“Speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15)

My friends in Bible Presbyterian Church on earth,

Peace and grace from the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit.

I hope you read this letter with your hearts, wills, strengths, and minds.

Paul wrote, “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow into him with reference to all things, who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined together and held together by every supporting ligament, according to the working by the measure of every single part, the growth of the body makes for the building up of itself in love” (Eph 4:15–16).^[1]

We are to speak the truth in love, not to speak any word without love. This is the main reason for the split and separation among us.

Of course, this should never involve a compromise in doctrine. This is just using good sense. Ephesians 4:15 says to speak “the TRUTH in LOVE.” One does not exclude the other. They should go hand in hand.^[2]

We must have truth and love. In this we are united, there will be no stumbling block between us.

This unity is not negotiated by men; it comes from doing the will of God. If we are in Christ, we are one with all others who are also in Him. This unity is not something man creates; God does. We are to maintain, guard, preserve it.

Such unity is broken when we teach or live contrary to what the Holy Spirit desires. Unity existed in the church described in Acts (see 4:32). It can today. As repentant believers are baptized into Christ, they have assured the presence of His Spirit within (Acts 2:38). The Spirit then works to build us into a dwelling where God can live (Ephesians 2:22).^[3]

But some of you spoke the truth without love, therefore we split and were at war with each other.

Paul admonished the Ephesians to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15) in the context of each member of the body doing his part as the church grows and matures.^[4]

We need each other’s in Christ, we are one. We see the call to walk in humble majesty as the body of Christ building one another up in love as we stand in the one established and true faith.

The question now arises, what does Christ want from us?

Christ wants us to grow up “and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). So that we don’t miss his point, Paul says the same thing again: “Then we will no longer be infants.” And again: “We will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:14, 15). We can’t escape the implications: To grow up is to become like Christ. To fail to grow toward Christ is to remain infantile.^[5]

We must move on in unity, there is no other way now.

At War with Each Other (James 4:1a, 11–12)

“What causes fights and quarrels among you?” (niv) Among Christians! “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Ps. 133:1). Surely brethren should live together in love and harmony, yet often they do not. Lot caused a quarrel with his Uncle Abraham (Gen. 13). Absalom created a war for his father David (2 Sam. 13–18). Even the disciples created problems for the Lord when they argued over who was the greatest in the kingdom (Luke 9:46–48).

When you examine some of the early churches, you discover that they had their share of disagreements. The members of the Corinthian church were competing with each other in the public meetings, and even suing each other in court (1 Cor. 6:1–8; 14:23–40). The Galatian believers were “biting and devouring” one another (Gal. 5:15). Paul had to admonish the Ephesians to cultivate spiritual unity (Eph. 4:1–16), and even his beloved church at Philippi had problems: two women could not get along with each other (Phil. 4:1–3).^[6]

 

It is unfortunate that the saints are at war with each other, leader against leader, church against church, fellowship against fellowship. The world watches these religious wars and says, “Behold, how they hate one another!” No wonder Jesus prayed, “That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me” (John 17:21).

But why are we at war with one another? We belong to the same family; we trust the same Saviour; we are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit—and yet we fight one another. Why?^[7]

 

I hope we pause and think about this, why?

 

I pray that this letter reaches you in time before the devils harm you further, he has deceived some of us to believe in false doctrine and false teaching, in this, I pray the Lord to open your eyes to see the greatness of our Lord on the Cross, there He shed His blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, please reconcile to one another, read the Bible daily, stay away from pride, be humble, seek justice, take care the poor and needy, look after the orphans and widows, stay away from the sin of self-centeredness. All men should be lifting up holy hands to pray to the Lord. Join the fellowship of the saints, in this, we meet the Lord.

One faith, one body.

 

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^[1] John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

^[2] A. R. Stanford, Handbook of Personal Evangelism (WORDsearch, 2007), 220.

^[3] Sam E. Stone, Sermon Outlines on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, ed. Sam E. Stone, Standard Sermon Starters (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 1995), 27.

^[4] Daniel L. Akin, 1, 2, 3 John, vol. 38, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001), 221.

^[5] LeRoy Lawson, Galatians, Ephesians: Unlocking the Scriptures for You, Standard Bible Studies (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 1987), 208.

niv New International Version

^[6] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 366–367.

^[7] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 367.