Growing Up Into Christ
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The Deep End: Revisiting Christ’s Descent (4:9)
The Deep End: Revisiting Christ’s Descent (4:9)
“Descent” could be
-The earth
-The grave
-Sheol/Hades “place of the dead”
-Insight: (parable?)
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
Luke 16:
-Possible cross-reference:
in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.
-Interpretations:
-the spirit of Christ preaching through Noah to those who would perish in the flood
-Christ preaching the Gospel—victory and judgment to fallen angels in sheol/hades.
-Christ preaching the Gospel and liberating OT saints who were in that place of waiting until he accomplished atonement for sin/overcame death and hell.
Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
*Not essential, but still important. There is so much to study and learn about God and his plans/accomplishments with implications for us.
*Don’t be intimidated. Do your best, but understand there are some details that we don’t need to know, so aren’t clearly revealed. What you need to know, God has given the resources for you to know.
*Most important point is that after Christ ascended, the Spirit came and gives believers gifts for ministering to each other in the church.
READ:
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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, 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. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 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 4:11-
Grow Up!
Grow Up!
We’ve all been told this at some point, and we’ve all told someone else this at some point. We mean, “Stop being so _________!” (often because of stupid humor, behavior)
Helpless/careless/irresponsible, like my kids: I have much different expectations for my 8 year-old than I do for my almost 2-year-old.
I can’t wait until I don’t have to wipe any more butts!
Parents celebrate achievements in their kid’s independence like; learning to use the toilet; learning to use a fork; tying their own shoes, etc.
We should expect that as someone grows in age (physically), they should also grow in all kinds of meaningful ways.
What are the categories of our growth?
-Responsibility:
-Mentally (example of immaturity vs. maturity)
-Emotionally “”
-Physically “”
-Socially (relationship with men) “”
-Spiritually (relationship with God) “”
-Example of Jesus:
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
What would happen if you failed to grow in one or more of these areas?
-Each individual category of your growth and maturity is interconnected with all the others. A failure in one area handicaps your abilities in the other areas.
What’s the most important category?
Spiritual Deficiency What If’s?
Spiritual Deficiency What If’s?
1. If you have no spiritual maturity, because you have no spiritual life (the most important part of your existence is dead), you will be unable to be healthy in the other areas.
-Why? You are not whole, you are broken. You are without hope and without God in the world. Without God’s wisdom to know what to do and power for doing it.
-Your heart is arrested by sin:
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
How will that affect your relationships with other people?
-You consistently exchange the truth for a lie:
because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Romans 1:
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
I Corinthians
How will that affect your mental growth?
-You live according to the flesh:
Think about your emotional health as we look at these verses:
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians
Emotions are unstable and impure—the passions that rule unbelievers are for sin, not for righteousness.
2. If you are spiritually immature, you will have a lot of the same problems. NOT because you are spiritually dead, but because you are neglecting the tools God has given you to grow and be healthy in all the areas of your life.
So many times when people come to me for counsel, they have all sorts of problems they start naming, usually with other people/relationships. Sometimes personal issues—struggles with sin, anxiety, laziness/apathy, etc. Almost every time it’s apparent that all these issues are a result of spiritual sickness. (Fruit from the root.)
Most of us are too concerned with our physical appearance and we can make the impression that we’re healthy and well-adjusted, but what would it look like if others could see our spiritual form? Sick, weak, emaciated, stunted growth?
It is to our shame.
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Will we be ashamed because we ignored the gifts God has given which has left us immature?
The Goals of The Gifts
The Goals of The Gifts
-Unity (v. 13)
A diversity of gifts produces unity. It’s a unity:
-”Of the faith”
-”Of the knowledge of the Son of God”
These two are inseparable: our common belief is based on common knowledge/truth, and the more we learn, the more our belief is strengthened.
-Maturity (not simply numbers) (vv. 14, 16)
What is the standard of maturity here?
What makes Christ the best definition of maturity?
-Maturity means we are no longer like little children. The characteristics of a child are: READ v. 14 (You’ll talk about these things in small groups).
-RATHER, speaking the truth in Love (v. 15)
People usually quote this when they’re trying to address how someone is saying something. But what about what is being said?
What is the truth we are to be speaking to each other?
Why is it important to be motivated by love when speaking the truth to each other?
Right doctrine must be paired with right affection. It is dangerous to emphasize one and neglect the other.
Simple Anatomy
Simple Anatomy
“From the Head” READ. v. 16
Brain sends signals to the body, causing it to function all together in a unified way.
This is a beautiful picture, but it won’t happen unless “each part is working properly”. If you are content to remain immature, neglecting the gifts of God for your growth into mature faith, and failing to love your brothers and sisters so that you help them grow also, it could reasonably call into question whether you’re spiritually alive. At the very least, is is shameful, and you are preventing the church from being as healthy as it could be, and you should be aware you are grieving the Holy Spirit ().
What affect are you having on the body of Christ? Are you contributing to its sickness or its health? Is it less like
Christ or more like Christ because of you?