Gifts for Maturity and Unity | Ephesians 4:11-16

Scripture

• Ephesians 4:11–16

About this sermon

Introduction:  Tonight, we complete our look at Ephesians chapter 4 and our concentration on what makes for unity at the local church level.  We have considered:  • The ambition for local church unity (vs.1)  • The attitudes for local church unity (vs.2a)  • The actions for local church unity (vs.2b-3)  • The awareness for local church unity (vs.4-6)  AND BEGINNING AT VERSE 7, WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING   • The assets for local church unity (vs.7-16)  We looked at:  • The distribution of spiritual gifts to individual believers (vs.7)  • The explanation for spiritual gifts (vs.8-10)  And now tonight we finish by thinking about the distribution of spiritual gifts to the church (vs.11-16)  RUNNING THROUGH ALL OF THIS IS AN EMPHASIS ON THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH.  And so, tonight, it is not a detailed exposition that I’m after (which would take a few weeks). Rather, looking at the passage from an aerial point of view, I simply want us to see how Christ’s gifts to His church are meant to result in the maturity of His church, and therefore the unity of His church.  Tonight, we think about Christ’s gifts for the maturity and unity of His church.  • THE MEN FOR THE CHURCH’S UNITY (vs.11)  Christ’s victory supplies for all that belongs to the church. This is true when we view salvation in its entirety, and this is true when we think about how salvation is worked out in time and history. Our salvation has been secured by Jesus — WE ARE SECURE IN JESUS — and yet we work out our salvation with fear and trembling in the sense of progressive sanctification.  For that work of progressive sanctification, Jesus has supplied gifts in the form of MEN.  Gifted men given to the church for the maturity and unity of the church.  Of those types of gifted men mentioned in verse 11, only some are permanent (or for those who see these as divided, it would be two). The men who go on teaching the church as pastors.   Shepherds who teach are given by Christ to His church for the maturity of His church and for the unity of His church.  Harold Hoehner — “After a study of the grammatical structure of one article followed by two plural nouns separated by a καί (as here), Wallace suggests that the first is the subset of the second and thus “all pastors are to be teachers, though not all teachers are to be pastors.” Hence, while there is a distinction between the two, the distinction is not total.”31  DIVISION — FOR SAVED PEOPLE — IS EXPLAINED BY IMMATURITY AND ERROR.  These teachers are used by Christ to overcome the problems that exist in immaturity and error.  • THE METHOD FOR THE CHURCH’S UNITY (vs.12)  How is this accomplished?  This is accomplished through teaching.  The men are given for the equipping of God’s people.  The people are equipped for service.  That work of equipping, and that every member kind of ministry, results in the edification (the building up) of the body of Christ — the church.  WHY HAVE I BEEN SAYING THAT THIS IS CHRIST’S METHOD FOR THE UNITY OF HIS CHURCH?  It is because in the very next statement we see why these men have been given, and what the goal of their equipping ministry is.  “UNTIL WE ALL ATTAIN TO THE UNITY OF THE FAITH.”  Why kind of unity is this?  IT IS A UNITY IN KNOWLEDGE  IT IS A UNITY IN MATURITY (full grown manhood, which is to say, full grown Christlikeness.)  • THE MARK FOR THE CHURCH’S UNITY (vs.13)  This is the goal of all church ministry.  This is the goal of all shepherding.  This is the goal of all preaching and teaching.  The mark at which we aim, the goal toward which we labor, the measure by which we measure our work — is Christlikeness.  “to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”  THE WHOLE CHRIST IS THE DESTINY OF THE WHOLE MAN.  Obviously, that does not mean that we attain to deity. But what it does mean is that in every way God has destined that the last Adam is the goal of our redeemed humanity, we will one day arrive there. And THAT is what maturity aims at and is measured by.  Holiness in mind.  Holiness in motives.  Holiness in behavior.  1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 (LSB)

Topics

• Church & Fellowship
• Spiritual Growth