When we preach the gospel, we rightly emphasise the need for a response of faith and repentance. That, however, is just the beginning of the Christian life. The Lord requires growth in his people and also provides all the resources we need. Our goal is maturity in Christ, making progress until the completion that we will experience when Christ returns. Consider now Ephesians 4:14-16 Grown-up Christians.
1. Stability in belief
Progress is essential as we engage in mutual ministry: ‘Then we will no longer be infants’ (v14). There is to be a leaving behind of the early stages of Christian experience and there is something wrong if we remain at that point. Spiritual infancy is characterised by instability – we are not strong enough to walk without staggering. Paul uses vivid language – ‘tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind’. When spiritually immature we may be uncertain about the truth, so that when we meet various types of false teaching, we may be tempted to follow them. We can become more and more confused, resulting in a kind of spiritual seasickness. We may also be unstable in our practice, inconsistent with what we do know of the truth. An example is Peter refusing to eat with Gentiles (Galatians 2). The pressures of others pushing us to and fro can produce inconsistency. There are those whose aim is to deceive – ‘The cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming’ (v14). We must be on our guard – we face ‘the devil’s schemes’ (6:11). Stability comes through mutual ministry, helping us to be ‘rooted and built up in [Christ]’ (Colossians 2:7). Our focus is to be on him, not on the wind and waves (Matthew 14:30, Peter sinking).
2. Integrity in life
As believers make use of their gifts to minister to each other, our entire lives will be affected. We will be different from the world, for example ‘speaking the truth in love’ (v15), which involves every part of life, not just our words. Here is a life of integrity, so different from the false teachers. It is a life open to scrutiny, walking in the light (1 John 1:7). In all their dealings Christians will be entirely trustworthy (Psalm 15:4). The area of speech is especially important. We will not bend the truth in any way. Sins of speech are to be carefully avoided (1 Peter 2:1). Instead, we are to be people of truth, communicating God’s truth in its fulness. Note ‘in love’ – love for others springing from our love for the Lord. We are to speak truthfully, but not in a harsh, unloving way that hurts rather than heals.
3. Growth in Christ
We have a comprehensive picture in v15 – ‘in all things grow up into him who is the Head’. All of life is to be developing in the likeness of the Lord. Note the imagery of the body – with Christ as Head, a description that implies his authority over his people (see 1:22). Mutual ministry is again to the fore: ‘the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament’. Each Christian has a particular place assigned by the Lord. Thus the body ‘grows and build itself up in love’. Each part of the body is united to Christ and draws strength from him, and so ‘each part does its work’.