The building up of the Body
For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).
Paul teaches that the use of gifts builds up all believers, and so the church grows. There are several features to this growth. And In verse 13 we have the knowledge of the Son of God. This is not a sterile, intellectual knowledge but a living, deepening knowledge of the Lord which changes His people – us – into His likeness.
This also leads to maturity. God created Adam and Eve as adults, not children. Childhood can be wonderful, and there are many lessons in its experience. But God looks for growth and maturity. In verse 14 Paul uses children as a picture of instability. He compares the effects of false doctrine upon the immature Christian to a rudderless ship, tossed one way, then the other by winds. In verse 15 he explains it is the truth of the word of God (John 17:17) that keeps us from such dangers and ensures our spiritual growth. The truth of God’s word is to be communicated in love to encourage and build each other up in our Christian faith. Truth can be spoken without love, but this can drive away those we want to help. Love does not change the truth but presents it in the most appealing way, and so we grow to be like Christ. It is always heart-warming for parents to hear that others see them in their children. It is God’s desire to see the characteristics of the Lord Jesus in us.
Christ is the head of the body. Paul again uses the human body to make his point. Christ is lived out in our lives by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. We fulfil our different roles in the body by using the gift Christ has given us. In this way, not only do we grow individually but the whole church benefits. It grows and is built up in love: “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).
It is not merely growing but being built up. There are two aspects to natural growth, food and fitness. It is the same spiritually: we can receive a lot of ministry of God’s word both individually and as the people of God. And we can become used to just listening. But listening to God’s word is just the beginning. We need to believe it in our hearts, meditate upon it in our minds and live it out day by day. It exercises our faith and teaches us God’s faithfulness. It makes us stronger and blesses and protects us spiritually and morally. We should share our experience of God’s word and His revelation to our hearts with one another. In this way, we grow together as the people of God and are enabled to share, defend and contend for the faith.
The simple practice of reading, marking and learning from the word of God is a very helpful one. First, we read the Bible; then we prayerfully consider what we have read and what God is teaching us. Then, with worshipping hearts, we follow His commands, trust His promises, enjoy His blessings, express His love, and communicate our faith.
