The Material for Building a Church (3)

Ephesians 4:15-16—But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 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—provide us with three principles concerning the material we use for building a church. The first is the command to [speak] the truth, and the second is the control of speaking in love. Third, we see the three consequences.

(1) There will be individual growth in Believers. May grow up is one word in the Greek (auxano), which we first saw back in 2:21—“In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” As we saw there, it means “to grow or increase, of the growth of that which lives, naturally or spiritually.” While there it spoke of the entire Body of Christ as a living, growing entity, it speaks here of the individual Believer. This is proven by the verb tense (auxesomen), which is first person plural and, therefore, can be translated “we may grow up.” Into Him in all things, then, means that each of us is ever growing in Christ in every way, more and more growing in Christlikeness of character, progressively conforming to Him, Who is the sovereign and controlling Head.  

(2) There will be unity in the body of Christ. The literal idea behind the Greek fitly joined together (sunarmologeo, Eph. 2:21) is “together-joint-choose,” as the mason methodically fits each stone into the structure. Likewise, the building of the Church is an ongoing process in which each believer is being properly and uniquely cut and trimmed to be useful to the Building. Conversely, if each of us is not allowing God to work in us (2:10), then we will weaken or disfigure the building. Compacted, then, means “to join or knit together,” as each joint and ligament is controlled by the Head, which is Christ, and the power for unity is [supplied] by every joint. No part of the Body is idle; each every one is active in one measure, that is, to one extent, or another.

(3) There will be growth of the body (increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love). Just as the physical body grows of itself through food, the spiritual body of Christ grows and increases of itself through the nourishment of the Word of God. One commentator says it well: “[The body’s] various members are not in mere juxtaposition, like the several pieces of a marble statue. No portion is superfluous; none could be altered without positive injury . . . It is a mechanism in which all is so finely adjusted, that every part helps and is helped, strengthens and is strengthened, the invisible action of the pores being as indispensable as the mass of the brain and pulsations of the heart . . . While Joshua fought, Moses prayed. The snuffers and trays were as necessary as the magnificent lamp-stand. The rustic style of Amos the herdsman has it place in Scripture, as well as the polished paragraphs of the royal preacher. The widow’s mite was commended by Him who sate over against the treasury. Solomon built a temple. Joseph provided a tomb. Mary the mother gave birth to the child, and the other Maries wrapt the corpse in spices. Lydia entertained the apostle, and Phoebe carried an epistle.”

Further, what is the commodity that gives growth beauty?—love. Paul not only began his dissertation on unity with a focus on love (4:1-3) but he now ends the same way. May we never forget the grace of unity—love, the love of Christ for His Church and the love of believers for Him and one another. If we really love each other, we will work and get along as do the members of our physical body.