(Ephesians 4:11-13) Who Builds Christlike Christians?

Like a mighty army moves the Church of God; brothers, we are treading where the Saints had trod. We are not divided, all one body we, one hope and doctrine, one in charity. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.

The author envisioned the church

as this great army moving forward with the banner of Christ.

Many churches sing it,

but do we really believe what it says when we sing it?

Do we really consider ourselves soldiers, in a local church, everyone of us carrying the gospel forward?

Do I really see myself as a soldier doing the work of the ministry?

To often we have fallen into professional and specialist culture,

expecting only those with Bible college or Seminary training or special giftedness to do the work of the ministry.

rather then each of us being apart of a mobilized army.

We have defaulted ministry to exclusively being done by Pastors and the super Christians,

but not the average person in the pew.

Our passage this morning is a passage that demonstrates the church is to be many hands

contending for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is a passage that helps us understand

what the church is to do

What the work of the ministry looks like,

and ultimately who does the work of the ministry.

What does it look like when the church is a mobile army,

carrying the banner of the cross before us.

CAVEAT:

The difficulty of passage like this is not in what it says

… but being able to see the Biblical mandate vs reading what we have always done into this passage.

Look down at Ephesians 4: 11 – 13.

Ephesians 4:11–13 ESV

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,

When we talk about the doctrine of the church,

this passage is one of the key passages for building a theology about the church.

Nearly every systematic theology will point to Ephesians 4:11-13 to develop an understanding

of the church and what the church does.

So this morning I aim to help us understand a theology of the church.

We're going to ask and answer the major questions we have about the church.

And we are going to understand why that matters for you and me.

CAVEAT:

The next couple of Sundays we are going to work ourselves backwards through the text,

because I think it help us answer the questions we have about the church.

In other words,

we are going to work from v. 13 to v. 11,

rather then starting at v. 11.

So the first question we will ask-

What is the church supposed to do?

In the 1940s, Samuel Becket wrote a play called – waiting for Godot.

- It is perhaps one of the most boring plays you will ever watch?

- It probably would be the easiest play for any one of us to play.

It consists of:

two men standing on an empty stage

hands in their pockets

staring at each other.

And literally all they do is stare at one another.

No action,

no plot,

they just stand there waiting for Godot to come.

Over the years many people speculated about who was Godot.

And so at the 50th anniversary of that play, someone asked the author – who is Godot?

And his answer was – how should I know?

Godot is a modern day parable of the empty and meaningless and pointless ways that we often live.

It is as Ecclesiastes says,

vanity of vanities.

Too often we as Christians live lives that are pointlessly waiting.

Our churches are filled with people who are waiting for that

great opportunity,

waiting for the church to do something about it,

waiting for the next best sermon

waiting for more people to get involved

... We spend our lives filled with meaningless, pointless waiting.

But that is not what the Christian life should look like.

Christians are in some ways a waiting people.

We all are waiting for the Lord’s Return.

David speaks about waiting on the Lord.

Psalm 27:14 ESV

14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

BUT,

>>>>> We are not waiting meaninglessly for the Lord to return.

>>>>> We ought to be contending like an Army carrying the banner of the Cross.

What are we to do while we wait on the Lord's return?

Our passage will tell us -

what the church is to do while it waits for the Lord’s return.

Now as we consider this passage today I must confess – this passage doesn't give us the full purpose of the church.

It's not an exhaustive list here.

There are other verses we also should consider.

But it is a major component of what the church is supposed to do.

Ephesians 4:13 ESV

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,

This passage gives us what God's goal is for the church – what we are to do while we are waiting for Christ to return.

To put this in business terms –

These are

the tasks,

priorities,

and vision statement for the church.

What are we to do while we wait on the Lord -

To begin with -

Our purpose is to:

1) Strive for unity around the Gospel. (Ephesians 4:13a)

“Unity” has the idea of being oneness.

ILLUSTRATION:

We as a nation strive to be indivisible.

There is no division in our country.

Which may be something to laugh at, but I think we all realize our country is better if we were indivisible.

Even more so

- we as a church and as churches … ought to strive to have oneness.

“Single mindedness”

If we truly have found the truth, the gospel,

then we ought to find unity or oneness around the truths of the gospel.

As I say that -

I am not suggesting there is never a controversy.

Or that heretical doctrines don’t matter.

Paul had to deal with heretics and controversy … as so will we.

But - we as a church and churches should be striving for unity, oneness

in our theology of the cross.

Outsider’s should be able to look and say

- that is the church.

- That is the Gospel.

Because we have unity around the gospel.

This is why doctrinal statements matter.

This why I think membership matters.

This is why I think we need to be deliberate and careful about who we offer the Lord’s Supper too.

This is why I believe every Christian, but especially every member should be able to confess what the Gospel is.

This is why I think we need to take seriously how to disciple one another.

Parts of this I think we do pretty well most of the time.

The reformation made great strides towards unity.

Faith alone, in Christ alone, through grace alone.

Not every church conducts itself in the way I think the Bible teaches,

but even so there are many who I stand with as fellow brothers and Sisters in Christ.

Here at Bethel - I think we do a pretty good job at making sure we have unity around the Gospel.

If you are attending here and don’t believe in the Gospel.

My greatest desire is to see you come to believe in Christ.

Come join us in faith in Christ.

But we also ought to -

2) Strive to be fully like the example of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13b)

Paul doesn’t just tell us to believe the right things,

but to live in a Christlike way.

a) We are to live pure and sanctified. (Holy)

After all - Consider what Paul says in the rest of Ephesians about our Holiness.

Ephesians 4:17 ESV

17 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.

Ephesians 4:21–24 ESV

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.

As we understand the gospel is more than just mere knowledge of the cross,

but also a newness of life.

>>> We are born again.

Having unity in the faith means -

we have unity around doctrine and around Christian living.

And I don’t mean we all agree about our pet preferences,

There are non-essential doctrines … that we can lovingly disagree about.

but we all are striving to be Christlike.

And Our text isn’t just telling us to be Holy,

but to be Christlike.

b) We are to live lives that follow the example of Christ.

Ephesians 4:13 ESV

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,

- We are to have unity of the faith,

- And we have unity in Christlikeness.

But how do we measure that?

By what standard can we claim to have unity in faith and Christlikeness?

The measure of our unity and maturity is - The stature of the fullness of Christ.

Stature is a term describing the greatness of Christ’s example.

> Often this term is talking about someone’s physical appearance.

>>> He is a big guy.

> But in this case it is emphasizing the greatness of the person of Christ.

>>>> Sometimes people say, he is a tough act to follow.

And that is what it means by stature.

The greatness of Christ’s example.

Fullness is a term describing the sum total of Christ’s example.

We are to be full of what Christ is.

Ephesians 4:15 confirms that is what this means.

Ephesians 4:15 ESV

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

We are to mature to the greatness and sum total of Christ.

The measure of your sanctification - is not whether others think I am mature in Christ.

But whether I measure to the sum total and greatness of Christ’s example.

It is a much higher bar then people’s opinion of you.

It is much higher then a few good deeds.

ILLUSTRATION/EXHORTATION:

Sometimes people get mad at me because I think they have something they need to improve on in their Christian life.

And you can watch their hurt.

They will dismiss it -

Oh this is what Pastor really means.

Oh he is not talking about X.

Or they just will ignore it and be mad at me.

And the whole time I am saying - your missing the point.

Sometimes I council someone because their life is a mess,

But usually is not because I think their terrible Christian.

It's not because I think they can't pass as a true believer.

For often they are by human standards a moral righteous person.

Instead - most of my council is because I want to see the full stature in their life.

I want to see Christ magnified in their life.

The reason that in almost every person's life, including my own,

I can see places we can grow is because my yardstick is the fullness and sum total of Christ.

Until you figure out -

we all should have a goal of attaining to the fullness of Christ.

Your pastors concerns might seem outplace or uncaring.

Your going to live a life content with human morality rather then Christlikness.

In most cases in this life

The standard of decision making - it is not question of whether I can justify my choices,

but whether my choices follow the example of Christ.

Now,

perhaps you're saying >>>>>>no one can attain to the full measure of Christ?

And I would agree with you.

In this life we are waiting people…

- Waiting for the redemption of our bodies.

- Waiting for the day when I will be like Christ.

But we are not wait in his life meaninglessly.

We are not to wait on the Lord - while striving for nothing.

We are to wait on the Lord – while striving to the full measure of the stature and greatness of Christ.

But again this isn't just about being a holy.

Paul not simply telling us to be holy like Christ is holy.

But to imitate the truth-filled, servant, sacrificial, loving life of Christ.

1 Timothy 1:16 ESV

16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

1 Peter 2:21 ESV

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

In every way we are to model the wonderful example of Christ -

In truth

in servant hood

in sacrifice

and in love for others.

Perhaps you're sitting here and saying

- pastor you're stretching the text a little bit.

Look down at your Bibles to Ephesians 4:2.

Ephesians 4:2 ESV

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Look down at your Bibles to Ephesians 4:15-16.

Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV

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.

We are to build ourselves in every way that matches Christ.

>In his purity from sin.

> And in his great example,

patient, sacrificial, truth-giving love.

We as the church are not simply supposed to have unity around the gospel,

We are not simply supposed to be holy like Christ is holy,

We are to love like Christ loved.

Bear one another like Christ bore our sins.

Not only are we to strive for the likeness of Christ, but we are to -

3) Strive for the Building up of the Church. (Context of Ephesians 4:1-16)

As we consider what the church is supposed to be doing - we have to conclude that Paul is saying we are to be striving to build up the church.

Ephesians 4:12 ESV

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Ephesians 4:16 ESV

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.

“Building up” is a construction term.

ILLUSTRATION:

If I'm building a house,

Then I am busy laying a foundation.

Then I am putting four walls on.

Then I am putting the roof up.

And Finally I'm finishing the inside so it’s livable.

I am building a house.

Paul is using that kind of term here to describe God

>>>> building up his church.

How does God build his church?

I think the obvious context is that is maturing each one of us.

Building up means -

a) The maturing of the believers into a healthy body. (Ephesians 4:13)

Paul is mixing his metaphors here.

- He's building us up.

- Into a healthy body.

Ephesians 4:16 ESV

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.

Christ is building us up into a healthy body.

- If Part of the body is not working correctly.

- If Part of the body doesn't grow the way it is supposed to.

Then body becomes a sick, deformed, and unhealthy body.

ILLUSTRATION:

When I was a kid my body I wasn’t growing the way it was supposed to.

My bone structure was smaller than it should have been for the body that I had.

Parts of my body work growing correctly… And without the help of some medical work I would became a literal midget.

Fortunately my parents were able to find a doctor who did some things to help stimulate my body growing and today I stand mostly healthy.

The church is just like that.

If each of us are not growing up into the full stature and greatness of Jesus Christ

((((were maturing))))

Then we as a body of Christ will become deformed and misshaped and unhealthy.

Therefore each one of us must grow to be a mature part of the body,

so that the whole body becomes and does was supposed to do.

We as churches are supposed to be growing up into Christ likeness.

But as we consider,

I don't think this just means Christian maturity.

This passages teaches us - building up the body means:

b) The making of disciples. (Ephesians 4:11, Cr: Matthew 28:19-20)

From a metaphor standpoint –

consider what would happen if the body of Christ fails to carry out the great commission.

We fail to look towards her neighbor and our family members and our friends as people who need Christ.

People never become part of the body, and again we become deformed.

We are missing whole limbs.

A church who is striving to build up the body

is a church who is serious about reaching people for Christ.

EXHORTATION:

I have heard pastors preach on this passage

and talk about the importance of evangelism and discipleship – and heard people say >>>> he's stretching the context.

Is this really a passage who at least by implication teaches that we have to be serious about reaching the lost?

And I think it does.

Look at of Ephesians 4:11.

Ephesians 4:11 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

Notice it says – Christ gives to the church evangelists.

I will talk about what an evangelist is biblically when we get to verse 11.

But may I say this,

it's hard to say building up the church doesn't involve evangelism when one of the gifts to the church is the evangelist.

So if you cringe at the idea the part of building up the church is reaching people for Christ

- if you're a skeptic of that,

Then you might want to consider why you're a skeptic

>>>>> because this passage teaches us part of building up the body is the reaching of the lost.

We as the church are supposed to be striving to build up the church into a healthy body.

Practically that means each one of us is serious about growing into the fullness and stature of Christ.

Practically that also means that we are serious about helping others come to know Christ and then again grow into the stature and fullness of Christ.

CONCLUSION:

So back to the question we begin with today.

What is the church supposed to be doing?

We all are waiting on the Lord.

We are waiting for the day of the Lord.

Nobody knows the our,

but every person ought to consider that the hour is coming.

But we ought not to sit and do nothing.

We as a church made up of individuals – ought to be striving

for unity around the gospel

to be fully like the example of Christ

and to be building up the body of Christ.

Are you doing that?

ILLUSTRATION:

Just like to play – waiting for Godot.

We as Christians sometimes begin to wait around meaninglessly.

We know are waiting on the Lord's return...

And so we are spending our time pointlessly because were waiting.

Often we have excuses to justify our pointlessness.

But what it amounts to is really pointlessly living.

ILLUSTRATION:

John Piper once preached a sermon that talked about picking up seashells.

He highlighted an article from Time magazine,

where a couple had retired

and were living a dream.

A nice relaxing life,

next to the beach,

where they every day walk and pick up sea shells.

The American dream.

Getting to a point in life… Where I can just relax.

John Piper's challenge - don't waste your life.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We as Christians are waiting.

But are not waiting with nothing to do.

I challenge you to consider –

Am I waiting on the Lord with meaninglessness?

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