I want to answer these 3 questions;

•Why Study?•Why Ephesians?•Why Gather at all?

There are three main objectives behind the answer to these questions

• To establish the finished work reality – reckoning dead and alive• To facilitate the body life community – facilitating maturity, and God’s

communal purpose• To restore the understanding and acceptance of personal responsibility

– (Especially in family w/created order)• in every role• in every institution• according to that institutions design• and that designs purpose• and in a growing reflection of Gods nature and character

Before I attempt to explain these objectives and answer these

questions, I have a few presuppositional prerequisites to lay

out.

These are foundational to understanding God’s word!

God is, God created, God said

He is a God of order and purpose• God is love which He wanted to Share

He created all things for His purpose, • His design facilitate His purpose. It reflects who He is, love

God “said” the written word• It is an explanation of what was created, which reflects who He is

dp><pd – methodology matters

design facilitates purpose• God is a God of order. His design was purposeful

purpose is inherent in design• What God designed is most conducive to the purpose He

intended it to

Divine order

The power grid• Power, authority, delegation, institutions, responsibility,

accountability

Institutional Order• Individual/will - to know and show (through each role ) • Family/fathers - • Church/Christ - • State/elected officials -

Created OrderCreation medley• Adam as head, eve to help, leave/cleave, be fruitful, don’t

separate, wives submit, husbands love, children obey, fathers teach, repeat

Oneness in marriage is in mutual submission to God and His design and its purpose• All individual responsibility is “as unto the Lord”• Spouses owe each other nothing, but all to God who said…

3R’s; Reconcile, Redeem, Restore•God is a God of reconciliation – back to God•Redemption – free from the market of sin (and its

death)•Restoration – being made able to walk in “newness

of life” progressively more according to the original design

So back to our 3 main objectives;

1) To have a personal understanding of the finished work reality (being, “in Christ”)

The Greek word translated “it is finished” is tetelestai, an accounting term that means “paid in full.”

• John 4:34 Jesus said unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

• What exactly was finished, and what is that to me? Col 2:9-15, 1st jn 2:2, Rom 3:2, heb 9:5 propitiation

• Christ did what we could not. He fulfilled the legal obligation, forgave our debt eternally, and consequently, set us free from the power of sin and death, quickened us back to spiritual life. He reconciles/redeemed us seats us with Him above powers and principalities (Col 2:6-14)

The short list;• The work of redemption• The Mosaic covenant with it's priesthood, temple and sacrifices• The curse of the law • Sin (in the sense that it was all placed upon Christ - past, present and future)• The prophecies and types concerning the Messiah's death• The old fallen creation (which was placed 'in Christ'). God's purposes are

now centered on a 'new creation' in Christ.• Satan's dominion and hold over man• The separation of Jew and Gentile

What is my “FW position” in Christ?• Chosen, to be holy without blame, in love, predestinated to

adoption

• redemption, forgiveness, gathered in to Christ, an inheritance, predestinated to be gloriously praiseworthy, sealed with the spirit, quickened, raised up in Christ, seated above, saved-by grace, predestined to good works, brought nigh to God, reconciled to God, freed from law and its condemnation, members of Gods household, built together as His church for Him to inhabit… that’s just the 1st two chapters of Eph.

The point of Knowing the Fw, is that we reckon accordingly…

What does it mean to reckon dead / alive - Rom 6:3-

4To agree with the reality of my being dead TO sin and no longer that “old man” but now a new creature in Christ with a new nature, alive and free from the hold of sin –

free to walk in newness of life

Who then, is Christ now to me, in me, and more and more through me?

•Savior, •redeemer and lord, •light and salt to the glory of God

The work that Christ finished…

…has reconciled us (the Elect) back to God, and provided a means for our complete redemption from the falls effects.

It brings us from being eternally, “dead in trespasses and sins” to an positional state and eternal destiny of being forever alive and totally conformed to the image of Christ (not just a patched up Adamic state,) That process of being experiential conformity starts at salvation starts with a new nature.

This new nature, and the power and purpose of God behind it, is a present reality “positionally,” and will also be “experientially” as we “reckon” dead to sin (not IN sin, just to it now) and Alive unto God, IN Christ.. This finished work, and the opportunity to grow experientially in the wholeness, freedom, and conformity to Christ that WE have already been given even now positionally, is the basis of our present sanctification up until that day when our redemption is consummated in glorified bodies and we see Him face to face.

This is why we study, that through the word- and the trials it brings us, (how? Jms 1:2-4)

we might know Him in the power of His resurrection,

albeit through suffering…

1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 2:21-25 ;1 Peter 5:10 ;James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Timothy 2:12; Luke 24:25-26; Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 5:8-9; Matthew 10:21-24; John 13:16)

• Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. • Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of

Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,

• Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

• Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

• Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. • Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if

that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. • Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do],

forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, • Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. • Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be

otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. • Php 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us

mind the same thing.

Furthermore …

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Duet 8:3 (mt 4:4) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

And furthermore again…2Ti 3:14-7 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them];15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. :2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Now look at where this verse is… Rom 12 on the body -

this leads us to our 2nd objective

The 2nd objective is to live out the community body life

This is what facilitates our expedient maturity in conformity to

Christlikeness as we lovingly speak truth one-to-another,

provoking to good works Heb 10:24

The Visible Church is key towards this end.

Imperative, in fact!

How does the church do this?

Well, we gather to study, and to share the life of Christ purposefully amongst ourselves relationally

• Faith comes by hearing the word… this isn’t only for salvation• “Experiential redemption” out of sin’s hold takes more than God’s

word, it takes Gods people• Restoration to responsibility in divine and created order (eph 5:22-

6:9) is the result of body life (1st tim 3:1-13,Titus 1:5-9, 2:1-10 the example, teaching, and shepherding)

The context of intimate committed relationships is where we are most conformed to Christ, …

… yes, the proximity of marriage may well provide the majority of crisis points, but the greater body of (local) believers provides the fullness of teaching, gifts, example, encouragement ect., and even its own list of crisis’s

Think of Eph 5 and the husband and wife relationship, where God has created the distinctive gender natures and defined the order of authority. Do you think it is always easy and convenient to live this out (dispite sin and the curse?) This passage comes right after chapter 4 where the form and function of the self-edifying church is explained.

Eph 5 is a parallel description of both Christ and the church, and of marriage. It’s obvious who “wears the pants in marriage… well, usually, but what about in the body? This is indeed a mystery. Is it Christ in us the, groom and the hope of glory? Yes, but it is also Christ in each other… This is why submitting ourselves one to another is required. It’s a submission to God. Actually, our submission to God is manifest and evidenced in our submission to (Christ in) each other – to His word and it’s authority, even His very nature and giftings given in/to each other. Remember, the “work of the ministry” is “the SELF-edification” of the body, and the body is “MANY MEMBERS” all being parts of one, all equally needed for the health and function of the whole. We will neither see, nor be fully matured unto, “a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” Eph 4:13 outside of being purposefully hid relationally, for better and worse, in the body – a committed community of purposeful believers.

Furthermore…Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph 4:4 [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Eph 4:14 That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 1Co 12:2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ. 1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

• 1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many. • 1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of

the body? • 1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of

the body? • 1Co 12:17 If the whole body [were] an eye, where [were] the hearing? If the whole [were] hearing,

where [were] the smelling? • 1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. • 1Co 12:19 And if they were all one member, where [were] the body? • 1Co 12:20 But now [are they] many members, yet but one body. • 1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the

feet, I have no need of you. • 1Co 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: • 1Co 12:23 And those [members] of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we

bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness. • 1Co 12:24 For our comely [parts] have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having

given more abundant honour to that [part] which lacked: • 1Co 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same

care one for another. • 1Co 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be

honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

• 1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. • 1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,

secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. • 1Co 12:29 [Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers?

[are] all workers of miracles? • 1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do

all interpret? • 1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you

a more excellent way.

Heb 10:14-25

• Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. • Heb 10:15 [Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, • Heb 10:16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my

laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; • Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. • Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin. • Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, • Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his

flesh; • Heb 10:21 And [having] an high priest over the house of God; • Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from

an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. • Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that

promised;)

• Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: • Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but

exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Our 3rd objective is the restored acceptance of personal

responsibility

Especially in family’s created order… Restoring proper family order and roles

(Eph 5:22-6-4, Col 3:2)• in every role• in every institution• according to that institutions design• and that designs purpose• and in a growing reflection of Gods nature and character

Family is the foundation of all society and the fountainhead of all other institutions.

God is all about people, and about revealing Himself to people. Low and behold, all people are given to families, not churches or to the

state. All commands for the training of children are given in the context of families, and to fathers. Marriage is a creation ordinance and

children are the result- be fruitful and multiply (disciples)

Whenever we see God drawing people back to Him and His “ways” we see family

restored. *Duet 6-9, at the end of the Old Testament *at the beginning of the new (mal 4:6, luke 1:17), *and in the book of Ephesians… after the finished work, after the churches self-

edification, we see a restoration of family and created order…

Why?Because Gods design facilitates His purpose,

and His purpose is inherent in His design.That’s why doing things God’s way works best…

A few facts about the biblical family;• A child’s sense of security and significance comes from their parents relationship• The full nature of God was invested into the two distinct counterparts of man and woman• Kingdom order, the reality of absolute authority and how it works is seen in the orderliness

of the parents relationship, in the conformity to God’s created authoritive order• The picture of who God is and what He is like comes from the example of the father• The picture of what submission really is and loos like - the response we all should have to

God as Christians, comes from the wife’s attitude and response in submission to her husband

• The molding of the convictions character, and worldview of children come from the values seen in the decisions made by their parents… not just from how they behave, what they parrot, or what we dress them in…

• Males and females were each created distinct in design and purpose for different roles foreordained

• These roles constitute a personal responsibility before God alone.• Husbands and wives do not “owe” each other anything, but they owe all to God who said…• Obedience to God is demonstrated by working together in appropriate order and roles.

These are some of these aspects of God’s design in family

These are the significant first points of breakdown that lead to dysfunctionality and every other corruption and ill mankind suffers… yes, sin is at the center, with Satan behind and pushing it over the edge… but the breakdown in God’s design means a breakdown in His purpose…

…and if it isn’t in the creators way and for His purpose, it doesn’t work very well … at all, especially in the end!

And now to answer our first two questions, “why study – and why Ephesians?”

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word… this is true in salvation. It is also true with regard to our sanctification. God’s word, carefully studied (and applied) is what the Holy Spirit uses to conform us to God’s image… We have been given Gods word and exhorted to

study it, meditate on it, and to hide it in our hearts individually. We are also given in the body pastor/teachers, prophets, evangelists, and each other to reflect Christ, to encourage, to exhort, even rebuke… all these

provisions are for our edification.

Both are based on the word

There is an eternal validity and force of scripture; Communicators commentary pg8

We study that we might “arm the Spirit” for His role in conforming us.• And that we might arm ourselves for service to each other.

We study Ephesians because it is the most complete book on the New Testament church age reality• A general book for all churches, for all times (in this dispensation)• It explains and establishes the FW reality of individuals being reconciled to

God, with new natures and the “power to walk right”, • It reveals and explaines the church and its proper form and its function in

conforming us to Christ’s image, all to the praise of His glory and grace• It reestablishes biblical order within marriage and in the family

Some Key themes in Ephesians;• The mystery of the church being 2 into one, now Christ’s body, • biblical unity; with Christ and within the body, • salvation by grace alone, this is the true gospel, • election• our FW position, “in Christ”• the form and function of the church, • the proper created order and responsibilities in family

Some related passages and doctrines• Col esp 2-3 what Christ did on the Cross, proper family order• Romans esp 6-8 our position of being alive in Christ and dead TO sin,

So really, we are looking at 3 realms

1. Individuality, 2. The church,3. And family,

…and at the word of God being the tool, with the church being the shop where individuals can get “tuned up” and restored to proper function in the family, and so in the church…

Another way to look at body(work) life; is • with our different gifts and experiences being tools.

• with the word as the manual, • and each other as the “wreaks needn a fixin”

So then to finally answer our last question, why should we gather?

Well, besides that we are commanded to…• In our contemporary western, postmodern, post Christian, post

American society things are not as they were, or as they should be… and much less so than ever before. The visible church is at an amazing all time low in potency and relevance, even to its own members, and much more so before the world…

When the family breaks down, the church should rise up and restore personal institutional responsibility to its members, when it does not, it fails in one of its main purposes too, and when both the family and church break down, the society becomes increasingly corrupt and ungodly, even dangerous. Amazingly (not, actually,) society (culture?) seems almost “animated” and “hell bent” on destroying every aspect and reflection of God’s beautiful creation, along with every regard for His design, its purpose, and the authority invested therein.

Family, manhood, femininity, marriage, complimentary roles, respect and honor in children, purity, moderation, reverence,

patience, preferring others, duty, responsibility… How long a list could we make of the things that the world system has made out to be, old fashioned, out dated, or just plain bad… and it is replaced with what?

Self!...

…and every distortion self can create in its pursuit of fulfilment without God…

Note: the wages of lust is more lust, and when you get to the top of the pile, or the end of the “natural” list of thrills, all that’s left is perversion… this is the slide back down to the bottom

“Have it your way, do your own thing, if it feels good do it, follow your heart, to your own self be true, determine

your own destiny, find yourself within, the answer lies within, reach for the stars… or become one…”

Here’s a few of my favorite contradictions;• There are absolutely no absolutes… ? ? ? • It’s wrong for you to impose your moral values on me• I can’t stand intolerant people

Peace, love, tolerance, diversity, multiculturalism…” How many here could tell me what the world really means

with these words, and how they all contradict God?

“What the world needs now, is love, sweet love…” yes, starting with a proper definition of it, then a personal introduction!

We all have likely heard of the “me” generation... how about the “now” generation?

or the millennials, and generation “x” … what does it bring to mind, teenagers, adolescents, kidults.. thirtysomythingers on skateboards with their hair up and their pants down…

or perhaps the “ambitious scholarly ones, stoking up their brains to make their mark, or at least their money,

of course there are the “porpoise purpose people… or is it whales now? Or tigers, some rare bug, or just everything but humans and godly family and culture….

There are a lot of possible images that may come to mind, but I suspect that we don’t usually see

our own face in that picture…

But are we not often independent, autonomous, individualistically minded…?

Do we not as western Christians often lack a sense of responsibility to God? I mean something beyond the Sunday service, tithes, of course, and an occasional good deed…

How about with our whole lives, with us still actively as stewards, having and living out sacrificially an eternal perspective and biblical worldview, and doing all things for His glory,

or not at all… ? ? ?

1st Cor 6:19-20

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit,

which are God's.

In Gods eyes, we belong to Him, and not only, but to each other as well. We have a responsibility, a duty to Him, and to each other, that we present ourselves as living - sacrifices…

Rom12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Yet again, we often seem to live as though we had no sense of our responsibility to each other for each other’s sake, for

better or worse. We wouldn’t outright say that, and may not think it true, but how much and how often do we actively and

persistently pursue people with a mind to love and speak truth as much as they will bear it?

The common words used for this generation are, “autonomous, independent, narcistic, pleasure seeking, self-

centered, after instant gratification, uncommitted, irresponsible, anti-authority,

Here are a few words the church says, “don’t judge me, don’t be legalistic, it a preference thing, a grey area, I’m not convicted

yet…I’m looking for a church that “fits” me/my family’s needs… We don’t like the music, the pastor, the programs, we were

offended, nobody paid attention to us, our need weren’t met

We often look for what will meet our needs (church shopping) or at least be fun… and we teach our children the same values

But these attitudes are not consistent with biblical Christianity- with the plan and purpose of our redemption as His church!

These are the attitudes we need to stand against and to root out of our lives and families. They require a hard look at ourselves, a sold-out commitment to God’s word, to the

process of sanctification, and to a group of believers to be intimately sharpened by…

And Gods take on it…

Corinthians 6:14-18King James Version (KJV)14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty

Duet 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and

with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

1st Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

So then, 3 questions and 3 objectives;

We gather together to study Ephesians so that we might establish the doctrine of Christ’s finished work as the basis of our present and progressive sanctification to be worked out in our committed personal relationships of love and care based on truth so that we might be built up in the most holy faith, and into the maturity of Christ’s own stature, and be restored to the proper responsibilities in family, as it is the foundation of all society, the fountain all other institutions, the incubator of new souls, the strength of the church, and the confirming witness before the watching world!