Paul shows us an analogy of the growing up process among saints. It is closely described along with the natural growing up of our children in the body which is His church here in the world. If you are one of those fathers who has left the child training to your wife, or one of those parents who has left the whole training in spiritual matters to a Sunday School, you may not know the joy of having a part in bringing your son or daughter to full maturity as a man or woman.

What an experience when they are very young to see them grow physically strong, intellectually curious, socially reaching out. And how tragic when it finally appears, in a few cases, that one is not healthy in every way we expect. If he does not grow intellectually along with his physical growth. He does not talk. His communicating may reflect the frustration he feels when not able to understand, or to perform as others.

Please observe that every saint is expected to grow spiritually. This is the reason given for choosing the officials in the original church whose duty it was to train up the young church members. This assumes that they have made a profession of faith in Jesus as Savior, have united with the church and been baptized. Such are saints, though not mature. They are children (Gk. nepios, an infant, a child not accountable).

Saints are not expected to remain babes, but grow up. The training which a church does is not of lost people, nor upon those outside, professing to be saved, but it is of those who have publicly confessed Christ and have obeyed the command to do this openly by baptism. I am aware that those who profess faith may indeed be saved, but unless they are willing to confess this faith and trust Christ for grace to continue in the faith of Christ, they are not promised a spiritual maturing. They are not promised any inheritance in the kingdom to come.

God may have some other compensation for a conscientious stand, but since Jesus came the promise is to those who willingly identify with Him in the essence of His obedience to the Father, that is, they must openly identify with Him in His dying, burial, and resurrection. This meaning of baptism seems to be almost completely overlooked by most believers who have not made such a public stand. When they accept a baptism invented by men, sometimes even missing the forms which picture death, burial and resurrection, their "dedication" is substituted for obedience.

I know this is difficult. We like to think that if men seem to be honest, or trying, God accepts it. He never revealed such in the Bible. Just check the marks of sincerity, by observing Who is Speaking? To Whom? And About What? You may surprise yourself by finding out that you are following tradition, human judgment, rather than the actual revelation of Truth which we have in the Bible. You think you are sincere, and so you are, but this quality measures by standards which men have devised, not by God's inspired Word. Have you ever learned in your vocation, or your daily living, that you were sincerely wrong? In the Bible, Saul of Tarsus said, Acts 26:9 "I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth."

"As Newborn Babes"

"If God Permit"

Does not God permit us to do right all the time, or any time, and in any place? Strange question. I get the impression that some things occur only in God's order and only in His chosen position.

As we study the Bible, remember its promises, see the reasons for His doing things His way, we may learn that "grow up into Him" is such a thing.

The words "which is the head" gives us a clue that our growing up into Him, in fact, the very maturing of a believer in Christ, requires what is said in the next verse: 16 "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."

Did not we get salvation before getting into the church? Yes, but the church has a special significance. Why? Think of it this way. The church is to become His bride when He returns to judge the world in righteousness.

Note first, that she "made herself ready." Yes, but this she did by carefully heeding her groom and obeying Him. So He grants her the privilege of being dressed in pure white robes of righteousness, the very righteousness which she consented to produce in her life while she lived in love for Him. In fact, the "righteousness of these saints" properly means their righteous deeds, first approved by Him and worn to reflect her relationship to Him. Her robe is the righteous effects (dikaioma) produced by her obedience. This is not a denial of His perfect righteousness, but an endorsement of it. Faith looks to Him for everything needed and He supplies it. But genuine love-faith obeys and He blesses it.

The passage quoted above, is a paraphrase, from THE MESSAGE//REMIX by Eugene H. Peterson. I do not ordinarily use this paraphrase, but in many passages it retains ideas not clear in the traditional translations.

Will you just study this excerpt from Ephesians 4 and observe how the whole scheme of God's wisdom works together in the Body of Christ, the church, where the members love each other and run interference for each other, where Christ is the Head and supplying the strength of each member.

The language portrays a working together to honor the Master. It even appears to be an easy position because of the harmony. It is even efficient in its maturity responding to the Christ. Real life, joy, light, and encouragement is seen in this body. The mundane language demands attention.

How can we bear to languish, not study, not witness, not work, not give, in this position?
The church takes the saved person from the servant position and puts him into a position where he can share the rulership of the world with Christ:

Pick up on the message of Galatians as it shows how the law was not able to do for us what the sacrifice of Christ does.
These few passages make it clear that there is need for a growing up, for a developing of spiritual understanding, and a qualifying for special reward in the age to come. Perhaps you have the idea that all go directly to heaven after being saved, no matter how long they have lived in the world since trusting Christ. But if they have not developed they are still servants in position.

Jesus made a point of saying to his disciples who had left other things and followed him: Jn. 15:15: "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." Is it not a wonderful benefit just to know what our Lord is doing, now and in the future? "There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus - No, not one! No, not one!"

I just received a fresh spiritual uplift. I read the context for the above verse, John 15:15. Go back to v. 9 and read through v. 17. See how Jesus felt about what He was doing and note His desire that we have the same joy and continue in this gladness. And it is not just for our joy in a given moment, but that we bear fruit and that this fruit should remain. Such is the stated reason for His choosing us (v. 16). Studying the Scriptures is such an uplift to our sinking spirits and to our souls.

The growing up idea is such an idea as explains the parallel of natural growing up to spiritual maturity. Boyhood and girlhood is a time of life for these young people which should be filled with joy and hope. But when they have their lives shunted aside into immediate fun and games and pleasures of the flesh the spirit of youth is damaged.

We are living today in times which witness more suicide in this age group than ever before. Drifting from day to day allows for such a state of mind. Similarly, our missing the training and encouragement which parents and teachers are able to supply leaves young people hopeless and a spiritual dullness substitutes for the learning process in spiritual Truth.

This is a commandment. It may take a little meditation to see how one does this. The sense, indeed, is that grace must increase in our lives. God is faithful to supply grace, but we must be willing to receive it. Salvation is filled with grace, so that it may simply provide life, but then there is "abundant life."

Are you happy with life, or would abundant life serve you better? You know that in the physical realm there is life, but then there is liveliness, enthusiasm, verve and overwhelming exuberance. Likewise, there is knowledge which will get you by, but then there is more and more.

It is indeed sad that many, even Baptists, assume that when they were saved they have all of salvation that God would supply. Thinking this way discourages growth and development. Growth in grace suggests that our spiritual development is more than growth in knowledge. The same text calls for both grace and knowledge in each of us.

If growth in grace is not the same, it is more than growing in knowledge, as in knowledge of correct doctrine, then what does it include? Verse 7 of this same chapter mentions "the grace of life." Grace means favor or gift, but he is not speaking merely of the husband's being saved, and also the wife was saved. The two are "heirs together of the grace of life."

The gift of grace is a gift of life, but definitely includes a benefit, as it increases, which enhances that life.

Many of us who are saved do not have as much grace to pray with our wives as we ought. Prayer is difficult. It requires our drawing near to God. It requires a holy boldness when it directly involves our wives, our children, our brethren. No, this does not contradict the idea of works, a situation which we Baptists often mention. It calls for works of righteousness, works of faith. If we are to have abundant life we need such grace. It helps provide the boldness, the courage, and even the remembrance of our yielding in faith.

Then there is growth in knowledge. Does this have something to do with works? Are we so afraid we will suggest works have something to do with salvation until we actually avoid the Scriptures which teach us to work?

Is it not comforting to know that "God working in you" is you working His will in your life? Sure simplifies a business in which we could use our minds, our judgment, and our experience and wind up doing our own will and not God's. The work has to be a work of faith. When we hear it say, "not by works of righteousness which we have done" (Titus 3:5), does this contradict the idea of our working? Working out our salvation?

No, it is God working in us. He does this when we trust Him, depend on Him to make the choices of what works, where and how. Still one must work. But it is not works which we have done, works which our carnal minds plan and selfish interests lead the way. But works willingly performed in obedience to Him who makes the activity such as will render glory to His own name. The pattern for spiritual work, like the physical pattern, calls for works.

A large measure of our healthy activity calls for work. It is essential to exercise, to the circulation of the blood, and to harmonious growth of our bodies and minds. Still, this physical growth is a part of God's provision. Even before science or choice had any part in us individually, God was designing, and bringing about development of a healthy individual. The same is true in our spiritual growth. We respond and grow spiritually as long as we continue to respond favorably.

There is another element of this growth which we must understand. It is called corporate. When you become a part of it involving more than just yourself, you contribute to the welfare of the body, corporation, family. You help or hinder according as you cooperate with the family, church, or company. As individuals we make decisions and perform works, contribute to or hinder. It is easy, or simple, to be a hindrance because we excuse our actions by laying the blame on the group. A proper name for such is "a cop out."

How often is this technique employed by factory workers, members of a family, a company, a church, or a government! We may think the contract is with the company, or the government, but each employee is judged as contributing a part and God holds us accountable as individuals, though we contribute hurt or help. A covenant (or contract) relationship is evident in National Israel, in the church, and it works in the home. God's choices often show up in the group, but each individual contributes and/or receives accordingly. God's wisdom has designed these matters.

Do not be deceived into feeling that the church is "they" who are responsible and thus excuse yourself. This may be easier to see when the corporate unit is still small. When a family is only a man and a woman it is obvious that individuals contribute and partake according to their "fitting in." The later members contribute little at first, but much more in the emotional realm, and they are needed in any case. When you enter into a spiritual relationship the emotional element is sensed from the start, and we are to become a part of the relationship as rapidly as we can mature and be a party.

When we become a part of the church our sensing the benefits is small at first, but should increase with time. In most areas of life our part should grow. God's choice of individuals is a reality, but some of these are definitely corporate. If this seems difficult when it is a part of a corporate group, just remember that in your relationship with God or Christ the measure is determined by the group. Does this say anything about "loving the brethren"? It should. So, also, making your "calling and election sure," is a responsibility we have in connection with the body, the church (2 Peter 1:10).

We see and feel this relationship when we understand that each member of the human body is a part of the whole human body. It may exist a time without the best relationship, but God put every part in each body as it pleased Him. One part cannot opt out of the relationship, for it involves every other member in some degree. It is also true in the family. It is true in a church.

One of the reasons for what is called a "nondenominational church" is this very human, or carnal excuse that many irresponsible individuals do not want to become a party to. When God is responsible for creating the body we had better understand he meant for it to continue a body. The encouragement is that our Lord, Jesus Christ, is a very important part of the body. I hear it said today that it is not thought of as nondenominational, but interdenominational. This supposedly invites the group, but they have to be as equals with whom all cooperate, and the group is still a denomination.

This comment on works in relationships requires one other opinion. Is ours a more loving people when we never exclude the ideas of others, but appear to welcome all kinds of doctrine and practices? Why is this better? In fact, I feel it is not better, and doing so makes God party to a position which is not "better." Yes, He welcomes all men to come to Him but his invitation is not for them to bring all of their human logic, manmade doctrines, and flesh satisfying practices along with their coming to Him. This is why repentance is necessary.

We must reject what is not right, what is contrary to the Bible. If this is correct for God then it is correct for us. We do not have to be harsh about it. We should always be loving in our talk and our actions,. But we must not appear to endorse sin in any form. If God's view appears narrow to you it is likely that your view is too broad. If the Bible condemns it you and I have no business approving it.

As in the baptism, there is a general aversion to the Lord's Supper as observed by Baptists. It is interpreted to mean that we are self lovers who approve nothing except what is "framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvil." This is not a Baptist opinion, but is a part of the dedicatory epistle to Prince James by the original translators formerly located at the beginning of all King James Bibles. If men are so worried about offending other men, why is it there is no fear of offending God?

It occurs to me that God set the means of discipline of each body - body of Christ - so that it would continue true to her head, Christ. If all believers comprise the universal body , church, position, which conscientious Baptists claim they always reject, how can they claim to be local only?

When I was young, beginning to preach, I seldom found even a Southern Baptist Church that believed that every believer anywhere in the world is a member of the body of Christ. We Missionary Baptists speak of the local body. How could it be a body and be other than local? Its very nature requires it to be local. It may show up in different localities but in each of these it is a local body and not subject legally to any other body.

Why do some Baptists claim all believers as members of their body, if they know that a body is always local. How many places could your physical body be at the same time. And if members of a family are in different places are they still a local body? Is the claim not based on a specious belief that accepting all believers, whether Baptists or Methodists, or interdenominational, is a nonjudgmental position.

Is it not an effort to overcome the Zipporah complex of all who refuse baptism and the discipline of a Baptist church, so as to make friends of those who reject God's standard for a church?

We cannot have God's truth both ways, God's way and man's way. Yes, this restricts the reach and influence of the Lord's church. But does He want those in His body who reject God's counsel against themselves? No, repentance is the way out of this dilemma. Yes, repentance is a form of humiliation, but is not humility essential to a properly functioning body?

Baptists are taught to "prove all things," Test every claim by the word of God. We know it is correct always, but opinions of men, even of those who profess a calling to preach, must be tested by the written Word.

So many ways appear by which men are able to insert human opinion, that which feels good. Even a claimed prophecy may only be the words of a false prophet. The written Word is complete, so do not listen to professing prophets today. The man whom God has called may be truly called, but he may not realize the value of "discerning of the spirits," so we must be sure that what he is teaching is taught in the Word. Its appealing to the flesh, to the comfort of men, is not proof that it is of God.

So many ways are used to inject man's philosophy and judgment into our living for God. We must at all times make sure that it is clearly taught in the Bible. When a Baptist teaches that promises made to the church are to be enjoyed by all who believe in Jesus as Savior, we are confronted with a challenge. He may insist that he does not believe in a universal church, but when his explanation embraces those outside on the same terms as those inside we know there is error there.

Satan is very wise. He is a liar, a deceiver, and often confuses those not thoroughly taught. "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Cor. 4:4). Yes. Satan is the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air:

If we "try the spirits" by the Word we will learn that Satan is the one who is the prince of the power of the air, the one working in the children of disobedience."

Satan's Deceptive Ways

The number and manner of His working to undermine the faith of the fathers, the faith of those of us still alive, is not caught by many today. Even the U. S. Constitution is made to say that there is to be no Bible in the school system, no religion in anything involving publicly owned property.

School teachers who are believers, even Baptists are made to feel it is wrong to pray in school, read the Bible, or advocate God or His ways anywhere if it seems to include those who reject God and religion. This is a lie from the father of lies. It is Satan's way of excluding any reference to God or religion in the public school system which functions on money from taxes. It is human logic which automatically deprives a Christian of his faith, but grants to an infidel any benefit afforded by the same moneys.

This logic grows out of the falsehood that all power comes from the government. The truth of the matter is that all power and all privilege comes from God He alone gives these and he does not discriminate so as to exclude those who believe in Him. Living by faith has His promise that all our needs will be supplied and He is on our side. But one has to believe in Him and trust Him for these things.

The doctrine of Christian growth and maturity is a basis for the recognition of this power and every beneficence as coming from God. He supplies all things that man needs in time and into eternity. All men want these things, but they do not want God to have any part in it, for they choose to reject Him. The "god of this world" injects his influence into anything and everything which rules God's place out and allows Satan, and man, to have their own way.

I fear there is just enough fear of the powers of government as may even deprive many of us who believe in God to fear lest we overstep the power of the law. So far, the law still allows us to express our opinion. Satan, and those influenced by Him, would confine our speaking of God and religion to our homes and our church buildings. But government does not have the power to stop our praying, our witnessing, and our happy disposition, even in public. It preserves our right to do this, though we respect certain places where others have the same rights.

Disturbing the peace is still not unlawful when it is done peacefully, that is, without harm to the bodies of others. We may not disrupt traffic in the city, nor hinder a business operation by our intrusion into their places. We must certainly pray that God preserve for us those rights granted for our freedom of speech, and even of public assembly. A church, and even an infidel can use the U. S. mail for distribution of our personal convictions. Satan may always object, but we just lie down and give up. Where is our faith?