The Fullness of Christ - Eph 4 — Phil Beach Jr.

The Purpose of Paul's Ministry: Presenting Believers Mature in Christ

Commissioned by God. He was also given grace by God. Colossians chapter 1, you don't have to turn there, you can go to Ephesians 4, we'll go there momentarily. Colossians chapter 1 verse 28, we proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom.

So watch, the intent of Paul's teaching, the intent of Paul's admonishing, the intent of Paul encouraging, the intent of Paul instructing, the intent of Paul's entire ministry is summed up in this entire verse here that we read this morning, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

The intent of the Holy Spirit is the supreme desire of Jehovah our Father in heaven, that every single true born again believer who has received the gift of salvation by faith in Christ, repentance from sin, it is God's will for every single believer, to see Christ Himself as the supreme goal and desire for the believer to obtain.

Though we have obtained Christ, though we have received Him by faith, yet it is God's desire for us to experience in a very real intimate way that which has been brought for us the moment we believe in Christ.

The Word of God and the Quickening Power of the Holy Spirit

We use the example this morning of how when we study the Reformation that began around 1500 with Martin Luther, the word of God, as you said, God showed you that the word of God is quick and powerful.

When the word of God is only a dead letter, it doesn't do a thing but bring partridge. It exposes our sin. It is incapable of bringing righteousness to those who hear it without the aiding and quickening power of the Holy Ghost.

This is why God gives us the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost takes the written word and transforms it into the very impartation of the life of Christ into our spirits, into our minds, and into our bodies. He transforms the word of God, the written word of God, into our very spirits and it becomes quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword.

This is what Paul meant when he said, God has given me the ministry of life, not the ministry of death. The ministry of life is that ministry which the word of God imparts to people who have the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost takes their sin, it shows them how far they have fallen from God, and that's what it leaves them. The law to Israel, Paul said, so that Israel can see their sinfulness, so that the whole world can stand guilty before God.

So when the word of God is alone outside of the power and the anointing of the Holy Ghost, it turns into that which exposes our sin. But when the Holy Ghost gets a hold of our mind, gets a hold of our hearts, and imparts the very life, the very power of Christ himself into us, into our spirits, then suddenly the wall is removed.

And when the wall is removed, the word of God is no longer a book of codes and laws and regulations that bring us into captivity for Christ himself. This is why we must give emphasis to communion with God as well as communion with the word of God.

You can't emphasize one and de-emphasize the other. Mysticism, spiritual experiences that are not grounded in the word of God. When we have the word of God but no Holy Ghost, we end up with legalistic, dolt-out, orthodox religion with absolutely not enough life to raise up alive.

It's dead, dead. So when you combine the two, the word of God with the spirit of truth, you've got dynamite. We've been brought from, we're justified by dancing and enjoying the mighty blessings of Pentecost, the singing, the dancing, the gifts, the fruit.

Moving Beyond Justification Toward Spiritual Maturity

But now God is saying once again, and it's confirmed in the word of God, let us move on unto perfection. Let us move on unto maturity. Let us hope that we may win Christ, that we may be found in him, that we may realize through experience that which has been proclaimed in Jesus Christ.

We know it's a fact that a believer can understand the doctrine of justification and be justified, but not on the course. And this can be traced all through the move of God from 1500, the 1700s, with John Wesley, with the revelation of holiness, to a generation of Christians that not only are you justified, free you from captivity, can free you from the bondage of sin, that same faith can enable you by the power of God's word to live a holy life once separated unto him.

Amen, that's a good message, the message of sanctification and holiness. Then we have the 1800s, the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, the restoration that Jesus is a healer, and that not only does Jesus heal the soul, but he can heal the body.

The truth of the church. And now I believe we're standing at another day, at another hour. When God is calling us, let us go on unto perfection. And according to Paul's own testimony, and all of his teaching, and all of his exhortation, was intended to produce within the believer this cognizance, this consciousness of I must press on.

I can't cut where I'm at. I've got to go on. You know the song Higher Heights? That's what he wants. That's what he wants. So Paul said, to this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

So having understood this, that the very energy of God is working on this intent, then we need to understand properly what this intent is. What is this that the energy of God is working to accomplish?

What is this that the power of God is enabling Paul to accomplish? What was it that God wanted to place within you? Such a power, such an ability to endure. You know God must really have an intent. God must really have a desire.

God must really have an intense, an intense plan for his people, or else he never would place within one of his vessels, Paul, such an energy to enable him not to faint. We need to know, that you and I, why God puts this great energy in Paul.

The High Calling of Ephesians 4

Let's go to Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians 1, 2, and 3. Ephesians 1, Paul talks about the glorious work that God brought in Christ. Ephesians chapter 2, the glorious work that we are partaking now and sharing in the resurrection power.

The resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, we share in that as believers. Ephesians chapter 3, Paul talks about how he was commissioned by God to be a minister to the Gentiles. To reveal to the Gentile nations that they can become part of this great body of Christ.

And after, in Ephesians chapter 3, he opens up Ephesians chapter 4 by saying,. This has nothing to do with a secular, any particular profession that you may be called into. This scripture has nothing to do with it.

When Paul says, as a prisoner for the woman that I earthed you to live a life worthy of its calling, you have received. He is specifically talking about the calling that he identifies in Ephesians chapter 1, verses number 20 and 21.

And on through to 23 where he talks about Christ having been raised from the dead. And then in Ephesians chapter 2, he tells us in verse number 6,. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realm in Christ Jesus.

This is the awesome call that the believer has experienced upon receiving Christ Jesus. It is a call to be delivered out of hell and translated out of the kingdom of darkness. Being placed into the kingdom of God's dear son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a call to be loosed from the sin that has bound us, that has held us captive. That basically was the death sentence that we were under. It is a high heavenly calling. This is what Paul referred to in Ephesians chapter 4.

And Paul is here saying that you are to live a life worthy of that calling you have received. Worthy of that calling implies a life of faithfulness, of humility. The Ephesians to comprehend this. Like I mentioned this morning, the Ephesians understood their justification.

They understood the baptism in the Holy Ghost. They received it in the book of Acts. We find that the Ephesian believers received it. We find that they understood the blood of the lamb. They understood these things.

But Paul is pushing for them to understand and comprehend the fullness of what God brought for them. In so much that they can realize it and experience it. And this is the burden of the Holy Ghost in this day that we live in.

And Paul describes in a practical way how to live worthy of this high calling. Verse 2. Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient, daring with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Unity of the Spirit and the Conditions for Fellowship

Now the Bible says to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. The unity of the Spirit is not uniformity. The unity of the Spirit is not uniformity. We all become the same people, the same personality.

Unity of the Spirit is not agreeing on a whole splitting doctrines. That is not unity of the Spirit. But unity of the Spirit is a body of believers allowing God to knit their hearts together in love. That's what the unity of the Spirit is.

See there's three conditions in the New Testament that people are not qualified for if they want to be a part of a local fellowship. These conditions differ in someone who's a Christian. Let me explain myself.

Three conditions. The Bible teaches that there must first of all be unity of the Spirit. Body of believers must allow the Lord to knit their hearts together in love. This is done by the Holy Ghost shedding the glory of the Mother of God in our hearts.

Number two, not only must there be unity of the Spirit, which is love, but there must also be, as I said, speak the same thing and say the same thing. So not only must there be unity of the Spirit for a local church, but there must also be unity of the essential doctrines of the Bible.

If you want to fellowship with a group of people, there must be agreement, there must be speaking the same thing. Paul exhorted the Corinthian believers to speak the same thing, to say the same thing.

That means that you must be a part of a fellowship that believes in the life, the death, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you want the fullness of God, you must believe. You must fellowship with people who believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the infilling of the Spirit.

So you have to speak the same thing. So you have the love of God. You have this agreement on the essential doctrines of the New Testament. There is one more condition that must be met if we are to be a local fellowship and have unity.

And that is, we must have the same purpose. The same purpose. And of course, this is what constituted the condition in Acts chapter 2, where they are all one accord and have one mind and have one heart.

So a body of believers must have unity in the Spirit, which is produced by God's love leading us together. Secondly, they must have the agreement of the essentials of the Word of God. And thirdly, they must have the same purpose.

They must desire the same thing. The ultimate purpose for a local body is to desire to glorify Christ. That Christ might truly offer equalism in our lives. And of course, that purpose can be extended to whatever.

Now, many Christians misunderstand this and they use these conditions as the basis to reject or accept someone as a Christian. That is incorrect. Listen, this is the basis for close fellowship. It is not the basis for accepting someone as a Christian.

There are many Christian brethren that I have met here in Akistok that I could not fellowship with in an intimate way. Such as go to their church and be a part of their fellowship. Because we differ. We differ in speaking the same thing.

I believe God wants to raise up gifts in this church. I believe God wants to use many of you in the gifts. But these brethren wouldn't accept that. So we couldn't have fellowship. We don't speak this.

Our purpose is different. Our purpose is different. But guess what? That doesn't mean I can't go up to him and give him a big hug. And say, how you doing brother? And go out with him for a couple of Christians who reject other Christians because they have different...

You should never reject anyone if they're truly a Christian. This church stands for we accept and receive anyone who is a true Christian. And anyone can come here who believes in what we believe. Who speak what we speak.

It's essential. So you've got the three essentials for close fellowship in a church setting. And then the only essential to fellowship outside of the church setting is... Are you a believer? Are your sins washed away?

There's a lot of Christians that I enjoy being with who would not agree with the ministry here. But hey, that doesn't mean they're not part of the body of Christ. So don't ever misunderstand these things.

Don't ever reject somebody because they don't accept the fullness of the Spirit. They don't believe that God performs miracles. Don't reject them. God hasn't rejected them. You ought to reject no one that God hasn't rejected.

See? So be completely... The unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Now again, he's talking about this calling. To apprehend. To experience what has been brought forth through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

One Body, One Faith, and the Meaning of Baptism

There's one body, that's the body of Christ. Did you know there's not going to be denominations in heaven? There's only going to be one body, and that's the body redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. One Jesus.

One faith, and that's the saving faith. One baptism. I believe Paul here is referring to the baptism that places us into the body of Christ. Because in Hebrews chapter 6, that writer says there's many baptisms, Paul.

So there's one baptism that places us into the body of Christ. But the Bible speaks also of water baptism. And the Bible speaks also of spirit baptism. So while it's true there's one baptism here that places us into the body of Christ.

We are all like one spirit baptized into one body, Paul said. That's the baptism that places us into the body of Christ. Then there's a water baptism that identifies us with the death and resurrection of Christ.

Then there's a spirit baptism that comes to us and fills us and calls us to be enlightened and opens up our understanding to the things of God. So there are three baptisms that place us into the body of Christ.

There's one baptism. One God and then all. He gives to men. What does He ascended mean except that He also descended to the lower earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all others in order to fill the whole universe.

Christ's Gifts to the Church and the Servant Leadership of Ministers

It was He who gave son to the apostles and prophets, evangelists and pastors and teachers. So when Paul mentions in verse number 7, to each one of us grace has been given. He's talking about a gift. He is not limiting anyone's access to Christ.

He's not limiting anyone's access to come into the full realization of who they are in Christ. This doesn't limit anyone. This doesn't take any peer and someone down here. But it's simply Paul's way of saying, listen, God has given many gifts to the body of Christ.

He gave apostles and prophets and evangelists and pastors and teachers. But why did God give the church teachers and apostles and prophets? So that the church can serve them? So that they can build kingdoms for themselves and write their name in neon lights?

Absolutely not. The church gifted individuals for one reason and one reason only. And Paul showed us the reason in Colossians chapter 1. They might struggle and labor day and night. Pulling themselves out into the church.

So that the church can realize their high calling and fellowship with Christ. So that they as a corporate body can come into the fullness of Christ. Gifted men to the church. Not so the church can serve them.

But rather that they can serve the church. And point them and lead them and guide them to the shepherd of their soul. The bishop and overseer of their spirit. So that they can realize in an ever increasing basis.

In an ever increasing revelation of the glory of the inheritance. And what God has invested in each little grain. So that they can enter in by faith into this fullness. And thereby walk with Jesus Christ.

And experience his continual victory and glory from day to day. At any time leadership raises itself to be crucified. A leader. To himself. And lead them to the glory of the kingdom. But there it isn't.

The moment they age. Kingdoms is only beginning. And God is sending forth his spirit. And he's bringing down the shepherds. The gifted ministry. And he's raising up an entire new generation. To build themselves a personal kingdom.

But rather who are called groups of Christ. And because of the labor day and night for the sake of the church. This is what brings joy. To the Savior's heart. I give to the church gifted individuals. To prepare.

I love it. Doesn't that sound like Paul and Colossians. I labor. I exhort. To present. Every man perfect. In Christ. To prepare God's people for works of service. So that the body of Christ may be built up.

Edified. Encouraged. Strengthened. Made strong. Here's the goal. Here's the goal. To the church. So that we can be encouraged and strengthened. Edified and built up. See it doesn't stop there. The building up and the strengthening of the building block.

Buildings don't. But they concentrate into something. This is the something. That the Holy Spirit. Is bringing upon this day. That we live in. Through all. We're built up in strength and what we understand.

Growing Into the Fullness and Maturity of Christ

We're justified. We can be sanctified. We can be filled. We can be used by God to minister. But they're not to be kept on. We're to go on. Here's where we're to go. Until we reach unity. In the faith.

And in the knowledge of the Son of God. For sure. Listen. Obtaining to the whole measure. Of the fullness of Christ. It is. For himself. In Philippians chapter 3. There's Paul's cry. For the Colossians.

In Colossians chapter 1. There's Paul's cry. For the Galatians. In Galatians chapter 4 verse 19. That Christ might be formed in you. Here. That you might reach unity in faith. And in the knowledge of the Son of God.

And become mature. Attaining to the whole measure. Of the fullness. Of Christ. Now see can you understand this? So many sincere preachers. I've heard them on the radio. God bless. God bless them. I may have heard Dr. J. Vernon McGee.

You know he's gone to be with the Lord. He's gone to be with the Lord. Let Jesus speak now. Over he belongs. But so many preachers have said. You know. You know we don't need anything. We've got it all in Jesus.

These people are seeking more of God. Or more of the Holy Ghost. They're just misled. Well if anyone has experienced. Salvation. The Ephesians do. But Paul suggested. That there was a sense of maturity.

And attaining of the whole measure. Of the fullness of Christ. So though in Christ. We are complete positionally. Yet there is a completeness. That God wants to see experientially. And this is the completeness.

That Paul is talking about. In this scripture. And then verse 14. Describes what will happen. When the church. Can come to the fullness. Of the measure of Christ. And understand experientially. Her position.

As being seated down. Seated down with Christ. In heavenly places. Here's what's going to happen. Then we will no longer be infants. Enfoiled by the waves. And blown here and there. By every wind and doctrine.

And by the cunning and craftiness. Of men. And the deceitful scheming. Instead. Maturity. To speak the truth in love. Is. Grow up into him. Who is. The head. That is Christ. To grow up into him. Is to.

Become a vessel. Where everything he wants. And longs for. Can be expressed. Through us. See to grow up into him. Is to have a body and a head. That are in union. You know what I'm saying. Wouldn't it be a bummer.

And aren't there some diseases. That prevent the body from obeying. The head. What's one of the common diseases. Multiple sclerosis. You say. I want to get up. And your body doesn't respond. To grow up into Christ.

The wishes of the head. In his body. Bone of his bone. Know ye not. That you are the Holy Ghost. And that it is God. Who dwells in you. By the Spirit. No longer foreigners and aliens. But fellow citizens.

With God's people. Members of God's household. In him the whole building is joined together. And rises to become a holy temple. In the Lord. And in him you too are being built together. To become a dwelling.

Where God lives. By his Spirit. If God wishes. That Christ. Who is the head of the church. Will have such free course. In the body. Where he dwells. That every wish he has. Every desire he has. He can fulfill it through the body.

And this is the ultimate desire. Of Christ. Verse number 16. Joined. And held together. By every supporting movement. Grows. And builds itself up. In love. Notice what builds us up. We build ourselves up in love.

As each part does. It's work. Revelation. He wants us to realize. As his people. Is that it is his desire. By faith. By responding. To grow into. The fullness. Of him. Expression. In our lives. I'm going to read one more scripture.

Running the Race With Purpose and Seeking the Prize

1 Corinthians chapter 9. 1 Corinthians chapter 9. Nicely. From beating in the air. From doing a lot. But accomplishing nothing. Again. You can be free from this snare. By properly understanding. Christ's ultimate intention.

For you. Which is. Attaining to the fullness. Of the stature of Christ. And letting everything you do. Help you. Obtain that goal. If God can make that real. In your life. You'll never be guilty. Of running aimlessly.

And when you stand before him. No matter how many mistakes you've made. You'll hear these blessed words. Well done. Thou good. And faithful. Servant. 1 Corinthians chapter 9. Beginning in verse number 24.

Do not know that in a race. All the runners run. Only one gets the prize. Run in such a way. As to get the prize. Now Paul said the prize is Christ. Right? Earnestly seeking after it. Verse 25. Everyone who competes in games.

Going into strict training. They do it to get a crown. That will not last. But we do it to get a crown. That will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man. Running aimlessly. I do not fight like a man.

Beating the air. No I beat my body. And make it my slave. I will not be disqualified. For the prize. It is my personal belief. And I can substantiate it. By scriptures. But I will not go into it tonight.

That to be disqualified. For the prize. Is not to live one's salvation. But to be disqualified. From the prize. Is to fall short. Of what. And consequently. Fall short. Of the possible reigning. With Christ.

And the life to come. You'll notice in the book of Revelation. You'll find to him that overcometh. To him that overcometh. Seven times. I believe the ones. Who overcome are those. Who entered the race.

Only. But have entered it. Intending to win Christ. In desire. That God wants for every true believer. Well. We have a race to run. So. Ask the Lord to help us. In this race that we're running. Anyone have any questions?

Gonna let you know. If we could. Guys and girls. If you would like to give us a. A few minutes of your time. To help us. We have to carry everything back over. If you could sign up.