The End Game: Christlikeness

A Bold Declaration: You, dear Christian, are valuable, capable, and needed as a team member of the Body of Christ. As you live, walk, and talk in partnership with the indwelling Holy Spirit, you are a unique “minister” who can help reach the desired goal of God – a Bride worthy of the Bridegroom, Jesus.

Let’s return to the wonderful unfolding of the plan of Jesus for His Body, the church. We have seen in Ephesians 4:11 that the resurrected, glorified Lord has given gifted leaders to equip you to serve Him. Let’s expand on Christ’s purpose, development, and destiny He has for each one of us in His Church:

Ephesians 4:12-13 ESV. 12 . . . to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

The gift of spiritual leaders – apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers – was to train and mobilize every saint for ministry. The goal is to move the whole church forward toward Christlikeness. That is why attending a Bible teaching, Spirit-led church is so vital. The outcome is transforming. We need each other, to come together intentionally. The end game is to become a glorious BRIDE for Christ.

What is essential? Look at the text above, laid out to accent four features of advancement:

Ephesians 4:12-13 ESV. 12 [God appoints leaders] . . . to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain . . .

 to the unity of the faith and

 of the knowledge of the Son of God,

 to mature manhood,

 to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

It is a most insightful study to examine the intercessory prayer of Jesus for His own in John 17. If you want to grasp the passionate intensions of Jesus for equipping us, compare the above four features of spiritual maturing with what He prayed at the end of the Upper Room Discourse.

 Unity: John 17:21. “. . . that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

 Knowledge: John 17:14a, 17. “I have given them Your word; . . . "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”

 Maturity: John 17:19. "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

 Fullness: John 17:26. “ . . . and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

To understand the specifics of what spiritual maturity looks like in our conduct, please take a little time with the featured article on this website called “Biblical Character: Qualities in Maturing Christians and Leaders.” This is a great personal assessment tool.

We need to be connected to a healthy local church. It is essential for our achieving our highest potential in life and preparation for eternity. Let’s partner in becoming more of the fullness of Christ.