EPHESIANS 4:9-16 NKJV

9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also [d]first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 

12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the [e]edifying of the body of Christ, 

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ

16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

- He Himself: This means that Jesus established these offices. They are the work and appointment of Jesus, not men, the offices themselves are a Divine institution and not a human invention.

i) Apostles, who are special ambassadors of God’s work, 
ii) Prophets, who speak forth words from God

iii) Evangelists, who are specifically gifted to preach the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

iv) Pastors and teachers,  who shepherds the flock of God primarily through teaching the Word of God. “Teaching is an essential part of the pastoral ministry;

- The purpose of these gifts of leadership is also clear. It is that saints (God’s people) might be equipped for the work of ministry (service), so that the body of Christ would be built up (expanded and strengthened).

- The primary purpose of the Church isn’t to convert sinners to Christianity, but to perfect (complete and mature) the saints for the ministry and edification of the Body.

- Till we all come to the unity of the faith: This is the first goal of God’s work through the gifted offices and equipped saints. 

- And of the knowledge of the Son of God: When the gifted offices work right and the saints are properly equipped, Christian maturity increases and there is greater intimacy in the experience of God.

- The gifted offices and equipped saints bring the saints to maturity, according to the measure of Jesus Himself. As years pass by, we should not only grow old in Jesus, but more mature in Him as well, as both individuals and as a corporate body.

- The gifted offices and equipped saints result in stability, being firmly planted on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.

- Another way maturity is described is as the growing up into Jesus, who is the head. Again, this defines the direction of maturity. We never grow “independent” of Jesus, we grow up into Him

- The evidence of maturity – that the leaders and the saints are all doing their job – is this effective working

- This means every part and joint provides what it can supply in a coordinated effort. When this happens, it naturally causes the growth of the body, but especially growth for building itself up in love

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