Ephesians 4:13

 

Ephesians 4:13

Till We All Come in the Unity of the Faith

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

 

          1.     What Does the Perfect Church Look Like?

          2.     She is United in Faith

a.     Does this mean that we are to be united with anyone who claims to have Faith?

                                               i.     No, we are only to be untied with those who confess the same faith as us

1.     Ephesians 4:4-6 

2.     One indwelling of the Holy Spirit

a.     Ephesians 2:22 

3.     One Son of God who is called Jesus

a.     Acts 2:36 

4.     One God who is Father of All

a.     Romans 11:33 

          3.     She Has a Greater Knowledge of the Son of God

a.     Do we recognize Jesus in His rightful place as the Son of God?

                                               i.     God says He has a Son

1.     Matthew 3:16-17 

                                             ii.     Peter’s confession of the Sonship of God is the cornerstone of the Church

1.     Matthew 16:16-18 

                                           iii.     The Son is eternally existent with the Father

1.     John 1:1-3 

                                            iv.     All people will eventually confess His Sonship

1.     Philippians 2:5-7 

          4.     She is Spiritually Mature

a.     We are to continue in grow in spiritual maturity until the day we go to be with Jesus in heaven

                                               i.     1 Corinthians 13:9-13 

          5.     She is Growing Up to be Like Jesus

a.     Colossians 1:15-22 

General Session 5: Triumph through Persecution - Phil Johnson

Ephesians 4:12

 

Ephesians 4:12

For the Perfecting of the Saints

 

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

          1.     What is the Main Purpose of Church Leadership?

a.     To Equip the Saints for:

                                               i.     How is that equipment accomplished?

1.     First of all is a work of Jesus

a.     Hebrews 13:20-21 

2.     Yet Jesus uses men to accomplish that work

a.     1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 

3.     This work is accomplished by three main things

a.     The Scripture

                                                                                                     i.     2 Timothy 3:16-17 

b.     Prayer

                                                                                                     i.     Colossians 4:12-13 

c.     Suffering 

                                                                                                     i.     1 Peter 5:10 

                                             ii.     The Work of the Ministry

1.     Properly equipped Saints need to know the following:

a.     That they are the light in the world

                                                                                                     i.     1 Peter 2:9 

b.     That what they do is for the glory of God

                                                                                                     i.     1 Peter 4:10-11 

c.     That they are not to be lazy

                                                                                                     i.     2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 

d.     That their labor is not in vain

                                                                                                     i.     1 Corinthians 15:58 

                                           iii.     The building of the Household of God

1.     The saints are to build the household of God by:

a.     Remembering they are the stones

                                                                                                     i.     1 Peter 2:5 

b.     Remembering to grow by the milk of God’s Word

                                                                                                     i.     1 Peter 2:2-3 

The Lord of the Church | Michael Reeves

This is so encouraging....

Characteristics of a True Church, Part 4 (Ephesians 4:7–16)

A great message. We desperately need this foundational theology regarding the church. I have seen so many families desert the clear teaching of the Church only to reap a harvest of devastation.

Ephesians 4:11b

 

Ephesians 4:11b

Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers

 

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

 

             1.      Evangelists

a.       Everyone is to be an evangelist

                                                              i.      Matthew 28:19-20 

b.      Yet there are some that are specially called to evangelism

                                                              i.      Billy Graham

                                                            ii.      D.L. Moody

                                                          iii.      Charles Finney

                                                          iv.      Philip the Evangelist

1.      Acts 8:26-30 

                                                            v.      Pastors should also participate in this work

1.      2 Timothy 4:5 

               2.      Pastors

a.       Must be sent by God - Matthew 9:37-38 

b.      Must be chosen by the congregation - Acts 6:2-3 

c.       Must be qualified - 1 Timothy 3:1-7 

d.      Must feed the flock - 1 Peter 5:1-4 

e.       Must protect the flock - Acts 20:28-31 

f.        Must warn the flock - Colossians 1:28 

g.      Must be obeyed - Hebrews 13:17 

h.      Must be dedicated to right doctrine - 1 Timothy 4:15-16 

              3.      Teachers

a.       Both teaching and preaching is necessary for the development of the believer

                                                              i.      Colossians 1:28 

b.      Teaching relieves the suffering of people

                                                              i.      Mark 6:34 

c.       Teaching softens the hearts of the resistant

                                                              i.      2 Timothy 2:24-25 

Ephesians 4:11a

 

Ephesians 4:11a

Apostles and Prophets

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

         1.     The Apostles and Prophets are the foundation stones of our beliefs

a.      Ephesians 2:19-20 

         2.     Apostles

a.      Capital “A” Apostles

                                               i.     Are those that witnessed the ministry of Christ

1.     Acts 1:21-26 

                                             ii.     Paul was the actual replacement for Judas

1.     Paul saw the risen Lord

a.      1 Corinthians 9:1-2 

2.     Paul, even though he was born out of due time was an Apostle

a.      1Corinthians 15:8-9 

3.     Unfortunately, this is something Paul had to continually defend throughout his ministry, even in the face of vicious attack

a.      1 Timothy 2:7 

4.     Paul also defends the Apostleship of Peter

a.      Galatians 2:8   

                                            iii.     These men were Authorized to write the New Testament

1.     Peter wrote his Epistles - 1 Peter 1:1 

2.     Paul wrote his epistles - Galatians 1:1 

3.     John wrote his gospel, epistles and Relation - Revelation 1:1-2 

4.     Luke writing on behalf or for Paul wrote Acts, his gospel and possibly Hebrews - Luke 1:1-4 

b.     Lower Case “a” Apostles

                                               i.     They are simply “sent ones” - Romans 10:13-15 

                                             ii.     They do not add to the cannon of Scripture - Revelation 22:18-19 

        3.     Prophets

a.      Capital “P” Prophets – Foretellers

                                               i.     These Prophets are the authors of the Old Testament

1.     Their message was from God’s Himself - 2 Peter 1:20-21 

2.     Christ did not come to overturn their message - Matthew 5:17 

3.     Christ did however define their message - Matthew 22:37-40 

b.     Lower Case “p” prophets – Forth tellers

                                               i.     These prophets must submit themselves to the authority of the revelation of the Apostles and Prophets

1.     1 Corinthians 14:37 

                                             ii.     These prophets are to boldly proclaim God’s Word

1.     2 Timothy 4:1-2