Maturing in the Faith

Ephesians 4

​We all know loved ones and people throughout our circles and community that is struggling with the dreaded disease of cancer, in which cells no longer unify with the body as a whole. Cancerous cells have their own independent vision and program, and it destroys healthy or live cells that make the body function energetically in proper order. They want to stay in your body, but they want to do their own thing—and multiply and destroy the good cells. Their goal is to shut one down. Similarly, Satan wants to shut down God’s people. And he knows nothing will shut us down like disunity, especially since God is a God of life, growth, order, structure, and peace.

To “give place to the devil” is to allow unconfessed sin in your life that gives Satan an opportunity to take over. Some sins to avoid are discussed throughout this chapter and following. Believers are commanded to be “all one in Christ Jesus,” but we must endeavor to make that spiritual unity a practical reality in our daily lives. Satan uses people who like to have their own way.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3:28–29 (ESV)

In Ephesians 4, a chapter that is packed full of direction, insight, wisdom, and a path to relational growth with Jesus and His Church, Paul begins the second half of this letter with the word “therefore.” In light of the gracious riches the Ephesian believers have in Christ and the glorious reality of this new community called the church, there are now accompanying responsibilities. In these beginning words, Paul urges the Ephesians to live worthy of their calling and strive for unity. He says that they must conduct themselves in a way that reflects their new status as a follower of Jesus, God’s only Son who is Lord.

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” Ephesians 4:1–13 (ESV)

Dr. Tony Evans draws our attention to Paul’s command to the church to “keep this unity, not establish it. The church didn’t create the unity. God calls us to preserve what he’s already created. This unity is tied to our Christian character and is based on the work of the Holy Spirit. If your point of reference isn’t the Spirit of God, you’ll be operating from a merely human point of view. But when you relate to people based on God’s point of view, the Spirit can override human differences and hold us together through the bond of peace. Peace—harmony where once there was conflict—will act like a belt to hold us together.”

“so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:14–16 (ESV)

Spiritual birth must lead to spiritual growth as we become more like Jesus Christ.

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.... So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 1:22–2:3 (ESV)

If we are maturing in Christ, we will show it by being able to speak the truth in love. Know that Satan is a liar and a murderer and has a difficult time being successful when believers practice truth and love.
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 (ESV)

Truth is what God says about a matter. And, it is truth whether you believe it or in Him. Truth is Truth! However, truth shouldn’t be used like a destructive hammer. Rather, it must be spoken with love, which involves compassionately, righteously, and responsibly seeking the well-being of its recipient.

Warren Wiersbe says this chapter not only confronts disunity, immaturity, but also, Impurity. He states that you and I have “been set free from the old life, so why live in those old sins anymore? Anything evil from the old life that is brought into the new life will give the devil a beachhead. Paul names such things as lying, losing your temper, stealing, corrupt speech, bitterness, and an unforgiving spirit. These sins invite Satan into your life, and they hurt you, harm the church, and grieve the Spirit of God.”

“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,” Ephesians 4:17–21 (ESV)

Describing unbelievers, Paul speaks of the futility of their thoughts. Their thinking has no aim or purpose— their consciences are dead. They have committed sins for so long that their consciences no longer feel. Things that might have shocked them once don’t shock anymore.

As followers, we know that Jesus is the truth, and everyone who is of the truth “listens to” him.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7 (ESV)

“Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37 (ESV)
“But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:20–32 (ESV)

When you were saved, you received a new wardrobe. But you’ve got to take off the old clothes to put on the new. When God makes your inside clean, you want your outside to match.

How do we make this happen? Paul uses words like “thoughts,” “understanding,” and “ignorance.” The common denominator is thinking. Your witness and lifestyle are controlled by your brain. So, the key to taking off the old and putting on the new is to be renewed in the spirit of our minds.

Followers, we must not go back to the lifestyle or worldview we had before Christ. We are called to “put on the new self” which requires a new way of thinking grounded in biblical truth.

How is your thinking today? Are you wearing you “new self” clothing? Do others see you as unifying, maturing in the faith, and pursuing pure thoughts and a pure lifestyle? Do you have unconfessed sin in your life that is slowing your faith journey? Has Satan gotten a foot hold in your life that is causing you to see and act amiss?
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Today, Repent and confess those things that are holding you back from being all that God has designed you to be and those things for which Christ’s blood covered. Ask for and live in His forgiveness.

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