And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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: 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: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
So many times, we see in churches and forums the upholding and confirmation of the teachings of men. "I am for the Pope, a Calvinist, an Arminian, a Lutheran, a Methodist,"; And consequently the defense of those doctrines of the men in question are ardently defended with rarely any movement or growth occurring in the Apologists.
In Ephesians, One of Paul's most mature writings he puts this to attitude to rest, Knowing his time has come to meet the LORD face to face.... He had in many respects grown up Himself into the head who is Christ. Realizing that God gives men gifts to edify the body of Christ, but that the ultimate goal of this is have them grow up into Christ the head, and then the whole body fitly joined together will edify itself. Unity of the Spirit will not come until we stop defending men (whether good or bad) and the doctrines of those men, and rely on Holy Spirit to teach each one of us and guide and edify us.... All of us. When the church is of one accord, there is power there in the Spirit to move mountains. Men and the teachings of men will then no longer matter as the body edifies itself. Truth (Jesus is the Truth) will then be visible to all.
So many times, we see in churches and forums the upholding and confirmation of the teachings of men. "I am for the Pope, a Calvinist, an Arminian, a Lutheran, a Methodist,"; And consequently the defense of those doctrines of the men in question are ardently defended with rarely any movement or growth occurring in the Apologists.
In Ephesians, One of Paul's most mature writings he puts this to attitude to rest, Knowing his time has come to meet the LORD face to face.... He had in many respects grown up Himself into the head who is Christ. Realizing that God gives men gifts to edify the body of Christ, but that the ultimate goal of this is have them grow up into Christ the head, and then the whole body fitly joined together will edify itself. Unity of the Spirit will not come until we stop defending men (whether good or bad) and the doctrines of those men, and rely on Holy Spirit to teach each one of us and guide and edify us.... All of us. When the church is of one accord, there is power there in the Spirit to move mountains. Men and the teachings of men will then no longer matter as the body edifies itself. Truth (Jesus is the Truth) will then be visible to all.
