In reading Ephesians 4, we’re encouraged to learn more of God, to grow to “the full measure of the stature of Christ”, back in the first chapter starting at verse 1, Paul spoke to the Ephesian Saint’s as being “faithful Saint’s in Christ”, yet interestingly, although they were “faithful in Christ”, in verse 18 he prayed for them that the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened (this is the word phōtizō: to have spiritual understanding) so that they would know the hope of God’s calling (“calling” being klēsis: invitation to embrace their salvation*; they were already saved but they were being encouraged to live in the fullness of their salvation which causes us to be “lights” now through the knowledge/ recognition/ expression in us of the greater eternal life to come.), the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (inheritance= klēronomia: what is given to the Saint’s as a possession*: the eternal blessedness of the consummated kingdom of God which is to be expected after the visible return of Christ*), and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe!

We are no longer slaves to the desires of our flesh, because we’ve been set free and reconciled to God through the death and also importantly the resurrection of Christ, whose resurrection confirmed the prophesies concerning Christ through the prophets as well as fulfilling His Words which He spoke through His earthly ministry, and the power of God, as foretold by David in Psalm 16, Who will also raise our bodies in the resurrection to come.

For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

Psalm 16:10-11

So although the Ephesians were eternally saved, they still had so much to learn of God and their eternal hope; Now it’s clearly understood that we will be eternally learning of God, but we’ve been lovingly reminded by the Spirit of God through Paul’s writing that we need to have our eyes and hearts enlightened now and each day until Jesus returns, so that our thoughts are moved from this world’s activities, news, worries, temptations, ways and evils, to our hope and life in Christ; the Ephesian Saint’s were exhorted to grow in their knowledge, appreciation, joy and commitment to God, and these words have been recorded for our equal benefit also, this is God’s desire for His children, so that the Saint’s will carry out works of ministry and build up the body of Christ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. Ref. Eph 4:12-16

There’s an interesting contrast in the latter verses above;

infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.

We see represented here: spiritual immaturity, turbulence, unsettled thoughts, lies, submitting to men instead of to God, uncertainty and manipulation…

Compared to:

…speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.

where we read of : spiritual maturity, holiness, uncomplicated simplicity, goodness, purity, submission to God in Christ…

Our perfection won’t be accomplished by our strength, but by God’s will through the work of Holy Spirit through Christ, so we can rest in the pending fulfilment because God does everything He says He will do for His glory and our present and eternal benefit, as we’re told in Philippians 1:

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.

Philippians 1:6

* definitions provided by J.H.Thayer

APO 20Feb24