The Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Series Information

What is the Church of Jesus Christ?

Jesus’ Promise of the Church - Matthew 16:13-20

The Apostolic Gospel - Acts 2:22-36

Introduction

Written by the Apostle Paul between 59-62 AD - when Paul was jailed in Rome. This epistle is generally classified as one of the prison epistles (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon)

Epistle is written to the Saints at Ephesus (Eph 1:1), which is a city that Paul visited during his second missionary journey and stayed for two years during his third missionary journey. (Acts 19:1-10)

Among the topics covered by Paul Body of Christ (the Church) Eph 1:22-23)

Structure of the Letter

Orthodoxy (Eph 1-3) and Orthopraxy (Eph 4-6)

He Gave Gifts

Ephesians 4:11 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

He Gave, Who Gave we have to go back and look at verses 7 and 8

Ephesians 4:7–8 ESV

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

Note the grace given to each one of us, this is to every saint. The same holds true for those of us who are in Christ now. We are saints and this same grace has been given to us. This grace is given to us, and all saints, as gifts, gifts according to what Christ wants to give.

So each of us gets at least one spiritual gift when we become a believer. There are some that may get more, but it is as Christ gives, so if you get only one, don’t get mad at me, take that up with Christ. There is also a note as to when those gifts were given, Paul pulls from Psalm 68:18, and uses his apostolic authority to apply this verse to Christ. He applies this verse to Christ using it as a summary of Psalm 68, to indicate that the gifts we receive are a result of the ascension of Jesus to the Father.

So there is a progression that Paul is going through here, while his focus is on the body of Christ (all the saints) and their gifts given by Christ. When we get the verse 11, Paul is focusing on some specific gifts and how they are to be used in the body.

Paul points to 5 gifts in total

Apostles - Those who plant Churches, those who are going to areas or regions where the Gospel has not been preached and plants a Church in that area.

Prophets - Those who are proclaiming the words of God. In the New Testament these were men who were speaking words of comfort and encouragement to the people of God, there is also the instance where they would reveal the mysteries of God to the people of God. They would also receive word from God some foresight, like Agabus and a drought or the deliverance of Paul to the Gentiles. (Acts 11:27-28, Acts 21:10-11)

Evangelists - Used only two other times in Scripture speaking of Barnabas (Acts 21:8) and an exhortation by Paul to Timothy (2 Tim 4:5), this is the gift of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus, the Good News. This can be internal and external, where others will hear the good news and believe.

Shepherds - Often referred to as Pastors, these are those who care for the body of Christ, look after the Body of Christ and flock. They ensure the safety of the flock and the well-being of the flock. This gift is closely related to the net gift in the list, where there is an expectation that the Pastor should be a teacher as well. So some look at this as a Pastor-Teacher.

Teachers - Those who are able to teach the Body of Christ, who can exegete the word properly with authority, presenting the truths of Jesus to the Body. Now not every teacher is a Pastor, but every Pastor should be able to teach.

The Purpose of the Gifts

Ephesians 4:12 ESV

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Equipment for the Saints - These gifts are pointed out by Paul as those given by Jesus to equip the saints. Meaning that they are given as the means by which the saints are provided all that is needed to accomplish what Christ wants for His Church. These are the tools provided by Christ to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.

Productive Service - This work of ministry is service with receipts, productive service, service that has right motive and right action that has a result that is tangible in the Body of Christ.

Edification of the Body - This work is for the edification, the building up of the Body of Christ. The focus is the Church, how these gifts are to impact the Church. The are not the destroy or tear down, they are not to cause division (I follow Apollos, I follow Paul) 1 Cor 3:4

Ephesians 4:13 ESV

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Until we all attain - note the each one aspect here, there is a point that all who are in the Body of Christ are to reach the goal that Paul is about to present, thus representing the whole of the body. Meaning that no one is exempt, no one gets out of this, there are no waivers. This means that these foundational equipping, the productive work and the building up that is associated with the gifts that Paul mentioned will continue because all the members of the Body will need this.

Unity of the Faith and of the Knowledge of the Son of God

Where all the members of the Body of Christ will understand the faith. That faith that points to Jesus Christ as being the means of my salvation. The faith that is focused on the belief in Jesus, as the one who died, was buried, was raised and ascended. The faith that is as Jesus said “the only way to the Father” John 14:6. This is harmonious among the saints, where we all sing the same song, with the same melody and with the same notes.

The Faith in concert with 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

The faith in concert with John 14:6

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The faith in concert with 2 Corinthians 8:9

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

There is also the unity of the knowledge of the Son of God. Where this knowledge is of Jesus as Son Given and the Child Born, Jesus Born of a virgin, Jesus as the Messiah, the Anointed One, The knowledge that Jesus is Lord, the knowledge that the TaNaK speaks of Jesus.

The knowledge that Jesus is the fulfillment of the given Son and born Child (Isaiah 9:6)

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The knowledge that Jesus was born of a Virgin

Luke 1:31 ESV

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

Luke 1:34 ESV

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

The knowledge that Jesus is Lord

John 20:28 ESV

28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

The knowledge that He sits in heavenly places at the right hand of the Father

Ephesians 1:20 ESV

20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

As a matter of fact these two items feed off of each other, where the more I know about Jesus, the more faith I have in him. When I realize the compassion that He had, when I comprehend the promises He made, when I realize He is interceding for me. The more faith I put in Him, the more I love Him, the more I believe Him. We all attain to the Unity of the Faith and the knowledge of the Son of God.

To Mature Manhood - A full grown man. A man who is mature, fully grown, not a child. We all will get to this point, the Body as a whole reaches this. The illustration is that of a mature adult man and the Body reaching this point, as each member of the body becomes mature.

To the Measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Christ - Where Christ is our ultimate measuring stick. The body of Christ is to reach what Christ intends it to be. To measure up to Him, to reach the level that He is, the fullness all that is Christ. This body is to grow and Christ has given everything needed to see this happen.

This is given as what we all as the body are to strive for, meaning that there is no ending until we all attain it. Means we are pressing our brothers and sisters in Christ forward. Means that we never really graduate until we attain this, I for one am not there yet. There is still so much to learn, there is still so much to fall more in love with, there is still so much more maturity to reach, there is so much more know about the Son of God.

Not Reaching the Goal

The outcome for not equipping, for not being productive in service for not building up the Church, for not reaching the unity of the faith, the knowledge of the Son of God, for not being fully mature or striving to the stature of the fullness of Christ is that you are a child.

May no longer be a child - The idea here is one of maturity in knowledge, you do not get confused as a child would, you can keep your wits about and lean on the information that you know to be true. Paul characterizes these children as unstable.

They are Tossed to and Fro by the waves - It’s like the get whiplash, falling this way and that way, with no direction of aim. Like a ship is the sea with no rudder, you simply go where the waves takes you. This is a far cry from the one the Psalmist says meditates on God’s Instruction day night and they are like a tree planted by the waters. Where there is stability and security.

Psalm 1:3 ESV

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

The children and also carried by every wind of doctrine - Everything that you hear has an impact on you, every doctrine you come in contact with moves away from the truth that is Christ. Like a dog that sees a squirrel, or gets distracted by any other animal. You are carried about like bubble that will land only where the wind carries it.

This is done by human cunning and deceitful schemes - This not by accident, but by man who uses cunning, craftiness and deceit to attempt to move people from the true and right doctrine. These are people who are cunning or play with loaded dice, these are people who will use any means to move you these are men who are crafty.

The way to address this is to know the truth well, to be like those who look for counterfeits. They know the real one so well that when they see a counterfeit they know it.

The Right Way

Rather - As opposed to the behavior of those cunning, crafty and deceitful men, there is a way that those who are in the body are supposed to act.

Truthing - Speaking the truth, where our conduct as members of the body should be characterized by truth, our actions should be those that are governed by the truth that we proclaim. To evangelize, as we minister in the body, as we go about all of our actions we are those of truth

In Love - That truth is tempered with love, where love ensures the truth is delivered correctly. Sometimes this requires relationship, where the to understand how the love is to be administered to those you know. Don’t want to be the one who is giving someone the business and then saying ‘it’s the truth though’.

Grow in every way into Christ - We are to grow in every way, meaning in all aspects. Not just in knowledge, but also in patience. Not just in service but also in wisdom (application of knowledge). I have said this before, but there is no area that is off limits to Christ, Christ wants all of you, all that makes you, you. That is what Jesus wants and that is what Jesus deserves. That growth is into the head, the head which indicates superior rank or high status. That is our aim, that is our goal.

Putting it All Together

This same Jesus that we are growing into, is the same Jesus who is providing what is needed for the body.

Joined and Held Together - All the members of the body are part of the body as setup by Jesus, where we are rightly placed in the body. This joining is not a haphazard thing, where the you are just tossing stones over the fence. God does not work that way, Jesus does not work that way. We are fit in the right place, with the measure of the gift that we have been given with people gifted to evangelize, pastor and teach so that we can be productive in service to the body, where we can edify the body. So the joining is being placed rightly in the body with all that needs to be considered for your placement. Then we are also held together, meaning there is something that binds us.

Equipped Joints - Paul continues the illustration of the body, by pointing to the connections that are made in the body, where members of the body have contact with one another. For all those that have been placed in the body, there is a connection between all of us. These connection are what hold us together. They are what binds us with one another in the body.

Each Part Working Properly - Beyond the connection, there is a reliance on each member to work properly. Meaning to work what you have been given as a gift by Christ. To work as you are able, to the fullest extent you are able. Your work will not look like anyone else's work, more than likely. Your gift of administration, will not look like your neighbors gift of administration. But there is a reliance by the body on you bringing your gift to the table. The Body needs this. The Church needs this.

The Body Grows so that it builds up in love - This is what makes the body grow, the members of the Body of Christ, the members of the Church working in ministry with each other. The body matures, the body grows and edifies itself, in love.