161113 Building up the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:7-16 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.”

⁹ (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 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.

Our passage for today begins with the statement that grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. God’s grace is often connected to mercy and patience. God’s mercy is directed at those who are in misery or distress; God’s patience is God’s goodness in withholding punishment that we deserve over time. God’s grace is God’s unmerited favor toward those who deserve only punishment. The only human quality that serves as an instrument for receiving God’s grace is faith.

Earlier in Ephesians we read, “By grace you have been saved through faith“(Ephesians 2:8a).  That grace and faith are gifts of God to those who will believe.

John, in his gospel, reminds us, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

Our faith rests on Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins and his resurrection from the dead proving that he has power over death for those who believe. He descended to the earth, was born in a human body, lived a sinless life and paid the price for our sin. Then…

Christ ascended above the heavens. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 15:27-28.  For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. ²⁸ When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

After Jesus came to earth by being born just as we all have been. He lived a life facing all the same temptations that we face on a day-to-day basis without sin. Having no sin of his own Jesus is able to take our sins and be our substitute in death so that we might have life eternal. With the resurrection from the dead Jesus sat down in heaven ruling over all things. His resurrection released a great power that gives him the right to rule! Praise God he is over everything! And beginning at that time…

Jesus Christ fills all things. Let’s read Colossians 1:15-17. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Jesus’ birth allowed him to identify with his creation in a special way. Before the creation of all things God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit had existed forever.

With the creation of all things there was a monumental change affecting everything that exists now. With the creation time began. Before the creation there was no time and therefore God was eternally existent! Jesus, God the Son, created all things and now holds all things together. His death and resurrection allows him now to fill all things that he has created with his very being. Through the Holy Spirit God is everywhere present.

When Jesus sat down on the throne…

He gave gifts to the church.  Let’s read 1 Corinthians 12:4-8. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵ and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶ and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. ⁷ To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

In Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and hell he was able to then give gifts according to the need of his body on earth. The Holy Spirit gifts each person who follows Christ with special abilities as well as positions of responsibility in the body. Among those positions are…

Apostles and Prophets. We can see the process of choosing an apostle in Acts 1:21-22. So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²² beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”   

An apostle of Jesus Christ is a very special person. There are no apostles of Jesus today. In order for that to happen the apostle would be one who could bear witness to his resurrection. When Judas betrayed Christ he lost his position and, guided by the Holy Spirit, the early church replaced him with Matthias. Later, because of his Damascus Road experience, Paul could be added to that group. There may have also been one or two others who were designated as apostles of Jesus Christ. Prophets existed in the first century church and they, along with the apostles, became the foundation for building the church…

Let’s read Ephesians 2:19-20. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.

The true members of the church around the world are united in the body of Christ. The apostles and prophets established the beginning of the kingdom of God on earth. And as such were in need of gifted people to carry on building up the body. We can see in the action of the first century church that an apostle, if a qualified person existed, could be selected from the church. There is no such indication concerning a prophet. In fact, the New Testament seems to indicate that there would be an expectation of prophecy from both men and women in the church. Such prophecy would stand the test of Scripture and always bring glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ. Alongside of, and growing out of, the apostles and prophets are…

Evangelists and Pastors and Teachers. Let’s read Romans 12:6-8. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

God’s grace-gifts to the church include individuals who have a special ability to evangelize (help people to understand how to be saved) as well as those who serve as shepherds or pastor-teachers. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy he encouraged Timothy to “always be sober minded, endure suffering, and do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). Here he seems to indicate that Timothy does not necessarily have a gift of evangelism but he certainly has the responsibility of evangelizing where he is serving. Every pastor has such an obligation to fulfill this ministry of encouraging people to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. At the same time, every Christian has the responsibility to build up the body of Christ by reaching other people with the gospel.

God did not give specially gifted people to the body of Christ so that they would do the work of the ministry. We have lost some of the original intention of God in this matter. God laid the foundation of the church in the apostles and prophets. He built upon the foundation with evangelists, pastors and teachers with a specific purpose…

To equip the saints. Let’s read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The man of God needs to be completely equipped for every good work. We have the Bible and should know it well. The Bible is profitable for teaching. The Bible is profitable for reproof. The Bible is profitable for correction. And the Bible is profitable for training in righteousness.

When the gifted leaders of the church do their ministry properly it will be…

So the saints could minister. In the very beginning of the church we see this principle put into action. Let’s read Acts 8:1-2. And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

The Jewish leaders brought Stephen to trial and condemned him to death because he announced that he saw the heavens opened and the Son of Man (Jesus) standing at the right hand of God. When he proclaimed this they brought him out of the city and stoned him to death. We often see such traumatic events as tragedy.  Yet, I fully believe the Scriptures when it says “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,” (Romans 8:28). We know without a doubt that Stephen loved God! There was no surprise when Stephen was killed! In fact, Stephen saw Jesus standing as though to welcome him into heaven.

Do you recall? When Jesus ascended into heaven and angels appeared to the disciples and said to them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?” (Acts 1:11). The angels were aware that the disciples had been told to be Christ’s “witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). And now the disciples just stood there!

I believe that the persecution of the church that is recorded in Acts 8 is a direct result of the church not going out to share the gospel. But please take note that when the persecution came the apostles hid themselves in Jerusalem while the rank-and-file of the church went out “preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). The persecution of the church brought about the intended purpose of God. The gospel began to be proclaimed throughout Judea and Samaria just as Jesus had called for.

So the saints began to minister just as God intended. This is God’s plan…

Until we come to mature manhood. Let’s look back to Ephesians 4:15-16. 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.

We have the responsibility to speak the truth in love. We are to encourage spiritual growth in every person in the body. And as the members of the body grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ then the body will grow in numbers as well. It is absolutely essential that the church be recognized as a place where love is practiced and taught. When each part of the body exercises God’s gifts which are given to them then the church will be built up to the glory of God!

Perhaps the greatest problem in the church today is the failure of Christians to “grow up” into spiritual maturity. The body of Christ must be built up in spiritual strength in order to maintain any sense of unity or any volume of numerical growth. We look around us and see the churches failing to attract new believers. We also see the falling away of members of the church so far as attendance and giving is concerned. If we are to build up this church by a steady growth in numbers we will have to grow to spiritual maturity. There must be solid commitment to Christ as Lord as a path into the church. Unsaved church members will never strengthen the local church. Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Putting faith in him is the only way to individually grow up allowing the local body to be built up.

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.