Ephesians 4:15

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: SPEAKING THE TRUTH, [ aleetheuontes (G226)] - 'holding' or 'following the truth:' opposed to 'error' or 'deceit' (Ephesians 4:14). IN LOVE - in contrast to "in craftiness;" spurious professions of love by crafty teachers of error. "Truth" is never to be sacrificed to so-called 'charity;' yet is to be maintained in charity. Truth in word and act, love in manner and spirit (cf. Ephesians 4:21; Ephesians 4:24). GROW UP - from the state of "child...

15._But, speaking the truth. _Having already said that we ought not to be children, destitute of reason and judgment, he now enjoins us to _grow up in the truth. _(145) Though we have not arrived at man’s estate, we ought at least, as we have already said, to be advanced children. The truth of God ought to have such a firm hold of us, that all the contrivances and attacks of Satan shall not draw us from our course; and yet, as we have not hitherto attained full and complete strength, we must make progress until death. He points out the design of this progress, that Christ may be _the head_, “that in all things he may have the pre-eminence,” (Colossians 1:18,) and that in him alone we may grow in vigor or in stature. Again, we see that no man is excepted; all are enjoined to be subject, and to take their own places in the body....

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 15. _BUT, SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE_] The _truth_ recommended by the apostle is the whole system of Gospel doctrine; this they are to teach and preach, and this is opposed to the _deceit_ mentioned above. This truth, as it is the doctrine of God's eternal love to mankind, must be preached in _love_. Scolding and abuse from the pulpit or press, in matters of religion, are truly _monstrous_. He who has the truth of God has no need of any means to defend or propagate it, but those which love to God and man provides. _GROW UP INTO HIM_] This is a continuance of the metaphor taken from the members of a human body receiving nourishment equally and growing up, each in its due proportion to other parts, and to the body in general. The truth of God should be so preached to all the members of the Church of God, that they may all receive an increase of grace and life; so that each, in what...

BUT SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE - Margin, “being sincere.” The translation in the text is correct - literally, “truthing in love” - ἀληθεύοντες alētheuontes. Two things are here to be noted: (1) The truth is “to be spoken” - the simple, unvarnished truth. This is the way to avoid error, and this is the way to preserve others from error. In opposition to all trick, and art, and cunning, and fraud, and deception, Christians are to speak the simple truth, and nothing but the truth. Every statement which they make should be unvarnished truth; every promise which they make should be true; every representation which they make of the sentiments of others should he simple truth. “Truth is the representation of things as they are;” and there is no virtue that is more valuable in a Christian than the love of simple truth. (2) T

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 ...

BUT SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE,.... Either Christ himself, who is the truth, and is to be preached, and always spoken of with strong affection and love; or the Gospel, the word of truth, so called in opposition to that which is false and fictitious; and also to the law, which is shadowish; and on account of its author, the God of truth, and its subject matter, Christ, and the several doctrines of grace; and because the spirit of truth has dictated it, and does direct to it, and owns and blesses it: this, with respect to the ministers of the Gospel, should be spoken openly, honestly, and sincerely, and in love to the souls of men, and in a way consistent with love, in opposition to the secret, ensnaring, and pernicious ways of false teachers; and with respect to private Christians, as they are to receive it in love, so to speak of it to one another from a principle of love, and an affecti...

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 ...