I. The Breadth of Maturity (13a)
Paul helped establish the church in Ephesus with about a dozen disciples of John (Acts 19:1-7). He preached the gospel in the Jewish synagogue for three months before “reasoning daily” in the hall of Tyrannus for two years (Acts 19:8-10). He healed, cast out demons—and many turned away from magic to the Lord (Acts 19:11-20). The silversmith incited a riot because Paul’s ministry had cut into his idol making business (Acts 19:21-41).
Paul was not an Ephesian. He planted several churches during his three missionary journeys. When he says, “until we all attain to the unity of the faith”—he has more than one local church in mind. He is referring to the universal church, true believers across the whole region of the Middle East. Today it applies to believers across the globe, in various denominations.
This is what he means by the body of Christ. Christ’s body is not divided by geography or denominations. We are all one in Christ! We are not called to find commonality between every other culture/ethnicity, but Christ connects us all as we enjoy union with him.
This spiritual connection means we share experiences. When one part suffers, the whole body suffers. A cut on the arm is not the same as a head wound, but any wound affects the whole body. We also share joy.
Paul is not expecting believers in Ephesus to express some show of unity with believers in Egypt. In all likelihood, believers in both regions would live their lives completely separate from each other. But, if the gospel is proclaimed in both places, then the whole Church enjoys an increasing “unity of the faith.” Your engagement in a local church impacts the unity of the global Church.
However, we have to acknowledge that some churches are more pure than others. That doesn’t mean a less pure church is a false church. We need to rely upon the Holy Spirit to guide us to churches that stand firm on the infallible and inerrant Word of God. As we mature in Christ, we are more and more capable of discerning what is essential to the unity of the faith.
Maturity looks like a healthy appreciation for the breadth of Christ’s body. We are not only concerned with ourselves.
› Maturity not only expands the church outward, but it also deepens our faith inward…
II. The Depth of Maturity (13b)
“until we all attain to…the knowledge of the Son of God”
We always begin with the surface level truths. We feed on the milk of God’s Word until we are ready to chew on the meat.
Do we know the basic facts of the gospel? Do you know Jesus? Have you placed your faith in the One who…
• descended from heaven to earth (Eph 4:9-10),
• redeemed us through his blood and granted us forgiveness (Eph 1:7),
• then rose again from the dead and ascended to the right hand of his Father (Eph 1:20)?
But this knowledge is only the beginning. We continue to build upon the gospel—never moving away from it—but digging deeper into these truths. With the help of the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13, 17-19), we meditate upon the love of Christ and gain a deeper affection for him (Eph 3:17-19).
We start at the shallow end of the pool and work our way towards the diving boards throughout our lives. We make progress, but we also guard our steps.
Paul is about to warn his readers of false teaching. He was aware of the manipulative tactics of his opponents. They would not outright reject Jesus. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons will be quick to mention Jesus and how they seek to faithfully follow him. But they define Christ differently than Scripture. By rejecting the Trinity, they promote a false Christ. And, since there will be many antichrists in the latter days, we should be remain on guard against them (1 Jn 2:18).
The exhortation implied by this text is to pursue “knowledge of the Son of God.” How do we typically grow in this knowledge? We seek to understand what has been revealed about him. In practical terms this means we prioritize God’s Word.
1. Is preaching God’s Word central in every worship service?
2. Does the Bible informs each element of the worship service?
3. Are you encouraged to read it personally and with your family?
4. Are you taught to see Christ in all of Scripture?
We want all of us to attain that knowledge. This should be modeled in our teaching for all ages.
› Maturity grows in breadth and depth, until we reach the full measure of our faith…
III. The Height of Maturity (13c)
“…to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”
This can only speak of a future reality when we reach perfect maturity. There are still others to be gathered in and all of us to be built up (Eph 4:12).
Some of you may be thinking, the PCA must be very close to reaching full maturity. We have superior theology and influential men of integrity. But, I was reminded this week just how far we are from perfection.
A quick note first: Paul does not mean for us to apply this individually. “I just need to focus on my own maturity…I can’t worry about anyone else.” That’s what our individualistic Western culture suggests. “You do you and I’ll do me.” Any correction or rebuke is immediately categorized as judgmental or legalistic.
That is how progressive churches in the PCA have approached our differences for decades. Instead of submitting to the practices established in our BCO, such as church leadership being limited to qualified men, they appoint female deaconesses or even shepherdesses.
A pastor at a PCA in DC recently announced he was departing for the Roman Catholic Church. He proceeded to administer the Lord’s Supper, in a manner now out of accord with his new convictions. Then, the director of MNA, Irwyn Ince (whose wife is a shepherdess in the church), proceeded to applaud the man and celebrate his departure. Upon the conclusion of the service, Ince invited the departing minister back to the pulpit to give the closing benediction.
We cannot, in good conscience, allow this kind of immaturity to go uncorrected.
The whole body of Christ (Eph 4:12) must mature to manhood. How can you and I not be concerned when there is cancer in the body? We know we haven’t reached the goal because we’re still undergoing chemotherapy. It is not until we enter into the New Heavens and New Earth when the Church will finally be whole and mature.
Since our interests go beyond ourselves or even our own church and denomination, we have almost an overwhelming number of opportunities to serve. The one thing we cannot be is indifferent about the lack of maturity.
Doctrinal indifference is no solution to the problem of doctrinal differences.
John Blanchard
We don’t need to raise every issue to 11, but when we understand that we are constantly maturing, we should see correction as the “faithful…wounds of a friend” (Prov 27:6).
› If our maturity is increasing in breadth, depth, and height, the result will be an increasing strength and stability for the body of Christ.
IV. The Strength of Maturity (14)
Maturity strengthens the body of Christ by providing stability to withstand the waves and the wind. Christ improves the ballast of the Church as he unites us together in him and stabilizes us for the storms. Although we will not reach the fullness of Christ in this fallen world, it is the goal we strive toward. And the closer we get, the more we benefit from the stability we experience.
Paul further defines these threats to the Church as those who use cunning and deceit to promote false doctrine. His mixed metaphor is intentional. It’s childish to conform your doctrine to the latest cultural trend.
Trendy churches are almost certainly not faithful or stable. They might look healthy numerically—which is not the problem. But, when a church’s attendance skyrockets because they latched onto the latest generational trend, it loses its influence in the next generation (if not sooner).
I’m not just talking about “Woke” churches. It’s just as trendy for a church to be “Anti-Woke”. Neither extreme is healthy. Let’s not trade one secular identity for another.
We identify with Christ. Wherever Christ is not central to our identity reveals the extent of our immaturity.
We must prioritize maturity in Christ. Wherever we find instability, we must promote the knowledge of Christ. That includes his gospel and his commands! The strength of our maturity determines whether we will stay upright and persevere to the end.