The Gifting of the Church Part 3

The Gifting of the Church Part 3

This is the third part of this series – I’m not sure yet how many parts there will be. This week we will follow up last week’s article on verses 12-13. Those verses gave us a purpose for the gifting of the church and today I want to write about the result of the gifting of the church as we take a look at verse 14.

Ephesians 4:11-16 – 11 It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

The gifting of the church is so we might glorify the Lord we saw last week. When God gifts us we are to use that gifting to uplift and serve the Body of Christ. And verse 14 tells us some the results, then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. The gifting of the church then is to give the people of God a foundation and secure hold on truth.

Remember the church Jason spoke about in his message Sunday, Laodicea? They were lukewarm, many of them, not firmly grounded in their faith (hot). They were swayed to and fro with this belief and the next. Paul also had a heart for them and strived to ground them in the truth.

Colossians 2:1-8 – 1 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

The church is gifted in order to give her a foundation and a secure hold on truth. We’re told to continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith. This is the result of the proper use of the gifting of the church.

Paul writes about the result of the gifting of the church in Ephesians - then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. He writes about the gifting in Colossians this way - See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Without the gifting of the church we would be helpless it seems against the practices of the world and of ungodly persons who would use vain human philosophy rather than the truth of God.