But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Speaking the truth in love causes believers to grow up into Christ in all things and in every part of life, for He is the head into whom they grow. Christ is the living head, leader and Shepherd who directs, unites, sustains and nourishes the body as the mind guides its members, while believers are only members receiving light and strength from Him. This growth is toward full maturity, becoming like Him in character, mind and action, and it is lifelong, continuous and daily, advancing upward and heavenward without limit until probation ends. Truth spoken in this way is free from harshness, sharpness and personal attack and is spoken with tact, meekness and tenderness, yet it remains plain, bold and certain and is not softened or suppressed even when correction wounds. As every part works effectually in its own place, the whole body joined together increases and builds itself up in love, and believers move from being children tossed by every wind of doctrine to stability, unity of faith and the full stature of Christ.
Phrases and Chapter Context
The verse belongs to the teaching that God has appointed a ministry for the church, describing growth toward Christ as the church's head through speaking truth in love. Christ gives different gifts to the church, each precious and each having its part in perfecting the saints, so that the church grows toward Christ its head as members serve together according to God's order. The varied gifts and lines of work are to blend in an orderly whole, with Christ as the head toward whom the body is to grow in every respect. Every worker is to be under the special influence of grace, for the various gifts are given to bring believers to completeness in Jesus Christ. Christ is the head of the church and believers and their work are to be united under His direction, with no one person to carry every responsibility or act as sole head, but different people and agencies having appointed work and cooperating with one another and with Christ so that union with Christ and with one another spreads the gospel's transforming power.
Its setting is the gift of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers working in fellowship together, each standing in lot and place as a laborer together with God with talents committed according to ability, where speaking truth in love causes growth up into Christ in all things as the head. This growth is part of the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ until all come into unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man and the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so as not to remain children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and cunning deceit. It depends on the concurrence and harmonious action of many instruments and agencies, like a body fitly joined and compacted by every joint with each part working in measure, where even the least member affects the prosperity and perfection of the whole, increasing and edifying itself in love as a complete harmonious whole in Christ Jesus, not one-sided. This love is the love that dwelt in Jesus, loving one another as Christ loved, joining different workers with different works given by God, and each person must fight his own battle to obtain the help God provided for perfection so labor blends with the labor of those God appointed and all gifts unite in perfect unity in diversity. Growth comes through uplifting Christ rather than attaching converts to a man to bear his mold and copy his ways, with no worker to separate himself to a few souls, claim exclusive charge of them, impose his own ways as the perfect pattern, or make his own method the rule for all, for no one man is a complete whole, different minds compose the body of believers, and different men present the same truths in different ways. It is a warning against dissension, talking over defects of brethren and sisters, spiritual blindness, following one's own way, and working on the negative side, and a call to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, moving from childhood tossed by sleight and cunning craftiness of deceivers into unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God.
Its moral setting is no longer walking as Gentiles walk in vanity of mind with darkened understanding, alienated from the life of God through ignorance and blindness of heart and given over to lasciviousness and uncleanness, but having learned Christ as the truth is in Jesus by putting off the old man corrupt according to deceitful lusts, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, and putting on the new man created after God in righteousness and true holiness. That new life is lived out by putting away lying and speaking truth with neighbors as members one of another, being angry without sin and without lasting wrath, giving no place to the devil, working honestly to give to the needy, letting no corrupt communication proceed but only what edifies and ministers grace, not grieving the Holy Spirit, putting away bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice, and being kind and tenderhearted and forgiving as God for Christ's sake forgives. It means loving God supremely and neighbor as self in formation of a symmetrical character brought into practical life for the overcomer's reward, with saints made perfect in development of different gifts, the grace of Christ bringing all into unity, love and harmonious action, and under the Holy Spirit's working putting away selfishness, self-sufficiency, self-esteem, jealousy, evil surmising and evil-speaking. It defines the relation members should sustain to each other as a precious bond of union, brother with brother, each living and acting individually before God, conscientiously giving fellow laborers a place to work, encouraging one another with speech that edifies and ministers grace. God's plan plainly revealed in Ephesians 4 for keeping unity shows growth up into Christ the head by conformity to obedience to the commandments of God, unity in the faith of the Scriptures, and being bound together as one in Christ Jesus with lives hid with Christ in God. That growth shows in practicing the golden rule, bearing living testimony that the Father loves believers even as He loves His Son with powerful influence on unbelievers, appreciating God's gift, using heaven's costly provision to draw souls to obedience to the law of God, cooperating as laborers together with God, becoming partakers of the divine nature having escaped corruption in the world through lust, and living consistent Christian lives in courtesy, fidelity, justice and mercy that magnify the law of God and demonstrate that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The plan for holding to truth and remaining united in faith and agreement is reflected in lives united in Christ, shaped by truth and marked by love for one another, together testifying to the world of the gospel and God's work in them.
The verse is included in the call to study Ephesians 4 and 5, where the surrounding teaching emphasizes putting away falsehood and speaking truth with one another, using words that build others up, and living in love. It is a word of inspiration for those advancing God's cause while Satan works to control minds and stir up sin and offense to God, and it must be studied and obeyed and not ignored or treated with indifference, for only doers of the word receive the reward. It is part of a Bible lesson to be put into practice, for living the Bible makes believers strong in the Lord, while bringing in human ideas and opinions can mislead others. It is solemn instruction that means much and should be read to hearers and impressed upon their minds, calling believers away from hard-spirited estrangement from the working of the Holy Spirit into a great reformation of words, works and spiritual understanding, breathing daily the atmosphere of heaven with the inspiration of angels in the heavenly courts. It is a warning for every soul to heed in setting the churches in order and closing the door of unbelief, calling for making straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way, and for steadfastness against the seducing power of Satan, which will increase until, if possible, even the very elect would be deceived.
Growing into Christ Head
Speaking the truth in love causes believers to grow up into Christ in all things and in every part of life, for Christ is the head into whom they grow. This growing is toward Him together as a church joined to Him and to one another unto the fullness of His character, advanced through the united service of diverse gifts and ministries with each member contributing its measure to the body's growth in love. It rests on a living connection with God and abiding principles of truth rather than changeable feelings, and it counters childish instability and deception by false teaching. Love in this work keeps God's work moving harmoniously and brings Christian politeness.
Christ is the living head, leader, Master, divine Shepherd and Captain who directs, unites, sustains and nourishes the body as the mind guides the members. Believers are only members, receiving from Him capabilities, light, power and efficiency to bless the world, and they are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit rather than by men, calling no man master. No one is qualified to bear the burden alone or to be an independent whole apart from Christ and the body, and God does not intend one person to carry every responsibility or act as sole head. Unity is preserved only as different members each perform their own office and cooperate with one another and with Christ, working together rather than independently or in opposition, with gospel ministers as undershepherds under the great Head. So organized to work together intelligently, the members form one symmetrical body subject to sanctified intelligence, and their union with Christ and with one another spreads the gospel's transforming power.
Growth is toward full maturity, the full stature of men and women in Christ, becoming like Him in spirit, action, character and mind. By continually looking to Christ and following His pattern and example, believers reflect His character, lay hold of His righteousness, and show increasing faith, holy conscience, refinement, fitness for heaven, and the Spirit's fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness and faith. This requires daily progress in knowledge and spiritual strength and being firmly rooted and grounded in truth, for those who do not grow stronger move backward. The spiritual and moral growth needed for this development is found in Scripture.
Growth is lifelong, continuous and daily, like newborn children growing to adulthood and seed growing to fruitful plants. Full maturity in Christ is not reached until probation ends, with continual struggle against self in which harder struggles, even for those with fiery passions, bring more glorious victories and greater eternal reward. It comes through a living experience of God in which practicing truth gives the experience needed to understand His word, and this experiential knowledge strengthens the intellect and builds the believer up into Christ. Perseverance in spiritual effort makes believers spiritually strong to resist temptation and to bless others by influence, and working with Christ brings closer union with Him as living head with better understanding of His work and sacrifice. Those newly converted grow as they do their part in separating from whatever drags them down, and God then gives strength for this growth.
Growth is upward and heavenward, not earthward and downward. Believers are to keep growing in grace and in knowledge of Christ, gathering the light God gives, and there is no limit to how much they can grow into Him as living Head. This comes through the right kind of knowledge that strengthens the intellect, makes men and women better, and builds them up in Christ, in contrast to proud human wisdom and useless knowledge that cannot be taken into the next life. It comes in the dispensation of the Spirit by receiving the promised Holy Spirit, taking God at His word and asking in faith instead of limiting the Holy One of Israel, whose baptism brings the church into its right position and prepares God's people for the approaching conflict. Ministers are to give the trumpet a certain sound to arouse sleeping members to this growth and to set them at work for themselves and for others outside the fold, lest without awakening from death-like slumber they be taken in the enemy's devices.
Unity Through Diverse Gifts
Speaking the truth in love brings growth up into Christ as head in all things through complete unity in diversity, with truth expressed through a diversity of gifts, characters, minds, graces and abilities that are all essential and work to one end, the expression of the mind and will of God through the perfecting of the saints and the perfection of the church. That growth moves believers from being children tossed to and fro and deceived by false doctrine to a perfect man in unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, as the whole body fitly joined together increases and edifies itself in love as every joint supplies its measure and every part works effectually. Each member receives life, light, efficiency and power from Christ the living head and contributes according to measure of ability, so members work together rather than independently or in opposition, consulting, praying and cooperating and supplying what others lack. The church is strengthened when each serves in the place and work given by God in coordinated action for the good of the whole, with members respecting, encouraging, sustaining and recognizing one another without envy or harmful thought, speech or action, and with no member or contribution whether high or lowly undervalued or shut out, since each has part in spreading light and serving truth and righteousness through shared interests and sympathy.
No one is qualified to bear the burden of the work alone or to be an independent whole apart from Christ and the body, for God joins together men of different minds and varied talents, experience and abilities to counsel with and assist one another. The deficiency in the experience and ability of one is supplied by the experience and ability of another, so differing gifts cause workers to feel their need of one another and help one another in doing their various duties and faithfully finishing the work given them. Growing up into Christ together means uniting human weakness to His strength, dying to self and living to Christ, having cherished strong unchristlike traits of character softened, subdued and purified, and uniting with one another in order to be one with Christ in God. The gifts are bestowed by God to be employed in His service for the good of all mankind by representing truth, not to glorify the possessor, not to uplift man, but to uplift the world's Redeemer.
The Lord's arrangement for those united in church capacity is apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers working in fellowship together for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ until all come to unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man and the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Each stands in his lot and place as a laborer together with God with talents committed according to ability, performing his own office under the Holy Spirit rather than seeking to be controlled by men, with no shirking of responsibility on one hand and no laboring for supremacy on the other, but devoted zeal in everyone to do his best. No one man's method is to be the rule for all, for different minds compose the body of believers and different men present the same truths in different ways to reach different people, and no worker is to uplift himself, attach converts to himself to bear his mold and copy his ways, separate himself to a few souls, claim exclusive charge of them, impose his own ways as the perfect pattern, claim exclusive territory, or interfere with and take over a fellow worker's different assignment. Keeping self out of sight, working in humility and wisdom, harmonizing with fellow workers, uniting different minds, gifts, plans and methods, counseling and praying together, and constantly learning and improving fits workers for presenting truth and guards the entrusted work from being spoiled, and the Lord is not pleased to have one carry a heavy load and another go lightly loaded, one eased and another burdened.
Jesus Christ who redeemed His people by His own blood is the acknowledged head of one united body, and all varied gifts, talents and branches of work must grow up into Him and stay bound together under His heavenly leadership and authority and direction rather than human guidance. The gospel ministry of the word and medical missionary work must go forward hand in hand as one complete whole, with reading, prayer, singing and preaching united, like arm and hand of the body; neither should be separated from or take the place of the whole body. When either works independently the church becomes unbalanced, confusion follows and parts of the work are neglected, and to separate them leaves arms without a head to devise wise plans and movements and defeats God's purpose. Medical missionary work is the arm and hand of the third angel's message that must stay active to help prepare the way for Christ's coming but must not become a separate or all-important work taking the place of the whole, while the message and ministry must not reject it, because each has an appointed role and both suffer when separated; and not all can be medical missionaries in the full sense, for some must train as faithful ministers and skillful shepherds to bring meat in due season for sheep and lambs, each doing his own assigned part of the vineyard. Ministers and physicians under Christ as Captain of salvation must work intelligently in perfect unity, obeying Him, not attracting men to themselves or exalting themselves, but winning souls to Christ and giving Him alone all glory for success.
Growing up into Christ the head belongs to God's plainly revealed plan in Ephesians 4 for keeping unity in His church so its members reveal a healthy religious experience to the world, by conformity to obedience to the commandments of God, unity in the faith of the Scriptures, and being bound together as one in Christ Jesus with lives hid with Christ in God. That growth shows in holding to truth, remaining united in faith and agreement, practicing the golden rule, loving one another, and living consistent Christian lives in courtesy, fidelity, justice and mercy that magnify the law of God and demonstrate that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. When followers of Christ despite their different temperaments act together in harmony with the one aim of truth told in love, their unity is brought about only by the miraculous power of God and witnesses to His power and to the world that the Father sent His Son to save sinners, bearing a living testimony that the Father loves believers even as He loves His Son with powerful influence on unbelievers. Variance among His people dishonors their Maker, for sin has perverted influence for good and made man a power to destroy rather than to save, but under the reign of Christ unity and cooperation in salvation of men calls all capabilities into bringing those under Satan's rule back to loyalty to God as workers receive divine power and impart the same to fellow men. It is fulfilled when all are guided and controlled by the same Spirit while having different gifts, co-operating as laborers together with God, becoming partakers of the divine nature having escaped corruption in the world through lust, using heaven's costly provision to draw souls to obedience to the law of God, and taking part in regular purposeful service rather than neglecting duties; and it calls for earnest striving, prayer and work for unity, which brings spiritual health, elevation of thought, nobility and heavenly mindedness, with less complaining and criticizing and far more prayer for wisdom from on high so that workers together with God show His love plainly.
Maturity Guarded From Error
Growing up into Christ in all things by speaking the truth in love moves believers away from remaining as children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by sleight and cunning craftiness and deceit, into stability, unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, and the full stature of Christ. This growth belongs to the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ, and it depends on the concurrence and harmonious action of many instruments and agencies, like a body fitly joined together where even the least member affects the prosperity and perfection of the whole church. Truth spoken and lived with love in every part of life counters childish instability and guards against being misled by deceptive teachers and changing doctrines, as members work together and each contributes to the strengthening of the body in love. Workers for Christ must learn and practice this, being much in prayer and praying in public to the point with heartfelt simplicity and confidence, stating needs plainly and claiming promises with faith so the congregation knows the speaker prevails with God, is sincere, is encouraged to believe the Lord is present, opens the heart to receive blessing, and listens willingly to instruction.
Stability requires holding stiffly for the faith once delivered to the saints while telling the truth with love in meekness and lowliness, with no selfishness or sharpness creeping into the character. It requires holding unmoved the building of faith in the third angel's message as established through the last sixty years, with not a pin or pillar moved, against every effort to tear up that foundation. It requires close study and intelligent understanding of the Word so as to obey it and remain steady when false doctrines bring tests and trials, and daily increase in the knowledge and love of the truth with humble daily dependence on God in simple Bible faith in His power. Feeding continually on Christ is essential, for only when the Holy Spirit molds and fashions the character after the divine similitude is the difference between the children of light and the children of darkness unmistakably seen in every word and deed, and talking about the blessings of the Holy Spirit and praying for them without that inward working proves He is not present. This daily growth into Christ the living head protects physicians, medical students, youth and all listening to educators against exalting science above God, becoming beclouded in mind, and being deceived to ruin by scientific research and arguments and finely woven sophistry, against stumbling, spiritual blindness and being ensnared, and against failing to keep pace with God's opening providence as His glory begins to shine and is about to lighten the whole earth.
In the final conflict God's people will grow up into Him in every part of life and share abundantly in His Spirit. The latter rain will revive and strengthen them to endure Jacob's trouble and the time of trouble, and the power and glory attending the closing third angel's message will be reflected in their faces. It is a warning for every soul to heed in setting the churches in order and closing the door of unbelief, calling for making straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way, and for steadfastness against the seducing power which will increase until, if possible, even the very elect would be deceived. Because the work will soon be closed up and the time of trouble such as never was will soon come, truth must not be mixed with the unsanctified elements of the natural heart nor spoken in the same spirit possessed by enemies, with no unkind thrust or allusion that harms and hedges up the way, and not one word said or sentence published that stirs up enemies and arouses their passions to a white heat unless positively essential in vindicating the truth, since sharp thrusts will come back in double measure when power is in the hands of those who can exercise it for injury.
Envy, suspicion, jealousy, accusation, strife, controversy, division, dissension, prejudice, dissatisfaction and self-righteousness oppose this growth and dishonor God, while peacemaking, kindness and keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace advance holiness. Truth received in love sanctifies believers and unites them in Christ their spiritual Head by becoming like Him in every respect, but lack of love becomes a stumbling block that keeps them from His fullness, which requires unity in Him and the crucifixion of self. Growth is hindered by dissension, talking over the defects of brethren and sisters, spiritual blindness, following one's own way and working on the negative side, and when God's word abides in a person and is practiced that person overcomes evil and grows in every way into Christ. Truthful communication in faith and love should avoid controversy, dissension and strife and leave the result with God because the work belongs to the Lord who is the authority for what is said and gives sustaining grace, refusing to be drawn into false doctrines of every kind and side issues that divert the mind from a plain Thus saith the Lord, and when confronted with distracting claims such as that the world is flat refusing debate and instead presenting the commission Christ gave His disciples before His ascension.
Truth Spoken in Love
Speaking the truth in love means walking in the truth and practicing it in all the transactions of life, doing works that correspond to its elevating influence and walking worthy of the calling instead of remaining children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and deceitful scheming. It means having faith that works by love and purifies the soul, being made alive in Christ, and having His living water springing up within to everlasting life. It is not only reading the Bible but practicing the truth as it is in Jesus with a humble and contrite spirit, living as well as speaking the truth each day to help and bless others. Told with love in cooperation with Christ this wins souls, for Christ gave His life to sanctify the world through the truth, and this requires first giving self to the Lord and then working earnestly according to His will as service most acceptable to God and dearest to Infinite Love.
Truth is to be spoken in love without the hostile, unsanctified spirit of the natural heart, without human impetuosity, sharpness, hurried speech, harshness, irritability, cutting remarks, unkind thrusts, personal attacks, or seeking mastery in discussion. Such lack of tact mars the truth, dishonors Christ, grieves the Holy Spirit, poisons minds and stirs rebellion, while an indwelling Christ is revealed by the words. Like Christ it is spoken with wisdom, earnestness, meekness, gentleness, tenderness, patience, pity, sympathy and love, representing an abiding Christ so that souls are convicted and converted. Gentle, loving words reach hearts and lead from error without exasperating, for the Holy Spirit applies the word and through Jesus supplies its force and power to reform the life. When truth dwells within, Christ dwells within, sanctifying and conforming the speaker to His image in both word and action.
Loving speech is still plain, bold and certain, telling the truth as it is in Jesus with the indwelling Spirit, not as supposition or with doubtful words. Faithful ministers as God's messengers and representatives of Christ speak truth in their ministry in high and dignified office as co-laborers with God, and God sustains them against criticism and baseless falsehoods when they stay true to principle whatever the cost, however severe and taxing the work is made by hindering church members. Failure to speak the truth plainly to one another dishonors God, and the requirement is tenderness and sympathy brought into the voice. In danger and in necessary correction truth is not softened or suppressed even when it cuts and wounds, and it presents hope and courage because redemption is near.
Telling the truth in love means having nothing to do with controversy, dissension, strife and side issues, refusing debate over distracting claims and leaving the result with God because the work is the Lord's. It forbids being drawn into false doctrines of every kind that divert from a plain Thus saith the Lord, as when confronted with claims such as that the world is flat, and instead presents the commission Christ gave His disciples before His ascension. In defending faith it communicates with love and meekness, speaking as one to whom the Lord has spoken with the Lord as authority, claiming the rich, clear, pure, savory grace of truth that nourishes the soul, and the Lord gives sustaining grace. Even when opposers disrupt meetings, accuse falsely, attack God's law, gather falsehoods and stigma, misrepresent plain utterances of the Word and trample God's moral standard, the speaker keeps calmly on, refusing self-vindication or naming opponents, praying and working at one's best with will submitted to God, trusting the Captain of salvation at the helm to make wrath praise Him, defeat wicked efforts, and cause truth to triumph when, where and how He decides.
To erring members, faulty tempted souls and children, truth is told clearly, faithfully and as a friend, without prejudice, coldness, harshness, lack of sympathy, unfeeling severity or rash uncontrolled words. It reproves error and corrects wrongs while encouraging and presenting the hopeful side, so the erring are not cut off from sympathy into utter discouragement but are labored with for reformation. Especially elders and those in charge choose words carefully with softened, subdued hearts, covered with Christ's righteousness, with kind words, comforting speech, sweetened temper, controlled voice and unselfish actions that gain confidence, bless the church and receive the Lord's approval as good and faithful service. In the home truth joined with tenderness, forbearance, gentleness and wise discipline, with justice and love blended, prepares parents to carry right Christian influence into the church. Those who know the truth but are out of the way are not growing up into Christ the Head who is sought for favor and strength, and they need counsel, reproof, exhortation and encouragement in order to do so.
In preaching, writing and health teaching, including work for Catholics and all classes, workers must present truth in Christ's love humbly and simply without extravagance, display or gall, and without mixing in unsanctified elements or speaking in the spirit of enemies. No word is to be said and no sentence published that needlessly provokes, makes unkind thrusts and allusions that hedge up the way, stirs enemies to white heat and hinders reaching souls, with personal criticism used only when positively essential to vindicate the truth. Sharp thrusts will return in double measure when power is in the hands of those able to injure, and restraint is urgent because the work will soon close and the time of trouble such as never was will soon come. Truth on sensitive questions, especially hygiene and health reform that restricts appetite and passion, must be spoken with candor and double care by well-informed, competent teachers lest prejudice close minds. With Christ in the heart, God's spokesmen and canvassers carry the gospel invitation into highways and byways to perishing souls and invite them to the marriage supper, where some refuse and others come.
Growth Lived Out Daily
Growth into Christ in every part of life comes by loving Him and remaining in Him, with Christ dwelling in the heart to work the will of God and to reproduce His own working and spirit in the believer. It comes by continually looking to Him as personal Saviour and following His pattern, beholding Him by faith until faith increases, conscience is made holy, and love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness and faith appear. Turning the heart to heavenly things and contemplating His glory and beauty draws the believer with heavenly attraction and brings forth His righteousness in the life, as growing in grace and knowledge of the truth. This beholding changes the believer gradually from his own ways and will to Christ's ways and will, not by his own power or effort but by the Holy Spirit, as he learns from Jesus and reflects His character. Feeding on Christ, eating His flesh and drinking His blood with His word abiding within, makes the young strong to overcome the wicked one, and practicing the truth gives living experience of God whose experiential knowledge strengthens the intellect and builds up into Christ the living Head.
As a plant rooted in Christ and open to the Holy Spirit, the believer receives life-giving grace, dies to self, surrenders the will, overcomes daily, and cooperates with divine agencies. Growth also comes by exercise in unselfish service, for strength comes by use and all who use the ability given them gain increased ability to devote to service. Those who do nothing in the cause of God fail to grow in grace and knowledge of the truth, and the Christian who will not exercise his powers not only fails to grow up into Christ but loses strength already gained and becomes a spiritual paralytic, like limbs weakened by disuse. Working with Christ in self-sacrifice and disinterested benevolence to save others brings the sympathies into close union with Him, gives better understanding of the nature of His work and sacrifice, and sets upon souls a value proportionate to the price He paid. Those who with love for God and fellow men strive to help others become established, strengthened and settled in the truth, working not from impulse for a day or a month but from principle through the entire life, while merely receiving blessings passively leads to decline.
Those baptized into Christ grow as they do their part in separating from everything that would drag them down or make them what they ought not to be, living in union with Him as the living Head, and God then gives strength to grow and to see His salvation under testing and proving. Health reform belongs to that separation in practice, since avoiding improper diet and intemperance preserves health and supports growth in Christian character. Truth on sensitive questions, especially hygiene and health reform that restricts appetite and passion, is therefore to be spoken in love with candor and with double care by those well informed and competent to teach, lest prejudice close minds against instruction.
Members grow by building one another up in most holy faith and never tearing one another down, for tearing down is the work of the adversary, and by day-by-day mutual help toward full stature as men and women in Christ they close the door to the enemy. Speech is a talent to bless and not a curse to cause dissension and strife by faultfinding; speech shaped by righteousness is pleasant and helpful and builds up fellow believers toward maturity and the edification of the church. The one given to finding fault neglects his own soul, and those who permit that unchristlike work to go on unrebuked share accountability for injury done to brethren. Each is to serve in the place and work given him in coordinated action for the good of the whole, with respect, encouragement, sustenance and recognition, and with no envy or harmful thought, speech or action. When the word abides and is practiced the believer overcomes evil and grows in every way into Christ, yet envy, jealousy, accusation and strife oppose that path while peacemaking and kindness keep souls on the way of holiness.
Growing up requires persevering effort with steady, uniform, unwavering energy and surrender of the soul to the claims of religion, making a person strong to resist temptation and competent to bless others with influence. When human effort and zealous action unite with divine power in healthy action, motives become high and intellect and affections are balanced by noble principles, so that the person stands strong to conquer. It means ever learning and increasing in knowledge, cultivating intellect and endowments to become a laborer together with God, ceasing to do evil and learning to do well at a higher standard through loyalty, true service and cooperation with heavenly agencies to counteract inherited evil. That lifelong, persevering, untiring effort keeps light from going out in darkness and secures heaven and immortal life within reach, while disobedience, transgression, self-will and indulged appetite forfeit it.
Growing up into Christ is the aim of training children in the home, where the younger members come into the world weak and helpless and are committed to the mother whose heart, when surrendered to God, is full of patience and love. The mother is to cooperate with God and with her husband in molding and fashioning these precious souls, and the father, relying on grace, is to bear his sacred responsibility as husband, as house-band, rather than being absorbed only in business plans and cares. Truth joined with tenderness, forbearance, gentleness and wise discipline, with justice and love blended in the treatment of children, prepares parents to carry a right Christian influence into the church.
Speaking the truth in love so as to grow up into Christ in all things belongs to the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry and the edifying of the body unto unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man unto the measure of the fullness of Christ, and unto stability no more as children tossed by every wind of doctrine and deceitful craftiness. Workers must therefore be much in prayer, and in public pray to the point with heartfelt simplicity and confidence, stating needs plainly and claiming promises with faith, so the congregation knows the speaker prevails with God, is sincere, is encouraged to believe the Lord is present, opens the heart to receive blessing, and listens willingly to instruction. True ministers hold high dignity as co-laborers with God and as His messengers and representatives of Christ telling the truth with love, and even when hindered by baseless falsehoods that make labor severe and taxing, God sustains them against criticism as they stay true to principle whatever the cost. Members and spokesmen are to speak the truth in love to perishing souls and to those who do not know Bible teaching in order to bring them to Christ, with Christ in the heart carrying the gospel invitation into the highways and byways and bidding guests to the marriage supper, where some will refuse but others will come. As Christ the living Head did, workers are to encourage faith and hope while remaining humble and contrite before God and holding firmly to His promises, preaching the Word in the Spirit's power with words that reform without exasperating.
Speaking the truth in love causes believers to grow up into Christ in all things and in every part of life, for He is the head into whom they grow. Christ is the living head, leader and Shepherd who directs, unites, sustains and nourishes the body as the mind guides its members, while believers are only members receiving light and strength from Him. This growth is toward full maturity, becoming like Him in character, mind and action, and it is lifelong, continuous and daily, advancing upward and heavenward without limit until probation ends. Truth spoken in this way is free from harshness, sharpness and personal attack and is spoken with tact, meekness and tenderness, yet it remains plain, bold and certain and is not softened or suppressed even when correction wounds. As every part works effectually in its own place, the whole body joined together increases and builds itself up in love, and believers move from being children tossed by every wind of doctrine to stability, unity of faith and the full stature of Christ.
Phrases and Chapter Context
The verse belongs to the teaching that God has appointed a ministry for the church, describing growth toward Christ as the church's head through speaking truth in love. Christ gives different gifts to the church, each precious and each having its part in perfecting the saints, so that the church grows toward Christ its head as members serve together according to God's order. The varied gifts and lines of work are to blend in an orderly whole, with Christ as the head toward whom the body is to grow in every respect. Every worker is to be under the special influence of grace, for the various gifts are given to bring believers to completeness in Jesus Christ. Christ is the head of the church and believers and their work are to be united under His direction, with no one person to carry every responsibility or act as sole head, but different people and agencies having appointed work and cooperating with one another and with Christ so that union with Christ and with one another spreads the gospel's transforming power.
Its setting is the gift of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers working in fellowship together, each standing in lot and place as a laborer together with God with talents committed according to ability, where speaking truth in love causes growth up into Christ in all things as the head. This growth is part of the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ until all come into unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man and the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so as not to remain children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and cunning deceit. It depends on the concurrence and harmonious action of many instruments and agencies, like a body fitly joined and compacted by every joint with each part working in measure, where even the least member affects the prosperity and perfection of the whole, increasing and edifying itself in love as a complete harmonious whole in Christ Jesus, not one-sided. This love is the love that dwelt in Jesus, loving one another as Christ loved, joining different workers with different works given by God, and each person must fight his own battle to obtain the help God provided for perfection so labor blends with the labor of those God appointed and all gifts unite in perfect unity in diversity. Growth comes through uplifting Christ rather than attaching converts to a man to bear his mold and copy his ways, with no worker to separate himself to a few souls, claim exclusive charge of them, impose his own ways as the perfect pattern, or make his own method the rule for all, for no one man is a complete whole, different minds compose the body of believers, and different men present the same truths in different ways. It is a warning against dissension, talking over defects of brethren and sisters, spiritual blindness, following one's own way, and working on the negative side, and a call to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, moving from childhood tossed by sleight and cunning craftiness of deceivers into unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God.
Its moral setting is no longer walking as Gentiles walk in vanity of mind with darkened understanding, alienated from the life of God through ignorance and blindness of heart and given over to lasciviousness and uncleanness, but having learned Christ as the truth is in Jesus by putting off the old man corrupt according to deceitful lusts, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, and putting on the new man created after God in righteousness and true holiness. That new life is lived out by putting away lying and speaking truth with neighbors as members one of another, being angry without sin and without lasting wrath, giving no place to the devil, working honestly to give to the needy, letting no corrupt communication proceed but only what edifies and ministers grace, not grieving the Holy Spirit, putting away bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice, and being kind and tenderhearted and forgiving as God for Christ's sake forgives. It means loving God supremely and neighbor as self in formation of a symmetrical character brought into practical life for the overcomer's reward, with saints made perfect in development of different gifts, the grace of Christ bringing all into unity, love and harmonious action, and under the Holy Spirit's working putting away selfishness, self-sufficiency, self-esteem, jealousy, evil surmising and evil-speaking. It defines the relation members should sustain to each other as a precious bond of union, brother with brother, each living and acting individually before God, conscientiously giving fellow laborers a place to work, encouraging one another with speech that edifies and ministers grace. God's plan plainly revealed in Ephesians 4 for keeping unity shows growth up into Christ the head by conformity to obedience to the commandments of God, unity in the faith of the Scriptures, and being bound together as one in Christ Jesus with lives hid with Christ in God. That growth shows in practicing the golden rule, bearing living testimony that the Father loves believers even as He loves His Son with powerful influence on unbelievers, appreciating God's gift, using heaven's costly provision to draw souls to obedience to the law of God, cooperating as laborers together with God, becoming partakers of the divine nature having escaped corruption in the world through lust, and living consistent Christian lives in courtesy, fidelity, justice and mercy that magnify the law of God and demonstrate that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The plan for holding to truth and remaining united in faith and agreement is reflected in lives united in Christ, shaped by truth and marked by love for one another, together testifying to the world of the gospel and God's work in them.
The verse is included in the call to study Ephesians 4 and 5, where the surrounding teaching emphasizes putting away falsehood and speaking truth with one another, using words that build others up, and living in love. It is a word of inspiration for those advancing God's cause while Satan works to control minds and stir up sin and offense to God, and it must be studied and obeyed and not ignored or treated with indifference, for only doers of the word receive the reward. It is part of a Bible lesson to be put into practice, for living the Bible makes believers strong in the Lord, while bringing in human ideas and opinions can mislead others. It is solemn instruction that means much and should be read to hearers and impressed upon their minds, calling believers away from hard-spirited estrangement from the working of the Holy Spirit into a great reformation of words, works and spiritual understanding, breathing daily the atmosphere of heaven with the inspiration of angels in the heavenly courts. It is a warning for every soul to heed in setting the churches in order and closing the door of unbelief, calling for making straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way, and for steadfastness against the seducing power of Satan, which will increase until, if possible, even the very elect would be deceived.
Growing into Christ Head
Speaking the truth in love causes believers to grow up into Christ in all things and in every part of life, for Christ is the head into whom they grow. This growing is toward Him together as a church joined to Him and to one another unto the fullness of His character, advanced through the united service of diverse gifts and ministries with each member contributing its measure to the body's growth in love. It rests on a living connection with God and abiding principles of truth rather than changeable feelings, and it counters childish instability and deception by false teaching. Love in this work keeps God's work moving harmoniously and brings Christian politeness.
Christ is the living head, leader, Master, divine Shepherd and Captain who directs, unites, sustains and nourishes the body as the mind guides the members. Believers are only members, receiving from Him capabilities, light, power and efficiency to bless the world, and they are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit rather than by men, calling no man master. No one is qualified to bear the burden alone or to be an independent whole apart from Christ and the body, and God does not intend one person to carry every responsibility or act as sole head. Unity is preserved only as different members each perform their own office and cooperate with one another and with Christ, working together rather than independently or in opposition, with gospel ministers as undershepherds under the great Head. So organized to work together intelligently, the members form one symmetrical body subject to sanctified intelligence, and their union with Christ and with one another spreads the gospel's transforming power.
Growth is toward full maturity, the full stature of men and women in Christ, becoming like Him in spirit, action, character and mind. By continually looking to Christ and following His pattern and example, believers reflect His character, lay hold of His righteousness, and show increasing faith, holy conscience, refinement, fitness for heaven, and the Spirit's fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness and faith. This requires daily progress in knowledge and spiritual strength and being firmly rooted and grounded in truth, for those who do not grow stronger move backward. The spiritual and moral growth needed for this development is found in Scripture.
Growth is lifelong, continuous and daily, like newborn children growing to adulthood and seed growing to fruitful plants. Full maturity in Christ is not reached until probation ends, with continual struggle against self in which harder struggles, even for those with fiery passions, bring more glorious victories and greater eternal reward. It comes through a living experience of God in which practicing truth gives the experience needed to understand His word, and this experiential knowledge strengthens the intellect and builds the believer up into Christ. Perseverance in spiritual effort makes believers spiritually strong to resist temptation and to bless others by influence, and working with Christ brings closer union with Him as living head with better understanding of His work and sacrifice. Those newly converted grow as they do their part in separating from whatever drags them down, and God then gives strength for this growth.
Growth is upward and heavenward, not earthward and downward. Believers are to keep growing in grace and in knowledge of Christ, gathering the light God gives, and there is no limit to how much they can grow into Him as living Head. This comes through the right kind of knowledge that strengthens the intellect, makes men and women better, and builds them up in Christ, in contrast to proud human wisdom and useless knowledge that cannot be taken into the next life. It comes in the dispensation of the Spirit by receiving the promised Holy Spirit, taking God at His word and asking in faith instead of limiting the Holy One of Israel, whose baptism brings the church into its right position and prepares God's people for the approaching conflict. Ministers are to give the trumpet a certain sound to arouse sleeping members to this growth and to set them at work for themselves and for others outside the fold, lest without awakening from death-like slumber they be taken in the enemy's devices.
Unity Through Diverse Gifts
Speaking the truth in love brings growth up into Christ as head in all things through complete unity in diversity, with truth expressed through a diversity of gifts, characters, minds, graces and abilities that are all essential and work to one end, the expression of the mind and will of God through the perfecting of the saints and the perfection of the church. That growth moves believers from being children tossed to and fro and deceived by false doctrine to a perfect man in unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, as the whole body fitly joined together increases and edifies itself in love as every joint supplies its measure and every part works effectually. Each member receives life, light, efficiency and power from Christ the living head and contributes according to measure of ability, so members work together rather than independently or in opposition, consulting, praying and cooperating and supplying what others lack. The church is strengthened when each serves in the place and work given by God in coordinated action for the good of the whole, with members respecting, encouraging, sustaining and recognizing one another without envy or harmful thought, speech or action, and with no member or contribution whether high or lowly undervalued or shut out, since each has part in spreading light and serving truth and righteousness through shared interests and sympathy.
No one is qualified to bear the burden of the work alone or to be an independent whole apart from Christ and the body, for God joins together men of different minds and varied talents, experience and abilities to counsel with and assist one another. The deficiency in the experience and ability of one is supplied by the experience and ability of another, so differing gifts cause workers to feel their need of one another and help one another in doing their various duties and faithfully finishing the work given them. Growing up into Christ together means uniting human weakness to His strength, dying to self and living to Christ, having cherished strong unchristlike traits of character softened, subdued and purified, and uniting with one another in order to be one with Christ in God. The gifts are bestowed by God to be employed in His service for the good of all mankind by representing truth, not to glorify the possessor, not to uplift man, but to uplift the world's Redeemer.
The Lord's arrangement for those united in church capacity is apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers working in fellowship together for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ until all come to unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man and the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Each stands in his lot and place as a laborer together with God with talents committed according to ability, performing his own office under the Holy Spirit rather than seeking to be controlled by men, with no shirking of responsibility on one hand and no laboring for supremacy on the other, but devoted zeal in everyone to do his best. No one man's method is to be the rule for all, for different minds compose the body of believers and different men present the same truths in different ways to reach different people, and no worker is to uplift himself, attach converts to himself to bear his mold and copy his ways, separate himself to a few souls, claim exclusive charge of them, impose his own ways as the perfect pattern, claim exclusive territory, or interfere with and take over a fellow worker's different assignment. Keeping self out of sight, working in humility and wisdom, harmonizing with fellow workers, uniting different minds, gifts, plans and methods, counseling and praying together, and constantly learning and improving fits workers for presenting truth and guards the entrusted work from being spoiled, and the Lord is not pleased to have one carry a heavy load and another go lightly loaded, one eased and another burdened.
Jesus Christ who redeemed His people by His own blood is the acknowledged head of one united body, and all varied gifts, talents and branches of work must grow up into Him and stay bound together under His heavenly leadership and authority and direction rather than human guidance. The gospel ministry of the word and medical missionary work must go forward hand in hand as one complete whole, with reading, prayer, singing and preaching united, like arm and hand of the body; neither should be separated from or take the place of the whole body. When either works independently the church becomes unbalanced, confusion follows and parts of the work are neglected, and to separate them leaves arms without a head to devise wise plans and movements and defeats God's purpose. Medical missionary work is the arm and hand of the third angel's message that must stay active to help prepare the way for Christ's coming but must not become a separate or all-important work taking the place of the whole, while the message and ministry must not reject it, because each has an appointed role and both suffer when separated; and not all can be medical missionaries in the full sense, for some must train as faithful ministers and skillful shepherds to bring meat in due season for sheep and lambs, each doing his own assigned part of the vineyard. Ministers and physicians under Christ as Captain of salvation must work intelligently in perfect unity, obeying Him, not attracting men to themselves or exalting themselves, but winning souls to Christ and giving Him alone all glory for success.
Growing up into Christ the head belongs to God's plainly revealed plan in Ephesians 4 for keeping unity in His church so its members reveal a healthy religious experience to the world, by conformity to obedience to the commandments of God, unity in the faith of the Scriptures, and being bound together as one in Christ Jesus with lives hid with Christ in God. That growth shows in holding to truth, remaining united in faith and agreement, practicing the golden rule, loving one another, and living consistent Christian lives in courtesy, fidelity, justice and mercy that magnify the law of God and demonstrate that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. When followers of Christ despite their different temperaments act together in harmony with the one aim of truth told in love, their unity is brought about only by the miraculous power of God and witnesses to His power and to the world that the Father sent His Son to save sinners, bearing a living testimony that the Father loves believers even as He loves His Son with powerful influence on unbelievers. Variance among His people dishonors their Maker, for sin has perverted influence for good and made man a power to destroy rather than to save, but under the reign of Christ unity and cooperation in salvation of men calls all capabilities into bringing those under Satan's rule back to loyalty to God as workers receive divine power and impart the same to fellow men. It is fulfilled when all are guided and controlled by the same Spirit while having different gifts, co-operating as laborers together with God, becoming partakers of the divine nature having escaped corruption in the world through lust, using heaven's costly provision to draw souls to obedience to the law of God, and taking part in regular purposeful service rather than neglecting duties; and it calls for earnest striving, prayer and work for unity, which brings spiritual health, elevation of thought, nobility and heavenly mindedness, with less complaining and criticizing and far more prayer for wisdom from on high so that workers together with God show His love plainly.
Maturity Guarded From Error
Growing up into Christ in all things by speaking the truth in love moves believers away from remaining as children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by sleight and cunning craftiness and deceit, into stability, unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, and the full stature of Christ. This growth belongs to the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ, and it depends on the concurrence and harmonious action of many instruments and agencies, like a body fitly joined together where even the least member affects the prosperity and perfection of the whole church. Truth spoken and lived with love in every part of life counters childish instability and guards against being misled by deceptive teachers and changing doctrines, as members work together and each contributes to the strengthening of the body in love. Workers for Christ must learn and practice this, being much in prayer and praying in public to the point with heartfelt simplicity and confidence, stating needs plainly and claiming promises with faith so the congregation knows the speaker prevails with God, is sincere, is encouraged to believe the Lord is present, opens the heart to receive blessing, and listens willingly to instruction.
Stability requires holding stiffly for the faith once delivered to the saints while telling the truth with love in meekness and lowliness, with no selfishness or sharpness creeping into the character. It requires holding unmoved the building of faith in the third angel's message as established through the last sixty years, with not a pin or pillar moved, against every effort to tear up that foundation. It requires close study and intelligent understanding of the Word so as to obey it and remain steady when false doctrines bring tests and trials, and daily increase in the knowledge and love of the truth with humble daily dependence on God in simple Bible faith in His power. Feeding continually on Christ is essential, for only when the Holy Spirit molds and fashions the character after the divine similitude is the difference between the children of light and the children of darkness unmistakably seen in every word and deed, and talking about the blessings of the Holy Spirit and praying for them without that inward working proves He is not present. This daily growth into Christ the living head protects physicians, medical students, youth and all listening to educators against exalting science above God, becoming beclouded in mind, and being deceived to ruin by scientific research and arguments and finely woven sophistry, against stumbling, spiritual blindness and being ensnared, and against failing to keep pace with God's opening providence as His glory begins to shine and is about to lighten the whole earth.
In the final conflict God's people will grow up into Him in every part of life and share abundantly in His Spirit. The latter rain will revive and strengthen them to endure Jacob's trouble and the time of trouble, and the power and glory attending the closing third angel's message will be reflected in their faces. It is a warning for every soul to heed in setting the churches in order and closing the door of unbelief, calling for making straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way, and for steadfastness against the seducing power which will increase until, if possible, even the very elect would be deceived. Because the work will soon be closed up and the time of trouble such as never was will soon come, truth must not be mixed with the unsanctified elements of the natural heart nor spoken in the same spirit possessed by enemies, with no unkind thrust or allusion that harms and hedges up the way, and not one word said or sentence published that stirs up enemies and arouses their passions to a white heat unless positively essential in vindicating the truth, since sharp thrusts will come back in double measure when power is in the hands of those who can exercise it for injury.
Envy, suspicion, jealousy, accusation, strife, controversy, division, dissension, prejudice, dissatisfaction and self-righteousness oppose this growth and dishonor God, while peacemaking, kindness and keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace advance holiness. Truth received in love sanctifies believers and unites them in Christ their spiritual Head by becoming like Him in every respect, but lack of love becomes a stumbling block that keeps them from His fullness, which requires unity in Him and the crucifixion of self. Growth is hindered by dissension, talking over the defects of brethren and sisters, spiritual blindness, following one's own way and working on the negative side, and when God's word abides in a person and is practiced that person overcomes evil and grows in every way into Christ. Truthful communication in faith and love should avoid controversy, dissension and strife and leave the result with God because the work belongs to the Lord who is the authority for what is said and gives sustaining grace, refusing to be drawn into false doctrines of every kind and side issues that divert the mind from a plain Thus saith the Lord, and when confronted with distracting claims such as that the world is flat refusing debate and instead presenting the commission Christ gave His disciples before His ascension.
Truth Spoken in Love
Speaking the truth in love means walking in the truth and practicing it in all the transactions of life, doing works that correspond to its elevating influence and walking worthy of the calling instead of remaining children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and deceitful scheming. It means having faith that works by love and purifies the soul, being made alive in Christ, and having His living water springing up within to everlasting life. It is not only reading the Bible but practicing the truth as it is in Jesus with a humble and contrite spirit, living as well as speaking the truth each day to help and bless others. Told with love in cooperation with Christ this wins souls, for Christ gave His life to sanctify the world through the truth, and this requires first giving self to the Lord and then working earnestly according to His will as service most acceptable to God and dearest to Infinite Love.
Truth is to be spoken in love without the hostile, unsanctified spirit of the natural heart, without human impetuosity, sharpness, hurried speech, harshness, irritability, cutting remarks, unkind thrusts, personal attacks, or seeking mastery in discussion. Such lack of tact mars the truth, dishonors Christ, grieves the Holy Spirit, poisons minds and stirs rebellion, while an indwelling Christ is revealed by the words. Like Christ it is spoken with wisdom, earnestness, meekness, gentleness, tenderness, patience, pity, sympathy and love, representing an abiding Christ so that souls are convicted and converted. Gentle, loving words reach hearts and lead from error without exasperating, for the Holy Spirit applies the word and through Jesus supplies its force and power to reform the life. When truth dwells within, Christ dwells within, sanctifying and conforming the speaker to His image in both word and action.
Loving speech is still plain, bold and certain, telling the truth as it is in Jesus with the indwelling Spirit, not as supposition or with doubtful words. Faithful ministers as God's messengers and representatives of Christ speak truth in their ministry in high and dignified office as co-laborers with God, and God sustains them against criticism and baseless falsehoods when they stay true to principle whatever the cost, however severe and taxing the work is made by hindering church members. Failure to speak the truth plainly to one another dishonors God, and the requirement is tenderness and sympathy brought into the voice. In danger and in necessary correction truth is not softened or suppressed even when it cuts and wounds, and it presents hope and courage because redemption is near.
Telling the truth in love means having nothing to do with controversy, dissension, strife and side issues, refusing debate over distracting claims and leaving the result with God because the work is the Lord's. It forbids being drawn into false doctrines of every kind that divert from a plain Thus saith the Lord, as when confronted with claims such as that the world is flat, and instead presents the commission Christ gave His disciples before His ascension. In defending faith it communicates with love and meekness, speaking as one to whom the Lord has spoken with the Lord as authority, claiming the rich, clear, pure, savory grace of truth that nourishes the soul, and the Lord gives sustaining grace. Even when opposers disrupt meetings, accuse falsely, attack God's law, gather falsehoods and stigma, misrepresent plain utterances of the Word and trample God's moral standard, the speaker keeps calmly on, refusing self-vindication or naming opponents, praying and working at one's best with will submitted to God, trusting the Captain of salvation at the helm to make wrath praise Him, defeat wicked efforts, and cause truth to triumph when, where and how He decides.
To erring members, faulty tempted souls and children, truth is told clearly, faithfully and as a friend, without prejudice, coldness, harshness, lack of sympathy, unfeeling severity or rash uncontrolled words. It reproves error and corrects wrongs while encouraging and presenting the hopeful side, so the erring are not cut off from sympathy into utter discouragement but are labored with for reformation. Especially elders and those in charge choose words carefully with softened, subdued hearts, covered with Christ's righteousness, with kind words, comforting speech, sweetened temper, controlled voice and unselfish actions that gain confidence, bless the church and receive the Lord's approval as good and faithful service. In the home truth joined with tenderness, forbearance, gentleness and wise discipline, with justice and love blended, prepares parents to carry right Christian influence into the church. Those who know the truth but are out of the way are not growing up into Christ the Head who is sought for favor and strength, and they need counsel, reproof, exhortation and encouragement in order to do so.
In preaching, writing and health teaching, including work for Catholics and all classes, workers must present truth in Christ's love humbly and simply without extravagance, display or gall, and without mixing in unsanctified elements or speaking in the spirit of enemies. No word is to be said and no sentence published that needlessly provokes, makes unkind thrusts and allusions that hedge up the way, stirs enemies to white heat and hinders reaching souls, with personal criticism used only when positively essential to vindicate the truth. Sharp thrusts will return in double measure when power is in the hands of those able to injure, and restraint is urgent because the work will soon close and the time of trouble such as never was will soon come. Truth on sensitive questions, especially hygiene and health reform that restricts appetite and passion, must be spoken with candor and double care by well-informed, competent teachers lest prejudice close minds. With Christ in the heart, God's spokesmen and canvassers carry the gospel invitation into highways and byways to perishing souls and invite them to the marriage supper, where some refuse and others come.
Growth Lived Out Daily
Growth into Christ in every part of life comes by loving Him and remaining in Him, with Christ dwelling in the heart to work the will of God and to reproduce His own working and spirit in the believer. It comes by continually looking to Him as personal Saviour and following His pattern, beholding Him by faith until faith increases, conscience is made holy, and love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness and faith appear. Turning the heart to heavenly things and contemplating His glory and beauty draws the believer with heavenly attraction and brings forth His righteousness in the life, as growing in grace and knowledge of the truth. This beholding changes the believer gradually from his own ways and will to Christ's ways and will, not by his own power or effort but by the Holy Spirit, as he learns from Jesus and reflects His character. Feeding on Christ, eating His flesh and drinking His blood with His word abiding within, makes the young strong to overcome the wicked one, and practicing the truth gives living experience of God whose experiential knowledge strengthens the intellect and builds up into Christ the living Head.
As a plant rooted in Christ and open to the Holy Spirit, the believer receives life-giving grace, dies to self, surrenders the will, overcomes daily, and cooperates with divine agencies. Growth also comes by exercise in unselfish service, for strength comes by use and all who use the ability given them gain increased ability to devote to service. Those who do nothing in the cause of God fail to grow in grace and knowledge of the truth, and the Christian who will not exercise his powers not only fails to grow up into Christ but loses strength already gained and becomes a spiritual paralytic, like limbs weakened by disuse. Working with Christ in self-sacrifice and disinterested benevolence to save others brings the sympathies into close union with Him, gives better understanding of the nature of His work and sacrifice, and sets upon souls a value proportionate to the price He paid. Those who with love for God and fellow men strive to help others become established, strengthened and settled in the truth, working not from impulse for a day or a month but from principle through the entire life, while merely receiving blessings passively leads to decline.
Those baptized into Christ grow as they do their part in separating from everything that would drag them down or make them what they ought not to be, living in union with Him as the living Head, and God then gives strength to grow and to see His salvation under testing and proving. Health reform belongs to that separation in practice, since avoiding improper diet and intemperance preserves health and supports growth in Christian character. Truth on sensitive questions, especially hygiene and health reform that restricts appetite and passion, is therefore to be spoken in love with candor and with double care by those well informed and competent to teach, lest prejudice close minds against instruction.
Members grow by building one another up in most holy faith and never tearing one another down, for tearing down is the work of the adversary, and by day-by-day mutual help toward full stature as men and women in Christ they close the door to the enemy. Speech is a talent to bless and not a curse to cause dissension and strife by faultfinding; speech shaped by righteousness is pleasant and helpful and builds up fellow believers toward maturity and the edification of the church. The one given to finding fault neglects his own soul, and those who permit that unchristlike work to go on unrebuked share accountability for injury done to brethren. Each is to serve in the place and work given him in coordinated action for the good of the whole, with respect, encouragement, sustenance and recognition, and with no envy or harmful thought, speech or action. When the word abides and is practiced the believer overcomes evil and grows in every way into Christ, yet envy, jealousy, accusation and strife oppose that path while peacemaking and kindness keep souls on the way of holiness.
Growing up requires persevering effort with steady, uniform, unwavering energy and surrender of the soul to the claims of religion, making a person strong to resist temptation and competent to bless others with influence. When human effort and zealous action unite with divine power in healthy action, motives become high and intellect and affections are balanced by noble principles, so that the person stands strong to conquer. It means ever learning and increasing in knowledge, cultivating intellect and endowments to become a laborer together with God, ceasing to do evil and learning to do well at a higher standard through loyalty, true service and cooperation with heavenly agencies to counteract inherited evil. That lifelong, persevering, untiring effort keeps light from going out in darkness and secures heaven and immortal life within reach, while disobedience, transgression, self-will and indulged appetite forfeit it.
Growing up into Christ is the aim of training children in the home, where the younger members come into the world weak and helpless and are committed to the mother whose heart, when surrendered to God, is full of patience and love. The mother is to cooperate with God and with her husband in molding and fashioning these precious souls, and the father, relying on grace, is to bear his sacred responsibility as husband, as house-band, rather than being absorbed only in business plans and cares. Truth joined with tenderness, forbearance, gentleness and wise discipline, with justice and love blended in the treatment of children, prepares parents to carry a right Christian influence into the church.
Speaking the truth in love so as to grow up into Christ in all things belongs to the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry and the edifying of the body unto unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man unto the measure of the fullness of Christ, and unto stability no more as children tossed by every wind of doctrine and deceitful craftiness. Workers must therefore be much in prayer, and in public pray to the point with heartfelt simplicity and confidence, stating needs plainly and claiming promises with faith, so the congregation knows the speaker prevails with God, is sincere, is encouraged to believe the Lord is present, opens the heart to receive blessing, and listens willingly to instruction. True ministers hold high dignity as co-laborers with God and as His messengers and representatives of Christ telling the truth with love, and even when hindered by baseless falsehoods that make labor severe and taxing, God sustains them against criticism as they stay true to principle whatever the cost. Members and spokesmen are to speak the truth in love to perishing souls and to those who do not know Bible teaching in order to bring them to Christ, with Christ in the heart carrying the gospel invitation into the highways and byways and bidding guests to the marriage supper, where some will refuse but others will come. As Christ the living Head did, workers are to encourage faith and hope while remaining humble and contrite before God and holding firmly to His promises, preaching the Word in the Spirit's power with words that reform without exasperating.