The Book of Ephesians Pt. 31 Spiritual Growth or Spiritual Regression! Choose Wisely!
I would like to begin this post with a brief review of where we have been so that we can keep all these essential truths fresh in our minds.
The worthy walk of a Christian.
Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3) Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
We have studied the first twelve verses of Ephesians Chapter 4 and I think it is good to review what we have covered from time to time. This helps us keep track of the truths Paul imparted to us so we can meditate upon what God is saying to us.
Paul began this chapter by introducing the worthy walk. The worthy walk applies to any born again person who is walking with the Spirit of God, being led by Him and who has a mind ready to hear and heed. The traits of a Christian who is walking the worthy walk includes being meek and lowly like our Lord Jesus Christ. It is having a humble heart that is longsuffering and forbearing with people we interact with. This man, woman or young person will work diligently to promote unity in the Spirit and peace within the body of Christ.
Unity and like-mindedness within the church.
Eph 4:4-6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Paul taught about the union of each born again believer with Jesus Christ, our exalted Head and with every other believer, as the Spirit of Christ places us into His body, the church. We looked at several texts to illustrate the tremendous diversity within the body of Christ, and noted how unity within such diversity is possible as we submit to the Holy Spirit.
Gifts from our victorious Lord.
Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Gifts from God that were designed to facilitate ministry within Christ's church. Paul then used a parenthetical describing what Christ did before His resurrection, so that we might see that the basis of all gifts is the glorious victory of Jesus over sin, death, hell, the grave and Satan.
Ephesians 4:8-10 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9) (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10) He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Jesus went to the place where the souls of all Old Testament saints went when they died. It was called "paradise" and "Abraham's bosom." We looked at texts from Luke 16 and 1 Peter 3:18-22 to learn about these things. It is remarkable that Jesus preached to a certain group of disobedient spirits while He was awaiting His resurrection morning.
Gifts to help saints grow, facilitate ministry and edify the body.
Eph 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
We spent time defining the various offices and functions included in the gifts that God gave to His Church. We noted that apostles and prophets were temporary gifts needed to fill the gap from when the first book of the New Testament was written (54 AD) until the last book was finished (95 AD) and the canon of scripture was complete. We studied how these gifted men were to function within the body of Christ.
Spiritual maturity is the purpose of God's gifts to the church.
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
The idea expressed here is that every single born again child of God is going to arrive at the point of spiritual maturity. It may take some of us longer to arrive than it does for others, for a variety of reasons. We either have a mind willing to seek those things above or else we have a carnal mind that seeks out earthly pleasures. We will either obey or disobey our Lord.
If we have a stubborn spirit, then it will take longer for us to reach spiritual maturity. I am sure I do not have to tell you that spiritual maturity runs in tandem with our progress in being conformed to Christ's image. Ongoing sanctification or the lack thereof will show us where we are in terms of maturing as believers.
A oneness of faith is needed because false teachers and false doctrines erupt to vex the Church in almost every generation. Walking the worthy walk and studying the scriptures really helps us to avoid being ensnared in a web of deceit spun by heretics.
What happens when we are not spiritually mature?
Here are a few of the dominant heresies that the early church leaders had to deal with. Often, the errors of these ancient heresies popped up frequently, perhaps using slightly different terms or a new name.
The heresy of "Arianism" taught that God is unbegotten. The Son of
God is begotten, and therefore cannot be God in the same sense as the Father. They
held that Jesus Christ was not generated from the same divine substance as the
Father, and that He did not co-exist with the Father throughout
eternity. Finally, they taught that
Jesus was created out of nothing, like all other creatures. Thus, the Lord Jesus
Christ exists only by the will of God, the Father. The errors of this cult are
still multiplied today by Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons, among others.
"Nestorianism" was another heresy that began in the 4th century A.D. This false teaching propagated the belief that in Christ, a divine and a human person, acted as one, but were not unified. Nestorians tended to refer to the “Christ” alone instead of referring to Him as Jesus Christ.
"Gnosticism" was perhaps, the most notable of these corruptions because it preceded all of the others, springing up like a plague during the second and third centuries A.D. "Gnosticism" combines elements of philosophy, paganism, and occult beliefs into an esoteric blend of spiritual perversion. Traces of this way of thinking can be seen in the new age movement, theosophy, and various Masonic writings. It is formulated upon promising secret knowledge of the divine realm.
Gnostics taught that sparks of the Divine Being fell to earth
from the divine realm. The physical or material universe was viewed as evil and sparks of divinity
became imprisoned in human bodies. Knowledge became the only method to
re-awaken the dormant spark of divinity within each person. Those who have been
secretly initiated into an occult fraternity perpetuate this secret knowledge
or inner light of reason.
Gnostics said God was evil “demiurge” because He impeded the upward progress of mankind with His restrictive laws against sin. By this sleight of hand, Satan became the benefactor of mankind and source of all good things, while God was portrayed as an evil being.
Gnostics said that the Christ inhabited the body of Jesus, but this Divine Spirit left and ascended into the divine realm when Jesus died on the cross. Thus, Gnostics reject the vicarious atonement and the victorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior.
Jesus is our model for spiritual maturity.
Paul laid much stress upon our need to come to a full and complete knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This full knowledge was needed so that believers in every age can discern false teaching and flee from it.
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
God's purpose was that His children grow into a "perfect" man. This is not spiritual perfection while we live out the gospel here and now. It is a full grown man who is spiritually mature, well grounded and firmly founded upon our rock, Jesus Christ. He is our perfect example and from a child, He grew in wisdom and stature among men.
Avoid spiritual regression.
Hebrews 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Spiritual growth is absolutely necessary for all Christians. When we were born again, we were spiritual babes in Christ with much new truth to learn as new creations in Christ. Peter said that new believers start out with the sincere, pure milk of God's word and then must make progress toward digesting the "strong meat" of God's Word.
There were some believers who were well taught and seemed to be on the way to spiritual maturity. These believers were supposed to be properly prepared so they could "teach" or disciple other new believers on the path to spiritual maturity.
However, somewhere along the way they regressed and became like spiritual babes again, needing someone to teach them the "milk" of God's word. Believers who stay on the "milk" of God's word are unskilful. The word "unskilful" means inexperienced.
A believer without spiritual growth is inexperienced and unable to defend his faith by using the scriptures. Nor is that person an effective witness for Christ because he is not living out the truth of the gospel. He cannot distinguish good from evil or right from wrong. He is very much like an infant needing constant care from its parents.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Why does God through Paul, insist that we make progress on the continuum of spiritual maturity and sanctification? Because if we do not achieve progress toward maturity, we will be like little children, tossed back and forth by each new false doctrine and false teaching springing from men's wicked imaginations.
Heretics plot to deceive people so they can live a luxurious lifestyle and gain a large following.
Thoughts to Ponder...
We live in an age where the church of Christ is careening toward spiritual disaster. You have ministries like Joel Osteen promising health, wealth and prosperity to all. Such a message is extremely appealing to the flesh and tens of thousands of people are swayed by it. Osteen lives in pure luxury with large mansions and expensive cars. This man has a net worth of $100 million dollars!
2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3) And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Remember the warnings from the apostles. False prophets privately bring damnable heresies into the church. Many follow their false teaching because it appeals to the lust of their flesh. They used "feigned" or false words to convince people that they speak truth from God. The end result is that they fleece the people, financially. Such false teachers will be held accountable by Holy God.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
All those false teachers who deceive believers with lying words obscure the truth that the love of money is the root of all evil. This will lead to lives being destroyed and many sorrows in believers lives. A spiritual leader from God (bishop, pastor, overseer, evangelist or elder) must not be greedy of riches (1 Timothy 3:3). Instead, they must have a willing mind to preach the word of God as it is to men without fear of repercussions.
We live in an idolatrous age where Christians are told they can live like the world and yet be born again. This is another popular false teaching that is contradicted by the Word of Truth (1 John 2:15-17). Those who cozy up to the world and say they are born again are liars and enemies of God.
I pray that the Spirit of God will take these precious truths and give each of us discernment, that we might swiftly reject all things that do not please God and instead, readily embrace all that God has for us. May the Lord's Day tomorrow bring joy, hope, encouragement and purpose into each of our hearts. May we determine to live for the glory of God.
Bob
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