it will become soft and sentimental. We need the Spirit of Truth, whose first fruit is love.

Conclusion

This is one of many passages about immaturity and maturity, stability and discernment. The Christian adult needs to know Christ, be filled with His fullness, go from strength to strength, taught by the Spirit through the Word. May we get our priorities right. May God make us to hunger and thirst for Him. May we long to grow up into Christ. May His Word dwell in us richly.