1. Harmony of Unity and Diversity: The Church as a Living Organism
Pastor Jang views the church as both a "growing life form" and an "organism." Just as the apostle Paul declares, "There is one body and one Spirit ... one Lord, one faith, one baptism," the church attains fundamental unity within the triune God. At the same time, the diverse gifts granted to each member must be actively deployed to build up the church and perfect the saints. Jang warns that when certain gifts are treated as superior-or inferior-the delicate balance of unity and diversity is damaged. Every gift, he stresses, is given for the common good of the community.
2. Union of Faith and Knowledge: The Path to Maturity
For the church to mature, Pastor Jang identifies the harmony of "believing" and "knowing" as indispensable. Faith opens the door of salvation, while knowledge deepens and embodies salvific truth. Drawing on the Hebrew concept of yada-to "know" through personal communion and love-he explains that knowing Christ means experiencing His love and becoming like Him. Knowledge without faith decays into empty debate; faith without knowledge drifts into blind zeal. Thus, systematic Bible study and doctrinal instruction must stand in balance with worship, prayer, and the Spirit's experiential work.
3. Spiritual Growth and Maturity: From Children to Adults
Pastor Jang maintains that the church must not remain in spiritual infancy but advance toward full stature. Ephesians 4:14 warns that immature believers are easily swayed by deceitful currents of the world. Jang argues that to graduate from "milk" to "solid food," robust teaching of the Word is essential. Moreover, recognizing stages of spiritual development-from new believers to seasoned leaders-and fulfilling one's distinct responsibilities enable the whole church to mature together.
4. Union in Love: The Power that Builds the Church
"Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head," Paul writes. Pastor Jang insists that without love every church activity is a hollow echo, calling love "the mystery of unity." Citing Ezekiel 37's vision of dry bones rising into a vast army, he illustrates how the Spirit's power and mutual love knit believers together so the church stands strong. Such love not only cements internal cohesion but also fuels the church's mission to be light and salt in the world.
5. Spiritual Discernment: Wisdom Against the Spirit of the Age
In today's "flood of information"-marked by materialism, relativism, and syncretism-Pastor Jang warns that spiritual discernment is critical. Believers must stand firmly on Scripture, learn the historic confessions of the church, and establish a Christian worldview. Through disciplined prayer, devout living, and mutual accountability within the community, they gain discernment. Then, the church can resist the world's falsehoods and shine the gospel's light as a steadfast community.
Conclusion
Pastor David Jang's message drawn from Ephesians 4 is clear: the church must become one in Christ, advance in the harmony of faith and knowledge, unite through love, and continually press on toward spiritual maturity. "The church is a growing body," he declares. As the journey of growth never ceases, the church will rise as the true community of God's kingdom amid the world.
