Ephesians 4:13

Till we all come in 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 fulness of Christ: COME IN, [ kantanteesoomen (G2658) eis (G1519)] - rather, 'until we arrive the whole [ hoi (G3588) pantes (G3956)] of us at the unity,' etc. Then the ministry will no longer be needed. FAITH, AND OF THE KNOWLEDGE. Unity of faith is found when all savingly and fully know [ epignooseoos (G1922)] Christ, the object of faith, as "the Son of God" ...

13._Till we all come. _Paul had already said, that by the ministry of men the church is regulated and governed, so as to attain the highest perfection. But his commendation of the ministry is now carried farther. The necessity for which he had pleaded is not confined to a single day, but continues to the end. Or, to speak more plainly, he reminds his readers that the use of the ministry is not temporal, like that of a school for children, ( παιδαγωγία, , Galatians 3:24,) but constant, so long as we remain in the world. Enthusiasts dream that the use of the ministry ceases as soon as we have been led to Christ. Proud men, who carry their desire of knowledge beyond what is proper, look down with contempt on the elementary instruction of childhood. But Paul maintains that we must persevere in this course till all our deficiencies are supplied; that we mu

7-16 Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a measure of that fulness given in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven. God's children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ. The more a man finds himself drawn out to improve in his station, and according to his measure, all that he has received, to the spiritual good of others, he may the more certainly believe that he has the grace of sincere...

Verse 13. _IN THE UNITY OF THE FAITH_] Jews and Gentiles being all converted according to the doctrines laid down in the _faith_-the Christian system. _THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD_] A trite understanding of the mystery of the incarnation; why God was manifest in the flesh, and why this was necessary in order to human salvation. _UNTO A PERFECT MAN_] εις ανδρα τελειον. One thoroughly instructed; the whole body of the Church being fully taught, justified, sanctified, and sealed. _MEASURE OF THE STATURE_] The full measure of knowledge, love, and holiness, which the Gospel of Christ requires. Many preachers, and multitudes of professing people, are studious to find out how many imperfections and infidelities, and how much inward sinfulness, is consistent with a _safe state_ in religion but how few, very few, are bringing out the fair Gospel standard to try the height

TILL WE ALL COME - Until all Christians arrive at a state of complete unity, and to entire perfection. IN THE UNITY OF THE FAITH - Margin, into. The meaning is, until we all hold the same truths, and have the same confidence in the Son of God; see the notes on John 17:21. AND OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD - That they might attain to the satire practical acquaintance with the Son of God, and might thus come to the maturity of Christian piety; see the notes on Ephesians 3:19. UNTO A PERFECT MAN - Unto a complete man. This figure is obvious. The apostle compares their condition then to a state of childhood. The perfect man here refers to the ma

EXPOSITION PRACTICAL PORTION OF THE EPISTLE. EPHESIANS 4:1 CHURCH PRINCIPLE OF GROWTH AND PROGRESS; THE CHURCH A BODY. EPHESIANS 4:1 I THEREFORE. Inference not only from last chapter, but the whole Epistle. Paul's interest in the Ephesians led him to a double application of the great subject which he had expounded: (1) to ask God on their behalf that he would bestow on them the full measure of the blessing to which of his grace they were entitled ...

TILL WE ALL COME IN THE UNITY OF THE FAITH,.... These words regard the continuance of the Gospel ministry in the church, until all the elect of God come in: or "to the unity of the faith"; by which is meant, not the union between the saints, the cement of which is love; nor that which is between Christ and his people, of which his love, and not their faith, is the bond; but the same with the "one faith", Ephesians 4:5 and designs either the doctrine of faith, which is uniform, and all of a piece; and the sense is, that the ministration of the Gospel will continue until the saints entirely unite in their sentiments about it, and both watchmen and churches see eye to eye: or else the grace of faith, which as to its nature, object, author, spring, and cause, is the same; and it usually comes by hearing; and all God's elect shall have it; and the work and office of the ministry will remain u...

Ephesians 4:1. _I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;_ It is a loving call. Walk lovingly. It is the condescension of God that called you. Be, therefore, lowly. It is God in tenderness who has loved you. Be, therefore, meek, «forbearing one another in love.» Ephesians 4:3. _Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all._ Therefore, strive for unity. Woe unto those who divide believers that rob

2. THE MINISTRY AND ITS PURPOSE CHAPTER 4:7-16 _ 1. Ministry according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Ephesians 4:7)_ 2. The needed and permanent gifts (Ephesians 4:11) 3. The purpose and the goad (Ephesians 4:12) Each member in the body of Christ has a specific place for a specific work. See Romans 12:4 and 1 Corinthians 12:4. And the bestowal of gifts for service in the body is in His hands. He ascended upon high and triumphed over all enemies. He led captivity captive and gave gifts unt

THE DOCTRINE OF GIFTS IN RELATION TO UNITY. Every Christian has his gift of grace: and the grace given to each is proportioned to the measure of Christ's giving (Ephesians 4:7). That is what Scripture means when it says, He went up on high and took captive a captivity and gave gifts to men (Ephesians 4:8). He went up surely that means that He came down also to these lower regions, our earth. He that came down is the very same Person who went up, high above all the heavens, to fill all things (Ephesians 4:9 f_._); and it is He who has given gifts to His Church apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers for the fitting of God's people for the work of service, for the upbuilding of Christ's Body ...