The Truth in Love

Corey Johnson

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INTRODUCTION:

1. The truth in love is a powerful concept.

Ephesians 4:10–16 NKJV

10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:11–16 NKJV

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

A. The truth in love...

1. Starts with Jesus.

2. Flows through His Word.

3. Comes out through us to the world.

4. Holds the Church together.

BODY:

1. STARTS WITH JESUS.

Ephesians 4:11 NKJV

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

A. He gave some to be...

1. We must accept His authority.

Matthew 28:18 NKJV

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Colossians 3:17 NKJV

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

A. Jesus is Head of the Church.

Colossians 1:18 NKJV

18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

A. As head He appoints our role in the Church.

Eph 1.

Ephesians 1:22–23 NKJV

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

1. He give us our abilities both strengths and weaknesses.

Colossians 1:16–18 NKJV

16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

B. We either accept His leadership or deny it.

Matthew 12:30 NKJV

30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

1. If we deny it we can not equip the saints or edify the body.

2. If we accept it then we can equip the saints and edify the body.

Ephesians 4:12 NKJV

12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Eph

A. This leads me to the next point.

2. FLOWS THROUGH HIS WORD.

Ephesians 4:13–14 NKJV

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

Eph 4.

A. He gave some to be…to equip and edify

1. How are the apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers to do this?

A. Through the Word of God.

John 17:17 NKJV

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

1. Unity in faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God (Vs 13.).

Romans 10:17 NKJV

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2. The Word of God keeps us from being tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.

Ephesians 4:14 NKJV

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

3. A person that is firm on God’s Word is planted like a tree with deep roots.

Psalm 1:2–6 NKJV

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 1:3 NKJV

3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Ps 1.2-4

Jeremiah 17:7–9 NKJV

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. 9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

Jer 17:7-

4. But if you do not know the Word of God you will be blown away like chaff.

Matthew 3:12 NKJV

12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

3. COMES OUT THROUGH US TO THE WORLD.

Ephesians 4:15 NKJV

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

A. Once we are planted and deeply rooted in faith through His Word...

1. We speak the truth in love.

A. The truth in love equips the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

1. In context here it is to equip the saints so that they can stop being tossed to and fro by tricky, cunning deceitful men.

2. How did Jesus handle those that were being tossed to and fro?

Matthew 22:29 NKJV

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

3. How did Paul handle an erring brother that was being tossed to and fro?

Galatians 2:11 NKJV

11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;

3. If we are being tossed to and fro how do we stop?

4. How do we as a faithful member handle a brother/sister that is being tossed to and fro?

Galatians 1:6–10 NKJV

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Gal 1.

5. As the Church if we avoid controversial topics how do we equip the saints to deal with those that teach err?

6. If the horrors of sin are not taught how can we equip the saints to remove sin?

Luke 13:3 NKJV

3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

Acts 17:30 NKJV

30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

7. If sound doctrine is not taught then how can we equip the saints to teach soundly.

2 Timothy 2:1–2 NKJV

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

4. HOLDS THE CHURCH TOGETHER.

Eph 4

Ephesians 4:16 NKJV

16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

A. If a Church dose not speak the truth in love it will fall apart.

2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 NKJV

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1. If each person in the church dose not love the truth and cling to it the church will fall apart.

Proverbs 23:23 NKJV

23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.

A. There will be division were division should not exist.

1 Corinthians 1:10 NKJV

10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

2. If biblical love is not properly understood and applied the church will fall apart.

1 John 4:8 NKJV

8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 1:7 NKJV

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

A. This will happen because of the many different teaching and doctrines that spawn from personal interpretation of Scripture.

2 Peter 1:19–2:3 NKJV

19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.