Ephesians 4:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
Time to grow up.
Eph 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Eph 4:13
until we all attain to the
unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
Eph 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
Eph 4:16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
The spiritual gifts were given "until" (To the point of but no further) that which replaced them arrived.
Yep, the spiritual gifts were given for the equipping of the saints for the work of service for a period of time when there was no, or very little N.T. Word of God that fulfilled the same role. Unfortunately there was little unity in beliefs and actions in the early church. Read 1Co. Without the word, they saw dimly as through a beaten and polished piece of metal. But when the perfect(Neuter tense) came, it is like seeing face to face.
After a while the infant should grow up. As the word of God was being completed there are less and less signs and wonders, healings, ... to the point where Paul says God had to make an exception and heal a fellow worker for Christ that he loved dearly. Odd when early on in acts, just the shadow of apostles resulted in healing. By the later written books/letters, gifts have ceased altogether, and it is the Word of God that is there so that men can be fully equipped(Lacking nothing) for every good work. If you look at the purpose statement for gifts in this passage the word of Gods purpose is exactly the same as the purpose for gifts.
Do we have a unity of the faith? If you want to know something about Jesus and what He taught, no matter what beliefs you have, where do you go? Sure some people add some other books, others subtract a few, but 97% accept the same 66 books and letters that they use/hold fast to as scripture. Likewise, if you are looking for unity of knowledge about Christ, where is the only place a person can go? To the word of God.
Jesus is the Word, and the Word is God. The scripture claims equality with Him. I am the way, the truth and the life, Father sanctify them with the truth, Thy word is truth, and even this passage:
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Heb 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
As a result of having the Word of God, and not having to rely on prophets, or people acting like prophets who didn't even have tat gift like we see in 1Co. 12, we are no longer to be children tossed to and fro with every wind and wave of doctrine as the people in 1co. were before there was much of the N.T. and they were relying on prophets, and others who acted like they had gifts they did not have for self glorification filling the early church with false doctrines.
Eph 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Eph 4:13
until we all attain to the
unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:14
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
Eph 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
Eph 4:16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Now that we have the completed word of God, and we have a unity of the faith(Everything needed is here) and of the knowledge of the Son of God(If you want to know anything about Him it is also here) to the measure which belongs to the fullness of Jesus Christ the word who was with God and is God and is the great high priest with whom we have to do, we should not be tossed to and fro with every wind and wave of doctrine, but rather keep on continuously proving all things over and over again, like an ongoing court case gathering every possible piece of information habitually being workmen approved by God and not ashamed because we are cutting absolutely everything that might pertain out straight, and then we are altering every single one of our beliefs to fit what is good/true and then altering our lives to fit. Those who do not will stand ashamed before Him one day.
Those who stop seeking, proving, examining diligently daily to see what really is true, cutting straight every possible fact available and putting everything that even "Might" pertain to the topic together with everything else, making sure that their conclusions make God consistent, the word of God consistent, and the actions, behaviors and words of His people where those are discussed in the bible consistent will stand ashamed before HIm one day.
True, those who hold fast to their beliefs, be they Mormon, Jehovah's WItnesses, Christian Scientists, non-denominational, Baptist ... fill in the all the belief groups that believe they are Christians, are not tossed to and fro with every wind and wave of doctrine. Indeed, they are hardened into their beliefs and their eyes and ears are firmly closed to even considering that what they KNOW is truth might be a lie, and that something they know is a lie might be truth. Indeed, they will die with their beliefs intact. Indeed, there is no reaching them with anything that can even touch their beliefs in their doctrines. Indeed, that's the way God designed it. Everyone gets what they want. Everyone knows that they, and those that believe like them, have and believe the truth and there is no serious consideration of anything else. What would any belief group seriously consider exchanging the unquestionable truth of their beliefs for what they already know is lies? None would. None will.
Th 2:10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those
who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
2Th 2:11
For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,
2Th 2:12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
2Th 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
2Th 2:14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Th 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
Discussing with those that love their beliefs is fighting against the work God is doing in them. Which is why we are commanded not to do so in Mat. 7:6.
