by Pastor Chuck Ryan
From Babes in Christ to Mature Christians
Text: Ephesians 4:25-27; Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Thesis: All Christians are in the school of Christ. Jesus will make us stronger and more effective in building the Kingdom of God.
- “Therefore, each of you must put off all falsehood. (vs25)
- The “Absolutes of God” are for all people; past, present and future.
- God is Omniscient(all-knowing)
-God is totally aware of His creation! God is totally aware of everything that takes place. “Jesus said, are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your father.”
- God is Omnipotent (all-powerful)
-God can do all things but fail! God’s power is great than our problems or needs. God’s power is far greater than the “forces of evil in the heavenly realms…”, so we are instructed to “be strong in the Lord and his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10-20)
-Job proclaims, “I know that you can do all things; no plans of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2)
- God is Omnipresent (present-everywhere)
-God has the ability to be everywhere at once! God is not limited by time of space. “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” “Psalms 139:7-10)
- God’s will, His ways and His thoughts are the opposite of “falsehood.” “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)
- “Secular Humanism” became a prominent teaching in the 60’s.
- “Secular Humanism is a belief that humanity is capable of morality and self-fulfillment without belief in God.”
- Truth became subjective to every person’s definition.
- This has brought utter chaos to society.
- “Speak truthfully to your neighbor” (vs 25b)
- Truth is powerful.
- “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes.” (Hebrews 4:12)
- Speak the Truth in Love.
- “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:25)
- The primary goal of Truth is to heal and not injure.
- “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.” (Jeremiah 33:6)
- Truth will bring clarity to a confused world.
- “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” (Mathew 11:5)