. . . 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 by which they lie in wait to deceive, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. (Eph 4: 14-15)

Fully matured Christians are those who have grown up in all things. It is easy to pick and choose the more pleasant areas of development while at the same time avoiding the more difficult ones like the plague. To be sure, one person’s area of pleasure is another one’s area of pain. Still, the point is that well rounded Christians are those who desire to grow up in all things. We have to read several verses before verses 14 and 15 to find out just how we are supposed to be able to do this.

First, in Ephesians 4: 11, we learn that we can grow up in all things through the human helps which the Lord has given us. These are the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers who equip us to do the work of the ministry. Then, in that same verse, we see that we grow up in all things as we bind ourselves to and find our place in the body of Christ. Being linked to the body helps us to grow up as the body itself grows.

Next, according to verse 13, we grow up in all things as our knowledge of Jesus moves us towards perfection or completeness in Him. After this, we grow up in all things as we model ourselves after the measure of the fullness of Christ. Finally, we know we have grown up in all things when we are no longer children tossed to and fro and carried away with every wind of doctrine and when we can we speak the truth in love.

With the combination and cooperation of all of these things, we can and will grow up in all things.