I would encourage you to turn with me in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians chapter 4. We will read the first 16 verses as we have, I think, the last three studies as we looked at the first part of the chapter and now come to this last section of this passage or this pericope verses 11 through 16. And I think it's. One of those passages in Scripture that is deep and wide with importance, with relevance for who we are, for what we believe, how we are to live as a church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Anyway, before we read this, let's ask the Lord's blessing upon His Word. O Lord, we thank You that we can hold in our hands the Scriptures. that the Word of God has been recorded and preserved even as we have it today so that we can hear with our ears the Word of God. Lord, give to us minds that remember, hearts that will hold fast to these things, Lord, where there is lack, supply our need. Where there is a hunger or a weakness, provide spiritual food and healing. Lord, provide for us even this day, this hour, as we would look to You. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Ephesians 4 verse 1-16 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. With all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all. But to each one of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore, he says, when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. Now, if he ascended, what does it mean but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens that he might fill all things. And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers. 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, 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, from whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Beloved congregation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, This passage defines the ministry of the Christian church. This is a passage, I think, that is sometimes read and understood by individuals as being a charge given to anyone who wants it. Anywhere they are. And while I think there is an extension, an application as it were, that would extend to each and every. This passage is speaking most definitively regarding the existence, the work, the ministry of the Christian church. Now, it is clear that the Lord Jesus has an interest. and is at work drawing and gathering individuals to Himself. In fact, it was just a week or two ago, I think we had our call to worship from Psalm 138, and it describes how God deals with the hearts of men individually. And of course, the answer to the psalmist is, well, who is like the Lord our God? He dwells on high above the heavens with glory that has no bounds, that has no ends, And yet, He's going to work in your heart? He's going to mold and shape you for service and equip you in His Kingdom? What does the psalmist say? He says, who is like the Lord our God? And that's exactly right. And of course, this passage here, it's set in its context. The book of Ephesians. The Apostle Paul is ministering to this more or less fledgling congregation composed primarily of Gentile converts. And he rejoices in this outworking of God's plan of redemption. Was God only interested in one people and one race? The Israelites in Old Testament Palestine? Of course the answer is no. From the beginning, he had his sights set on the worldwide peoples of the earth. that in them and through them and from them He might gather to Himself a people named by His name and called by His grace. And of course, as He comes now to chapter 4, He gives them... so you're the Ephesian church. Now you guys have to have a walk worthy of the calling that is in Christ Jesus. With all lowliness. Are you special? Yeah! But with all lowliness and humbleness of heart. Because this is God's work in you. Bearing with one another in love. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And of course, realizing that we're all different peoples. Even now, probably not ethnically so diverse from each other, but certainly we come from different geographical areas. We grew up in different places, and yet here we are. with one faith, one Lord, one baptism. And we find our center, as it were, in the truth that is revealed in God's Word. Well, as we come then to verses 11 and following, honestly, we could preach on this passage for probably two or three weeks. We're going to kind of skim over some of this stuff, but it's just because we have to. He Himself. Who is the He Himself, but the risen? ascended, exalted, Lord of heaven and earth, the Lord Jesus Christ. He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. These are the gifts or among the gifts that Christ has given to His church. And in effect, what He has given us is the institutional church. When you read apostles, when you read prophets, I think you can't read that without looking back to chapter 2, verse 20, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. What is that reference to? Well, that foundation of the apostles and prophets is the Word of God. He revealed Himself. He revealed His truth to all generations by their hand. And so it is that among the gifts that Christ has poured out. In fact, Jesus even talked that way, didn't He? If I go away, it's good for you. Because what I will give to you is the Comforter. lead you, he will guide you into all truth. And of course, that's exactly what we have in the Scriptures, the Word of God. Well, he gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers. And of course, these are those that he gave. Some of the apostles, as we read Acts chapter 1, they were an extraordinary gift to the church. Not normal. We don't have apostles today. Because one of the things they have to be to be an apostle is eyewitnesses of the incarnate Christ. Do we have any eyewitnesses alive today who have seen the incarnate Christ? The answer is no. And so there are some offices here that have fulfilled their purpose and now have been superseded or replaced by the ordinary offices of the church. And of course, that becomes the role of evangelists and pastors and teachers. And no doubt, there's a sense in which the prophetic office of the church continues, but not one that is giving revelations of God and His will, because now He's given that final word. And that has come to us in Christ. Well, if these are the gifts that are personally given and functionally given, to what end? To what purpose do these serve? Back up just a moment. I just remembered something. He doesn't say priests, does he? He hasn't given some priests. Since the nation of Israel came out of Egypt, there were priests of Aaron and so on. Why not priest now? Well, because Christ was the great High Priest. Christ is the One who offered Himself on the altar of the cross and so fulfilled that whole picture and portrait of salvation was complete in Christ. He was the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. And so, it is that role In fact, in our catechism questions and answers, we talk about that threefold office of Christ. And we share in that priestly office, but now not in terms of official priests, but we have prayers and intercessions being made at the throne of God. And of course, when we pray for ourselves and for others, we are doing that interceding. So anyway, come now to verse 12. We see the task of these gifts. And this becomes a really long sentence, and yet we can look at it in its parts. He gave us these offices, verse 11, verse 12, 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. And so these tasks which the church has, it had better be sure to be fulfilling for the equipping or for the training, for the instruction of the saints. It literally means to mend, to restore, to set in order, or to make complete. That is part of why we spend so much time in the Word. That's why we send you as children to Sunday school after the service. That we might learn and understand more and more of the Scriptures. That's why we have catechism class. I know those of you that are in that class think, oh, I've got so much memorizing to do. But that's all part of the function the church has in training you and teaching you. Equipping the saints And it's not a comma. It's for the work of ministry. And of course, it is that task to teach and to preach, to make pastoral visits and encouragements that the work of the ministry continues. For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. I think it was in a sermon or in a recent letter that I wrote, but we are Not an end in ourselves, but a means to an end. We've been called. We've been qualified. We've been equipped with the Word of God, the Scripture, indwelt by His Holy Spirit, so that we might serve. So that we might all contribute and do our part. And of course, that whole business of God, look at verse 7, but to each one of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Well, there is that, you know, what we often think as the whole, the fact that we are going to be spared the torments of hell and enjoy the comforts of heaven. But that's not the sum total of this gift that Christ is talking about. for the work of ministry, for service, for assisting. And one of the ironies, and you who are Sunday school teachers or who have been Sunday school teachers know this all too well. You go to serve, to work, but who's blessed the most? Probably you. For that effort, for that work, for that service of ministry. Or you help someone. And who's the one who's blessed? The person who you helped? In part, but not mostly. You're the one that's blessed. Because it is in that exercise of ministry, that service, that reaching out with a phone call, making a visit to an aged saint. Is that a bother? Probably. But if it's a bother, that's a blessing. And the sooner we all figure that out, whether we're younger or older, the more we see that it's more gratifying, it's more challenging for us to do that than it would be for us to entertain ourselves for hours on end. What's worthwhile? What is relevant as it were? Well, just look at how that verse continues. For the edifying of the body of Christ. And of course, the idea of edifying is increasing, is growing to increase in faithfulness. And that is not a Lone Ranger effort. You know, sure, Christ has given pastors and teachers well and fine. But that's not going to be enough for you. It's not going to be enough for others. We are in a training academy that enables us all to participate in ministry. Why pray for each other? Why encourage one another? Why say, hey, we missed you the other day? The more that's decentralized, if you want to think that way, the better. That is the intended nature of the church. And of course, this being trained, this being instructed, It's fulfilled by these goals. We have goals in v. 13 through v. 16. Till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. Till we all get it. Till we all understand it. Till we see, oh, that moment of aha. is what we're hoping and looking for in the lives and the hearts of each one. Till we all come to the unity of the faith, and the idea of unity and fullness is that of maturing. You know, we have children among us, and they grow up into adults. They bulk out. They get an education. They get jobs and employed and all that. Well, what's happening? Well, they're going through this process. And if they stay at this process and never get to that point, then they've missed out on that whole growth. And that's what we need to be careful doesn't happen with fellow believers in the Christian church. Hey, step it up, brother. Why aren't you doing your part? Why aren't you carrying your load? Why should someone else have to make up for your weakness? Those are all relevant questions. And of course, the goal here is that we would all come to the unity of the faith, of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect or a complete, a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Said in our parlance, rock solid, grounded. And of course, that illustration or understanding exactly makes sense when you look at the next verse. tossed about by every wind of doctrine, but sound. I can remember growing up in the Christian church and reciting the Apostles' Creed, even reading and studying some of these things and thinking, I wonder if this is really it. Is it just that? Is that all that's happening in the Scriptures and the church? Well, of course, the viewpoint that I had at that time was a truncated view. And not when that embraced me, nor I had embraced it. But when we catch on to this, it just becomes a profound challenge to be hearing and heeding. Look at v. 14. That we should no longer be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting." So, from the Apostle Paul's perspective, we need to know the truth and believe the truth. Live the truth. Be solid on the truth. Why? Because we're going to live in a day, and this goes for 2,000 years, we're going to live in a day when there's going to be 1,000 competing voices, competing interests that are going to distract and dissuade us from that one place to turn aside to 1,000 different detours and different directions. In our adult Sunday school, we've been studying and comparing Christianity with the cults. And there's a bunch of wacky stuff out there. There really, really is. But you know what? That's exactly what the Bible said was going to be the case. In fact, if you want, with me, turn to 1 John. It's one of the last books of the New Testament. 1 John 2. And listen to what the Apostle John says. He says, little children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard, the Antichrist is coming. Even now, many Antichrists have come by which we know that it is the last hour." That's scary stuff, isn't it? Chapter 4. Same book. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God. Why? For many false teachers have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. And if they're talking about themselves, if they're talking about the latest psychology, if they're talking about anything else, you need to turn around and get out of there. Because the Gospel is that God Himself became a man. Came and lived among us. Came and died for us. And rose again. That's the Gospel. And if they're talking about anything else, as, what's the guy's name on Wretched Grave? Yeah, Todd Frio says, turn and run the other way. Because it's not what you need to hear. In fact, it will be just the opposite. And of course, is that something we have to worry about? Probably. It's our world, you know. We probably have friends and people that we work with that believe completely confusing stuff. Or they don't know what they believe. Maybe a little Eastern mysticism. Maybe a little bit of that. A little bit of that. And if we say, that's fine. Or, it's good for them. It's good for them. Whatever winds your crank. Whatever analogy you want to use. but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the Head, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." So, the goal of these gifts that we might grow in the one true faith understanding of God and His grace. That we may be able to withstand false doctrine and false teachers. Third, that we may grow into mature Christians. Grow up, the Apostle Paul says. And that's what we need to do. Put your big boy shoes on or pants on and do your business. Believe it. Live it. With the goal, I think the final goal or the overarching goal is that we might have healthy, functioning churches of the Lord Jesus Christ. We live in a day where people think church is optional. I think if there's anything true of our day, it's exactly the opposite. We need each other. Brothers in arms. And we need to be reminded of the truth and the once for all nature of the truth that has come to us in Christ. And I don't think there's any question that this is what Christ had in mind when he gave these offices so that we might learn to believe, to serve, to live, and to do all of those things which God has commanded and taught us through His Word. Amen. Father in Heaven, we thank You for today. We thank You for Your Word. We pray that we might reflect on these things often, even reread them and reconsider them to see how it is that we are to do our part Maybe some here who haven't served as an elder or a deacon might be challenged to grow and mature in their faith and conviction. We have nothing that we have that we've not worked for or not sought to attain. And so it is that if we would grow to maturity in Christ, we must commit ourselves and discipline ourselves to walk and to live in the manner that you have called. We thank You for all this in Jesus' name, Amen.