So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastor-teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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. -Ephesians 4:11-13
One of my favorite resources is Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts. The title is a bit misleading though. Rather than simply being a collection of maps and charts - it contains wonderful analysis of each book of the Bible. It explores the author, date themes, literary structure and more.
In the introduction to the book of Ephesians Nelson’s states, “Paul wrote this epistle (letter) to make Christians more aware of the riches they have in Christ and to motivate them to draw upon these spiritual resources in daily living.”
Based upon what Paul wrote in 4:11-13, there is no doubt it describes a process: equipping, building, reaching, maturing, and attaining. Therefore a Christian might find tension or incompatibility between the words of Paul from Ephesians and those of Oswald Chambers, “In spiritual relationship we do not grow step by step; we are either there or we are not. God does not cleanse us more and more from sin…”
The distinction here is that to which Oswald is referring, i.e. spiritual relationship, and that to which Paul is referring, i.e. spiritual maturity.
When you were born to you parents you were automatically born into a relationship as a son or daughter. Your parents did not expect you, as a newborn infant, to make your bed, hold down a steady job, or to graduate from university in order to be in relationship with them. That is what Oswald is referring to. When we are “born again” of the Spirit of God (see John 3:1-21) we are born into a perfected relationship that does not grow step by step in relation to the purging of sin. The relationship is perfect, peerless, flawless, and holy to the extent that we walk in the obedience of faith. Paul addressed this point succinctly in Romans 14:23 when he wrote, “...and anything that does not come from faith is sin.”
Historically the Christian Church has focused almost exclusively on the relational aspect, but failed epically with regard to the process of spiritual maturity; equipping, building, reaching, maturing, and attaining. Why? The answer boils down to selfishness.
To have been created in the image and likeness of Elohim, God, means that we were not created as individuals - nor were we ever intended to live as such. Elohim, the Hebrew name of God in Genesis 1, reveals the inherently Trinitarian nature of the Almighty. This is not a god of individuality, isolation, and solitude, but rather the eternal God of community and fellowship as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
For centuries the Western Christian Church has presented the Gospel in a fashion that focuses primarily, if not exclusively, upon the individual relational aspect, while the Bible itself speaks to the contrary. There is no such thing as an individual, private, solitary, independent, withdrawn, or secret relationship with Christ. We need only look to Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-23
“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one… —so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
When we are truly “born again” then we are not only instantly brought into perfect relationship with our Creator, but we are simultaneously and progressively burdened with a loving desire for unity with others - to share the Gospel of Christ with the Lost and to share in the Gospel with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you truly are “born again” then, as Oswald Chambers notes, “God does not cleanse us more and more from sin… It is a question of obedience, and instantly the relationship is perfected.” We confuse a personal relationship with a perfected relationship. Knowing Jesus is merely the inception, or inauguration, of Christianity. As we “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ,” the Christian life looks more and more like the life of our LORD - equipping, building, maturing, suffering, and offering ourselves completely “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.”
Maybe that’s what John the Baptist was speaking of when he said, “He must increase. I must diminish.”
Blessings,
-Kevin M. Kelley
aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com
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