(Ephesians 4:12 AMP) His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the
saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward
building up Christ's body (the church),
(Ephesians 4:13 AMP) [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and
in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we
might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is
nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the
stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.
(Ephesians 4:13 KJV) 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:
 "The fulness of Christ," refers to the sum of the qualities which make Christ what
He is.
 Until the body of Christ becomes all who Christ is…
Slide 1:
(Ephesians 4:14 KJV)
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;
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Children: That which does not talk, infant, little child, opposite of mature
Tossed: sea term, tossed by waves; metaphorically, to be agitated mentally
Carried about: to carry around; carrying about in circles
Doctrine: teaching
Sleight of men: deceitfulness like dice players
Cunning craftiness: treacherous deceitfulness
Lie in wait: a deliberate planning or system (methods); set to get us to stray
fatally from the Truth
Slide 2:
(Ephesians 4:15 KJV)
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head,
even Christ:
 Speaking the truth: Truthing in! Being or walking in truth
 Speaking the truth in love: cements brotherly relationships
 That love starts from the Head, Jesus! Love cements the relationships in the
body
(1) the body is built up through equippers who are all truth agents;
(2) the aim of the upbuilding is a unified vision of truth about the Son of God; and
(3) the aim is also for individuals to be mature in their ability to use truth to avoid error—
Therefore, in view of this context, "speaking the truth" in verse 15 must mean "speaking
truth about God and about Christ and about the gospel." In other words, it means
speaking Biblical truth, spiritual truth, truth about life as God sees it.
We are to walk about this earth, truthing it!!!!
So how do the saints minister to the body? Answer: by speaking truth about God and
about Christ in love. Both are crucial. Knowledge and love.
Knowledge without love puffs up, Paul said (1 Cor. 8:1).
But love without knowledge is confused and aimless, and disintegrates into
sentimentality.
That's why Paul prays in Philippians 1:9 "that your love might abound more and more in
all knowledge and discernment." Love abounding in knowledge and discernment is what
builds the body of Christ.
Slide 3:
(Ephesians 4:16 KJV)
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.
 Fitly joined together: Process still going on; to join closely together
 Compacted: To cause to coalesce (to merge or cause things to merge into a
single body or group); to unite or knit together
 Meaning so far: From whom as a source, all the body being constantly
joined closely together and growing constantly together
 In other words, the things that are supplied by the joints
1) are the bonds that bind the members of the Body together, and
2) the channel that the Lord uses to constantly bring us closer together to
help us to constantly grow together.
 That is, the degree to which this life of the Head that is flowing through the
members operates,
A) joining the members of the Body more closely together into a more compact
organic union,
B) is determined by the individual saint's fellowship with the Lord and with
his fellow saints.
 Effectual: Efficient working of every part; operative power
 Measure: instrument for measuring;
(The whole body is constantly being fit together and constantly growing
depending on how much each joint supplies.) WOW
This process being controlled or dominated by the operative energy put forth, which
comes from the head and is determined by the capacity of each part to hold and allow
to operate in him or her.
(Jesus Christ has all this power. When we are in Him, we have this power. He
connects with us. His (all that power) power flows through us the degree that we
allow it.
If we really see Christ as that amazing, no one has to stay after us to
(1) go to church,
(2) fellowship with God,
(3) fellowship with each other and get along,
(4) etc.
Get to know Him so that He is like a field that you are willing to purchase using
the $1,000 (your life savings) because to gather the peace, power, etc. it’s worth
it.
That is, the degree to which this life of the Head flowing through the members operates,
joining the members of the Body more closely together into a more compact organic
union, is determined by the individual saint's fellowship with the Lord and with his fellow
saints.
This more compactly built Body will show in the closer ties of Christian love and
brotherhood as shown by the saints in their Christian experience.
And
The more compactly the Body is, the closer the ties of Christian love and
brotherhood.
Examine the importance of your role in the Body of Christ.
The more you “supply” your calling obligations, gifts, and talents, love, and knowledge
(truthing it!), the more constant growth and unity we will experience.
Mothers, Fathers, Teachers, Singers, Exhorters, Ushers, Nursery Workers, Youth
Workers, Technology Department, Leaders, Etc.
"Increase" is auxSsis, "growth, increase."
"Edifying" is "building up, the act of building up," the promoting of Christian wisdom,
piety, holiness, etc."
Expositors sums it up by saying,
 "The idea appears to be that the body is fitly framed and knit together by means
of the joints,
 every one of them in its own place and function,
 as the points of connection between member and member,
 with the supply coming from the head
Translation. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, who is the
Head, Christ, from whom all the body constantly being joined closely together and
constantly being knit together through every joint of supply according to the operative
energy put forth to the capacity of each part, makes for increased growth of the Body
resulting in the building up of itself in the sphere of love.
Slide 4:
(Ephesians 4:17 KJV)
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other
Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Testify:
 used of a solemn declaration, protest, or injunction
 Give an order as if it is made by the Lord Himself
Walk: To conduct one’s behavior
Vanity: Vain, aimless, resultless
Mind: Not just intellectual understanding but also being able to recognize moral good
and spiritual truth
Slide 5:
(Ephesians 4:18 KJV)
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the
ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
"Darkened" is the perfect participle, "to darken or blind the mind."
The perfect tense speaks of a process completed in past time having present
results.
The translation so far reads; "being those who have been permanently blinded with
respect to the mind."
"Alienated":
 estranged from God
 Also "to shut out from one's fellowship and intimacy."
 Expositors says: "Being in a state of moral darkness, they also become alienated
from the true life."
 Sign: Come in to learn how to live life to the fullest!
The life of God is the life that God has in Himself and that which He imparts to the
believing sinner.
"Ignorance" about the Lord. (We are not to walk around here like we are ignorant about
the Lord!!
Greek: It’s not like they are just ignorant but it’s like ignorance is in them. It’s like
ignorance is seated inside them.
Blindness: "hardness." like "hard skin, like the covering with a callous."
Wuests’ Translation. Being those who have had their understanding darkened, who
have been alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them,
through the hardening of their hearts.
Slide 6:
(Ephesians 4:19 KJV)
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all
uncleanness with greediness.
Being past feeling" is a participle in the perfect tense.
 "to cease to feel pain or grief, to become callous, insensible to pain, apathetic."
Expositors says:
 Moral insensibility, heart no longer sensitive to sin, etc.
"Have given themselves over: "to give along-side."
 "to give into the hands of another,
 to betray,
 to hand over,
 give one's self up,
 present one's self."
"Lasciviousness" is aselgeia, "wanton lawless insolence."
 one who acknowledges no restraints,
 a complete surrender of self.
"To work": literally, "to a working."
"All uncleanness" : "every kind of uncleanness," moral uncleanness in the widest
sense.
"With greediness describes the condition or frame of mind in which they wrought the
uncleanness" (Expositors). The Greek word means "greed, covetousness."
Translation. Who, being of such a nature as to have become callous, abandoned
themselves to wantonness, resulting in a performing of every uncleanness in the sphere
of greediness.
Slide 7:
(Ephesians 4:20 KJV)
But ye have not so learned Christ;
The Christ, the Messiah. He personally —
 that was the contents of the preaching which they heard,
 the sum of the instruction they received and
 the knowledge they gained then."
Slide 8:
(Ephesians 4:21 KJV)
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: