#124 This Far Only

Way of the Bible

Welcome to Episode #124 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our fourth of eight episodes in our sixteenth mini-series, The Obedience of Faith. On this episode I hope to encourage believers to break through barriers to sanctification that read, “THIS FAR ONLY.”

I opened with episode with a strawman to shed some light on the lack of discipleship for sanctification within the church that is in accord with how Paul described Jesus equipping his church. Ephesians 4:11-13 – So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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.

Let’s take this a bite at a time…

What did Jesus give to his church? Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers

Why did Jesus give these to his church? To equip his people for works of service.

Why equip people for works of service? So that the body of Christ may be built up

For what purpose? 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

Today in the church those “works of service” may be identified as being a Sunday School teacher or to work in the nursery. Or perhaps to be parking lot attendants and/or welcome guests. To help set-up the sanctuary for the upcoming Christmas program, and whatever else needs done around the church.

While all these are well and good, I do not believe these were in mind when Paul wrote this in the first century. Well before the organization of denominations and mega-churches. While these service areas within the church are helpful for people attending worship, Paul is addressing a much larger service mandate for all believers.

Let’s look at the purpose for building up the body of Christ again,

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

Attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ is Union with God. One with the Father, and with the Son by the Holy Spirit in this life you are currently living. It is what Jesus prayed to his Father for us in John 17:20-21 – I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Why would Jesus want believers to be One with the Father, the Son through the Holy Spirit? Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. And by our doing these works of service the world would believe the Father sent Jesus into the world.

Those darned Scriptures, they keep saying the same thing. An often-repeated encouragement in the New Testament is for believers to be discip