Aren't you glad you're a Christian? Aren't you
glad you're a member of the body of Christ? I'm
glad I know today that I am one of them. Well,
sir, for a few minutes, you and I are going to
continue our little heart -to -heart talk. regarding
the precious truths as found in the fourth chapter
of Ephesians. Now, those of you who have been
following me in the discussion of the gifts in
the church, remember that during our last little
heart -to -heart talk, I was speaking to you
regarding the ministry gifts of Christ to his
body, the church. And the scripture continues
by telling us why God has purposed to give us
apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors
and teachers in the church. He continues by saying,
for the perfecting of the saints. for the work
of the ministry, for the edifying of the body
of Christ, till we all come into 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 fullness of Christ. Now he continues
in that 14th verse, and this is what we're going
to study today. that we henceforth be no more
children tossed to and fro and carried about
with every wind of doctrine by the sly of men
and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait
to deceive but speaking the truth in love may
grow up into hymn in all things which is the
head, even Christ, from whom the whole body fit
jointly 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. All right, go back. that we henceforth
be no more children tossed to and fro and carried
about with every wind of doctrine o beloved how
many people there are to -day who are affected
by every wind of doctrine that comes along They're
one thing today, they're something else tomorrow,
and then next week they believe something else.
They remind me of balloons that are thrust into
the atmosphere. They're subject to every current.
Oh, they're carried thither and yond. You're
never quite sure where they're going to be tomorrow.
You're... dead sure that you don't know where
they're going to be next week. And in the final
analysis, I'm convinced that they don't know
what they believe themselves. They're not sure
of their doctrine. They're not quite sure exactly
what they do believe. And it's just like that.
Now listen, God does not desire us to be so.
He does not wish that we remain in a state of
babyhood, or as his word states here, no more
children. He expects us to cease to be children.
He desires that we should be rooted and grounded
in the faith, and in order that we might be so,
he has given gifts to the church. He has given
pastors. He has given teachers. He is given evangelists.
That you and I might become rooted and grounded
in the word. That we might be perfected in him.
There is no substitute for the word of God. It
grieves him when his redeemed ones remain in
the state of babyhood. He longs that we should
become full grown men and women of faith. Knowing
his mind. Knowing his purposes. Knowing the word.
Knowing what it's all about. Knowing how to live.
Knowing how to become more than conquerors in
Christ Jesus. Knowing who is the rock upon which
we stand. God is a father with a father's heart.
He delights to see his children grow in grace
and in the knowledge of the Son of God, just
as you, as a parent, as a father and mother,
rejoice when you see your children developing
mentally and physically. Babies are cute. Babies
are darling. There's nothing the whole world
quite as sweet. As a little baby. And how often
I've heard a parent say, I wish he'd never grow
up. He's so cute just like that. Oh, to fondle
a baby. But I'm going to tell you something.
Who wants a 16 -year -old baby? Who wants a 25
-year -old baby? No matter how cute your baby
is. No matter how darling that baby is today,
you'd feel pretty badly if that baby didn't go
to manhood, if it didn't develop, if it didn't
grow to be an adult. And God the Father feels
the same way about his children, and yet he has
children who are still... and have never left
their babyhood at the age of 30, 35, 40, and
50. You're still little children never having
become rooted and grounded in the word. At this
very hour, you're not dead sure what you believe.
And that's the reason you're tossed... to and
fro by every wind of doctrine. Oh, beloved, there
never was a day in the history of the church
when Christians needed more to be rooted and
grounded in the faith as in the present day.
For you and I both know that false teachers are
increasing and their doctrines are becoming more
plausible. You know something? False systems,
false doctrines, and their promoters are described
in this 14th verse of the 4th chapter of Ephesians.
Here it is. Sly men, cunning craftiness, whereby
they lie in wait to deceive. In other words,
Such men have selfish purposes and deceive in
order to profit from their lies. Paul's not describing
in these words people who sell insecure oil stock
or land. No. He's describing religious leaders
who come to us these days in the name of Christ.
They're those today who'll accept anyone who
topes a Bible under his arm. There are still
children in the body of Christ who will accept
anyone as being sincere if they'll just use the
name of Jesus or of Christ. That's right. These
words given by Paul are in keeping with Matthew,
the 24th chapter and the 24th verse, where the
end of the age is described by the Lord Jesus
Christ. And he says, For there shall arise false
Christs and false prophets, and shall show great
signs and wonders insomuch that, if it were possible,
they shall deceive the very elect. Now then,
we're told in 1 John, the fourth chapter, to
try the spirits. And this may be done in several
ways. First, Find out what the attitude of the
system of teaching is toward the Bible. Whether
the Bible is held to be the complete revelation
of God or whether it's only a partial revelation
with another book needed to complete it. I'm
always a little leery of these folks who come
around with another book that you're supposed
to read. With the Bible, I'm going to tell you
something. There is no substitute for the Word
of God. All you need is the say of the Lord.
You don't need anything further to know God's
truth than just the Bible itself. For the Bible
is the Word, the living God. It is supernaturally
inspired. It was written by holy men of old as
they were moved and inspired by the Holy Ghost.
It is the only true ground of Christian unity
and fellowship. Believe me, it is the eternal
tribunal by whose all men and all nations shall
be judged one day. Know that. Accept nothing
more than God's word. Next, ask what their belief
is concerning the person of Jesus Christ, whether
he is the eternal son of the eternal God. born
of a virgin, the perfect man, and the perfect
God, ascertain their attitude toward the atoning
work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary. Find
out what they believe concerning the eternal
destiny of those who reject Jesus Christ and
refuse to believe in Him as Savior through faith
in His blood. Such a test reveals the truth of
their doctrine. Know that. Jesus Christ is the
very Son, the living God, coexistence and co
-eternal with the Father, who was conceived by
the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, taking
upon himself the form of man, and by the shedding
of his blood, Atonement for man. He is not just
a beautiful example. Know that. It is more than
that. He is the very son of the living God. Nothing
else will suffice. For the transgression of men.
Know that. Know. Not just an example. But the
very son of the living God. You know something?
When false teaching is brought under the lens
of holy writ. It's true. Character is revealed.
But in our proclamation of the great doctrines,
the word, the truth of God, let us remember the
exhortation in verse 15, here in this fourth
chapter of Ephesians, with regard to the spirit
in which it should be done. Let me read it. But
speaking the truth in love. may grow up into
him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.
Oh, what a need there is for the fundamentals
of the truth to be emphasized. It's important
that we set forth the fundamentals of the faith
and contend for them earnestly. But it's just
as important that we should exemplify in our
lives. the great truths for which we contend,
and that we practice at all times and under all
circumstances the inexhaustible love. As Paul
says, though I speak with the tongues of men
and of angels and have not love, it profiteth
me nothing. Oh, how many of us there are who
seem to have a profound knowledge of doctrine,
but are destitute of love and of kindness. Speak
the truth. By all means, speak the truth. But
by all means, let us speak it in love. And let
us live out in our lives the things that we proclaim
by lip. You know, there's a beautiful story that's
told of Dr. G. Campbell Morgan. He had four sons,
all of whom were preachers. The youngest son,
Howard, was considered a great preacher. Someone
came into the drawing room with the family. were
having a reunion, and thinking to find out what
Howard was made of, asked this question, Howard,
who's the greatest preacher in your family? Howard
had a great admiration for his father, and he
looked across the room where his father stood.
For just a moment, there was silence as he looked
at his father directly. Clay in the face. The
man whom he admired most. And then, without further
hesitation, he answered, My mother. He was right.
You know, sometimes men and women, never standing
on a platform, never having stood behind a pulpit,
preach the great, discernment through living
out in their daily lives the word and the practicing
of the word of God. For me to live is Christ
and Christ is love. Amen.