Bible Truth #235 - Ephesians 4:11-14

Ephesians 4:11-14

11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

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:

14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

I’m sure you understand in verse 14 Paul was referring to “spiritual” children, not literal children. But I sent the previous verses to set up the context of this passage. God determined what role we would perform in His Church. Are all called to be pastors? Of course not, nor are all called to be evangelists. If we would all perform in the roles God called each of us for, the church, i.e. the body of Christ, would be built up.

THEN: we will no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

It is the world’s principles that a man has to do something BEFORE God saves. The doctrinal wind of Arminian Theology smells of sulphur and brimstone. This is one of the things to which Paul is referring here and in much greater detail in Colossians 2:8 (Bible Truth #29). No matter what human logic may argue, no matter how reasonable, if the teachings of men contradict God’s Word it must be rejected.

Bottom Line: God saves a man and quickens his dead through faith, the faith God gives him (Romans 12:3, Ephesians 2:8). God simultaneously gives him belief (John 6:29, Philippians 1:29), and repentance (2 Timothy 2:25). Only THEN will a man will believe, repent, and come into the Light. THIS is the Doctrine of Election and the Doctrine which Christ taught the apostles, and they passed on to us.

Anything else is man-made, man-centered, and man-fulfilled.