“But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all
(aspects)
into Him who is the head, (even) Christ, 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.” Ephesians 4:15-16
Summarize
in a Word: Growth
to Maturity
Key
Principle: Truth
and Love is inseparable for Christian Growth
Key
Application: We must
be brave to confront at the same time be loving
Main point of the Passage: The Scripture says that the result of Christ
calling us out from sin is to demonstrate Love and Speaking the truth. It is the mark of Christian
Maturity.
Illustration: Lack of Maturity in
Indian Churches
Exhortation: Make sure to season your
speech with love.
Everybody wants to get matured. God wants us to get matured too, no longer to be childish in Christian
walk. The results of Christ calling us out from sins and giving gifts to His
Church is for maturity. One may ask what maturity looks like. And this passage
answers us that the characteristic of a mature Christian is speaking the truth
in love under the lordship of Christ.
Indeed,
there are few things which are difficult to practice in our Christian life than
to speak the truth boldly (without
compromise), and to love. It is not easy either in Church or at work-place.
However, these are the very virtues Christ possess in the most hostile
environment to the point of dying for the hostile
sinner.
There is
no Christian growth without truth and love going hand in hand. I have seen over
the years in Churches of India that Truth without love drives away people from
Church, and Love without truth does not
transform the Church. Thus there is no growth and no maturity.
We who
are born again of the Spirit are to grow up like Christ, following the Master
practicing truth and love irrespective of circumstances even if it cost us our
lives. Are you a mature disciple of Christ? Do you speak the truth in love? We
often confront people saying, “I want to tell you this in love. . . ” Next time
before you say, ask yourself, “Am I really seasoning with love?” As one pastor
says (Wiersbe), “Truth without love is brutality; Love without truth is
hypocrisy.”