EPHESIANS: Strategic Purpose

EPHESIANS Number 46
Strategic Purpose

Ephesians 4:13-14
“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.”

In the prayer recorded in John 17:11b Jesus asked the Father to “keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” Further, He said in John 17:22 “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.”

Unity of the faith is a strategic goal of God for His children. More than a goal, it is accomplished in the heavenly realm. Here in this temporal terrarium however, we live under the shadow of death. We live under “the law of the fall.” Consequently, unity requires the Holy Spirit energizing gifted members of the body to function together as they are designed to do.

The tactical reasons for God’s gifts to His body contribute to this strategic effort. It is the knowledge of the Son of God, our lovely Lord that is the fundamental requirement. If we are to be made “perfect”, which means complete or fully mature, it can come about only as our knowledge of Him grows deeper. Indeed, we are told “this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3). Peter also encourages us in this saying in 2 Peter 3:18 “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Colossians 2:9–10 points out that “in [the Lord Jesus] dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And y’all are complete in him.” Our Ephesians passage calls it, “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” We are complete in Christ and the more we grow roots into that fact, the less we act like spiritual children blown around by every wind of doctrine (that’s teaching) that comes our way. This is what comes of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We get gentle redirection to the truth through careful handling of the word, as we discussed earlier.”

The truth is that as long as we remain at our post as ambassadors to this ungodly kingdom of darkness, we will encounter the sleight [trickery] of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” There are many who drift from the truth of the pure Gospel into fables, myths, and fine-sounding arguments. When such people espouse their errant doctrine, it can be enshrouded in a covering of truth. Faith in community has become a trite saying, but there is great value in the presence of others who can help us see danger.