Posts: Edification

Edification

“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32) By what means are we to be built up (edified)? One way is through the word of His grace. Since, when Paul spoke this, most of the New Testament had yet to be written, he was not referring to Bible study but to the body of thought (logos, the word) concerning God’s grace, which is the collection of God’s character traits. Focus on God’s character and you will be built up.

“Therefore, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” (Romans 14:19) The examples of how to edify in this context are righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The last four words are the key. The human pursuit of right is often depressing. Human peace is elusive. Human joy is transitory. But when the faithful use their connection through the Spirit, all three become obtainable. Doing right grows from transformed character, peace from trust, and joy from the successes of faith.

“Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” (Romans 15:2) The context describes the attitudes needed to relate to “the weak in faith.” Attacking what I sincerely believe to be a wrong doctrine is rarely effective, rather resulting in division and isolation. Instead, I should build upon what is good, upon which we agree. The consistency of the gospel will reveal the cultural assumptions and the gaps in logic of one, the other, or, most probably, both. But it only works if we talk to those with whom we disagree.

“You are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9 – 13) Paul used a play on words between edifying (building up) and an edifice (a strong building) to illustrate the composition of a successful life. The foundation is Jesus, so His character and simplicity must be assembled coherently and strongly. The superstructure must be comprised of quality building materials. Of course, all teachers sincerely believe that their brand is adequate if not best. The test is not in the claims but in how well the structure withstands the inevitable trials of life.

“Knowledge puffs up; love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1) The chapter is about being sensitive to the understandings of others so as not to confuse them into arriving at harmful conclusions. Love, doing what is best for the other person regardless of the effect on me, finds a way to build up the understanding of another without causing problems. Growth is both expected and necessary. Each of us is responsible for building the faith of those around us. It is not my knowledge that makes this so, but my love.

“All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful, but not all things edify.” (1 Corinthians 10:23) Around the world, good people make decisions based on the laws under which they live. Faithful people are different. Their decision process asks first if the choice is helpful, then if the choice builds up others. In the context, the objective is to promote singleness of purpose toward the kingdom of God. With that starting point, the rules take care of themselves.

“Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (1 Corinthians 14:26) The chapter addresses the objective of the times when the faithful meet: building up faith through imparting information, encouragement, comfort, sensibility, and simplicity. It’s not an audience thing. Rather, everyone comes prepared and everyone participates, some in one way, some in another. We are not the same, but we all build faith in others.

“…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 4:16) Every faithful person is responsible for building up the others, for contributing to the maturity of the group, because each does what is best for the others without considering self (Biblical love). The parts are all different, but equally important.

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29) In this broken world, we can easily feel frustrated, maligned, and marginalized. Offensive, horrible, angry, largely untrue rhetoric often captures center stage and deceives the majority. Yet, God cautions the faithful not to abandon building people up, but rather to impart to them truly gracious character. God’s objective is not political control but building character for the long haul.

“As you therefore have received the Christ, Jesus, the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in faith, as you have been taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6 – 7) To be “in” something is simple to picture but often difficult to accomplish. How can we walk, be rooted, and be built up “inside” Him? Until we have the perspective of a spirit that has merged with God, we will remain on the outside looking in, admiring and desiring, but not achieving. The New Testament teaches us how to think as a thankful spirit.

“Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) The context is about being ready for Judgment, to be ready at all times because no one has the slightest clue when it may come (despite many contradictory claims to the contrary which are in opposition to the “thief in the night” image). The faithful build each other up so each is comforted by being confident of readiness. End-times speculation neither comforts nor builds up. The ready do not need to know; they just trust God.

“…nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk…” (1 Timothy 1:4 – 6) Of course, everyone thinks that their own teaching is godly edification. The test is in the result, which should be gentleness, patience, kindness, trusting God, and becoming selfless. The gospel is based on physical evidence, not speculation.

“You also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) Peter illustrated the purpose of edification as constructing a spiritual house (the church) and a holy priesthood (every Christian). The faithful are the place where people meet God; physical buildings don’t do that. The job of the faithful is to mediate that meeting; they are not passive observers. We are not just marking time to the end; rather we are under construction and must be gainfully employed.

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 20 – 21) In addition to being built up by other faithful people, each is responsible for self-construction through increasing trust in God’s promises, by learning to merge our spirits with the indwelling Holy Spirit, by the love poured out in us and the love shown us, and in character transformation by Jesus’ innate desire to fix what ails us.