Speaking the Truth in Love

 Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up in him unto all things, which is the head, even Christ.

Introduction:

Why go to church? One major purpose is for the believer to grow up into the likeness of Jesus Christ. There is a disconnect sometimes between physical growth and spiritual growth. Our physical growth is pretty much limited by our genetics and perhaps by our nutrition. In general, short parents will have short children and tall parents will have tall children. However, our spiritual growth is not limited by these restraints, and we are to grow up to resemble Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ stated: “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” As we grow into Christ, we should speak the truth. If we see a person who is limited physically and not able to grow to a normal individual physically, we may take the individual to the doctor. “Doctor, my child is not growing.” The doctor will examine the child to see what is hindering the normal growth. But there is a limit to how much the individual will grow. No one today grows to be ten feet tall. We also need to grow spiritually, but our spiritual growth is not limited in the same way as our physical growth. We are to grow more and more like Christ, and this can occur for a full lifetime. Hopefully as we age, we continue to grow. Sadly, many people never grow. They are not born again but a spiritual stillborn, or they end up spending a lifetime as a spiritual baby, child, or teenager and never mature. 

One of the keys to spiritual growth is to know and live out the truth. Jesus Christ is described in John 1:14 as full of grace and truth. When we speak, we must speak the truth. However, it must be tempered by grace as well. Speaking the truth without love usually  create angers and antagonism. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth. One of the tasks of the church is to teach the believer the truth of God’s Word. God has provided the church with apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers whose job has been to develop Christ-like disciples within the church.  Ephesians 4:11 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 (mature) 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; 15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Pastor Clarence Sexton often said that the true measure of a church is not in the size of its buildings, or its budget, or its attendance, but in its likeness of Jesus Christ. The church in the New Testament was described as the pillar and ground of the truth. Jesus, full of grace and truth, always spoke the truth, but spoke it in true love of the persons to whom he spoke it. Some churches compromise the truth to avoid conflict with the world in which they live. Or, in other situations, they speak the truth forthrightly, but without true love. We are to do both. Some individuals will reject the truth, but God places His approval on the truth, which will manifest His power. The text is from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Paul declared the truth of God in a rich and powerful but godless city given over to lust and idolatry. There were negative reactions. He was kicked out of the synagogue. He was the subject of a riot, but God protected him. However, the truth of God spread throughout not only the city but to many surrounding cities.

The truth is necessary for the perfecting of the saints.

The purpose of those given the task of teaching the truth in the church is the perfecting (maturing) of the saints. Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some apostles; and some prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, pastors and teachers, 12. For the perfecting of the saints,

The truth is necessary for the work of the ministry

If the church is to be the pillar and ground of the church and serve the God of truth, it must present the truth. Ephesians 4:11 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;

The truth is necessary for the edifying of the body of Christ

Edify means to build up. You cannot build up on a faulty foundation. The truth is the only solid foundation to use.  A church built on something other than the truth is built on a shaky foundation.  Ephesians 4:11 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. But let us remember that this truth must be given in love, the love of Christ Himself. As we communicate with others, let us speak the truth, but let us speak it in love, the love of Christ.