All right, let’s take a look at what we’ve seen so far. Unfathomables! God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Unfathomable! When we were His enemies and spiritually dead, He saved us and rescued from eternal death by His grace (an undeserved gift!) through faith in Christ. Unfathomable! He chose us and brought us into His forever family, made us heirs with Christ. Unfathomable! He has given us His Spirit and is directing His power in and through our lives - the same limitless power that God displayed when He raised Christ from the dead. Unfathomable!
God has also joined together a body, Jews and Gentiles - age old enemies, diverse peoples from every nook and cranny and corner of this world. We all have been brought together into this forever family, a family wired to love one another, brought together in peace and love and united by the Holy Spirit. Unfathomable! Being united in our common faith in Christ we have so much in common, brothers and sisters, journeying together to celebrate and spread the knowledge of God’s breathtaking goodness. And God’s Spirit is producing this unity/oneness, such that our relationships now are characterized by this unfathomable peace. And we are to be guarding this oneness, making every effort to do so, with all humility, forebearance, etc - The mission depends on this. And God has been working towards all this throughout all history.
And Paul is still thinking about this in our passage today. Still thinking about a body, held together by these ligaments, these bonds of peace. And it’s growing. It is maturing. It is being built up - and today we consider the age-old question, how does this body grow? Let’s talk about that! [4.7-16]. OK - you tell me: how does the body grow? Building up itself, Paul says. He says it twice. Building up the body [12, 16]. It requires the proper working of each individual part. To each of us grace was given - we are gifted to build. We are one body, but individually gifted with grace by Christ to help His body grow. In other words, we are (Christ's) bodybuilders. Now, what do you think of when you hear that word? [Maybe that unmistakeable Austrian accent of Arnold Schwarzenegger?]
[7] "to each of us". We're not talking about a mass of monkey-see monkey-do sycophants who are supposed to all look and talk and live and be indistinguishably identical. No, in this body there is dazzling beauty and creativity and individuality woven together by the Spirit. Expressed in and through our oneness.
Yes, we were each called, and grace was given. God did it, to be sure. And specifically here Paul calls it the gift of Christ. It could be that Christ IS the gift, which of course He is (cf Jn 3.16)(and it is still all about Christ, mentioned 16x in these 10 verses), but it is also God the Son giving gifts to God’s people, by the Spirit, and that in different measure, in differing amounts (Rom 12.6). Yes, in one respect some of these gifts will prove to be more fruitful than others (Mt 13.23), and yet in all things we will one day see that in and through it all the Spirit of Christ was energizing each gift and bringing the increase in whatever way He so desired (1Cor 12.11), all to show off and increase the celebration of how breathtakingly good God really is. As we will see, our job is each to simply, faithfully put the gifts to use. To serve.
8 - Ascended [Ps 68.18] —> Christ, Who of course descended (multiple times?): The Incarnation, then the Coming of His Spirit (at Pentecost), not to mention what most commentators would agree was His descent in Sheol...
11 - Christ gave SOME as apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers
I should mention that Paul’s point here is, It’s not about the gifts - it’s about each of us and all of us being bodybuilders! THAT is why Christ gave the apostles & teachers, etc…
Paul proceeds to unpack the ‘gifts’ - at least some of them - which Christ gave to men. The word here means a given thing. Elsewhere these gifts are called pneumatika (Spirit-things) or charismata (grace-things)(where we get the word 'charismatics'). And note that this list of gifts is different than the other notable lists of charismata we find in the NT (Rom 12, 1Cor 12, 1Pet 4)
To be thorough, some suggest that Paul is talking here more about offices, about ones who Christ appointed to function in these various roles. Some go a step further and suggest (insist?) that the first two of these offices (so, apostles and prophets) have passed out of use.
First up is apostles - sent away ones. People told to go (which technically includes ALL disciples down to present day and beyond, doesn’t it?). Who did Christ send? He specifically chose and sent out the Twelve - those who had been with Him and who became actual witnesses of His resurrection. He also sent out seventy others, but in the early days of the church in Jerusalem, the Twelve were a distinct group, gifted in various ways (esp teaching & miracles). Then we see in Acts 14 on their first missionary journey that Paul and Barnabas are called apostles. They did not belong to “The Twelve”, but we do see God using them to teach and to perform miracles, just like the Twelve. In Acts 15 we see the Twelve in Jerusalem alongside elders, but in Acts 21 when Paul reports to Jerusalem he meets NOT with the Twelve but with ‘James and the elders’ (act 21.17-18). Where are the twelve? They almost appear to fade into the background. We are sort of left to wonder to what extent this was an exclusive gift/office given only for a season to a few (specifically to those initial twelve, plus Paul, who repeatedly insists he was an apostle (Gal 2.8, 2Cor 12.12, Rom 1.5), or perhaps it is broader than that? Others suggest that this gift (if not the office) still operates today, albeit in a somewhat-watered-down form, God’s Spirit gifting some to operate sans-miracles (at least in the west?) in the form of entrepreneurial start-up pioneering (launching things/ministries, planting churches, etc)[think Pete Brokopp]. Scripture doesn’t really say. But in light of the context it makes sense to conclude that Paul here most likely has in mind the Twelve (plus-one-or-a-few) who were specifically used to plant the church in various places during its 1st century infancy.
Prophets - declaring forth ones. In the Bible, prophets spoke for God, declaring His word to the people. They spoke of misdeeds and of things to come (destruction, Messiah) - "thus sayeth the Lord" was their verbal calling card. At certain times there was only one prophet for the entire nation (i.e. Moses, Eli, Samuel, Nathan). At other times you would not find even one. In our study of the minor prophets we saw that leading up to the exile a small handful were operating, warning God’s people of coming judgment for their unfaithfulness. And in that season, the prophet Joel did prophesy of a day when God’s Spirit would indeed be poured out on all mankind, and that sons and daughters would speak for God (Joel 2.28). Peter quotes him at Pentecost:
Acts 2:16-18
“…but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT and they will prophesy.
Peter added that last line in his message. In the NT we see prophets more on a congregational than a national level, not speaking words of canonicity (i.e. words that would be considered inspired Scripture) but rather communicating more to a local assembly and to individuals therein. Paul ranks it second in order of significance, yet since the #1 gift, apostle, appears to be restricted to the twelve (plus one-or-a-few), Paul holds up prophecy as a most-desirable gift to be valued/desired by believers (1Cor 14.1). Do prophets still function today? Are there speaking-forth ones in local assemblies? They appear to have passed out of existence in the modern west, at least in ‘mainline evangelical congregations’, but I wonder if one might still find prophets operating in “charismatic” congregations and in other assemblies in the two-thirds world where ‘less-educated’ believers simply take God’s Word and put it into practice? Paul told the Corinthians they should eagerly desire to be prophesying, that a prophet speaks for exhortation and consolation and to build up believers, and that they should let two or three prophets take turns speaking (to the assembly) and the assembly should pass judgment on what they have said. Did those instructions not convey to us? 'Cuz ‘MEC’s pretty much do none of this. Some hold up 1Cor 13.9-10,12 - “For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away… For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” If by “the perfect” Paul means the Bible, then it would be fair to say that gifts of prophesy ceased after the Bible was written/compiled. But if when he says "perfect" and "face-to-face", he means the return of Christ, then this "doing away" is still to come and it would make sense that there are still gifts of prophecy operating today. Thus the challenge for us moderns would be to use them (and use them properly - many false prophets have gone out into the world…). Then there are still others who describe a modern-day sort of prophecy-lite where God’s Spirit gifts some people to be wired to call out things that aren’t right. My wife is certainly gifted at doing this. On this Scripture is silent...
Evangelists - good news ones. Even more scarce in the Bible than apostles, this word is actually used only three times in the entire NT. Philip is the lone non-apostle who warrants this title. Acts 8 records the early exploits of this man who was supernaturally gifted by God to proclaim the Good News about Jesus. It is notable that so compelled was he that he is the first Christian we see crossing cultural boundaries with the Gospel - outside the comfy confines of traditional Jewish-dom to both Samaritans and to Africans. The work of declaring the Good News about Jesus is entrusted to all who follow Him, but according to Paul there are ones who, having received a gift - a supernatural enabling - in this regard, will be more eager and more fruitful in helping others begin to follow Jesus.
Shepherds and teachers - protecting/caring ones and imparting knowledge ones. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, no? Protecting them, leading them beside still waters... Some are gifted and called to do this. Teaching - feeding the sheep, imparting knowledge about God and His Word - it feels like a call. There are those who are gifted at teaching. But look at [15] - Truthing in love. That’s ALL believers. We (all of us) are taught - in order to teach. So - like Timothy - we all must pay attention to the truth we share - what we say, and how we say it. Make no mistake, every bonafide Christ-follower is able to (and should) impart knowledge to others as it pertains to following Christ (and about life in general). The fact is that each Christ-follower is indwelt by a built-in Teacher, and we can be expected to grow in knowledge about the Lord to the point where we can and do teach and impart this knowledge to others.
-And so, we have these gifts in the Body. So what? To what end? Verse 12...
[12] Towards the equipping of the saints. So some have these equipping gifts… And the word here refers to the mending of a fishing net. What is a fishing net supposed to do? There are holes in this net, and any net with holes is unable to function the way it is supposed to. It won't work for the job at hand.
[Scene from Guardians of the Galaxy, the Nova Corps blockade develops holes and ultimately fails - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01dBP_ZeuRQ]
Unto the work of service = unto the building up of the body. These equippers equip the body to serve, and that’s what we do: we (the body) build up the body. Let all things be done for edification. We build up one another. We are all bodybuilders, building the body so that there will be no holes. Paul is not giving us jobs at this point, he is laying down a mission statement. These inform everything an organization does:
[Coke corporate mission statement: "We refresh the world"]
Look at the outcome: Unto to oneness of the faith and the full knowledge of Jesus. We grow the oneness (which we must guard) - and get to know Jesus through building up one another! Unto a mature [perfect - KJV] man —> the perfect man [the David statue is a granite version of the "perfect" human?] Unto the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. But this is not a measure of human perfection. This is a measure of Christ being perfected in you and me - and in our family. [until Christ is formed in you… Gal 4.19]
[14] In order that we are no longer children, no longer tossed by the waves. One of the wondrous things about younger children is how trusting they are. They will believe anything you tell them. What is that noise, Daddy? Well, that’s thunder, son. Two thunder giants live in the clouds and they are beating their giant thunder drums. Tell that to a 5yr old, and they’ll be like, wow! My youngest is 11, middle school. He knows enough now that he would likely question something like that. And my oldest, 16, full blown adolescence - he’s like, whatever, Dad.
My point being, with growth and maturity comes this awareness of the nature of things, there is groundedness, to the point that there is dependability. And we can ask them to do things and count on them to contribute. We can count on them to be able to take care of youngers. In many parts of the world, teenagers are treated and expected to function as adults. Maturity means we can count on you, and we can count on you to contribute. We want the faith of a little child, but not the immaturity.
Look at what causes this growth, this maturing. [15] Speaking the truth in love. Literally, truthing in love. Truth and love. It’s not one or the other - both are critical. What happens when it’s all truth and no love? What happens when it’s all love and no truth?
But who is truthing in love? All of us, each one of us. Every joint supplies something. The proper working of each individual part, he says. The growth of the body depends on each part doing its part. Each one of us has a part to play in the building up of the body. Have you found your part yet? Then do it! And if you don’t know what your part is, do something.
We grow into Christ. Then this body growth comes out of Christ. And so the most important thing you and I can do in playing our part is to keep growing into Christ. This is a joint effort. A collaborative effort. Yes there are pastors and teachers and all those other folks to help equip us for the work of serving, but we all also serve. We aren’t supposed to continue in the body as infants. Fat babies. As toddlers or even as children. As cute as they are. There is nothing cute about an infantile grownup. An immature adult. Equipping the saints FOR the work of service. Family we can count on! Such that we can say with the One Who lives in us, "I am among you as One Who serves". We are not here to be served, but to serve. The saints are the bodybuilders! All of us!
But this truthing in love - where does it take place? Where does that happen best? I would suggest that it happens best in community. Not in lecture format. Not a talking head. Many Christians, our diet of truth tends to look like me showing up to a sermon, maybe a Sunday School, maybe I have some other streams of content - books, radio, internet - but it tends to be a one-sided conversation. But that’s NOT what we see in this letter. This is an all-skate. Second person plural! You all. Y’all. All the saints are working and serving. All the saints are building up the body, together we are journeying towards oneness of faith and the full knowledge of Christ. Together as one we are growing up in all aspects into Christ. The body grows and builds itself up in love. We are talking about a living organism. A family. It’s a family business, and we are all expected to contribute. Truthing in love.
So what does this look like? To be sure - lots of growth and good instruction takes place in these traditional venues, the ones where we sit and one person does the speaking. But here I think Paul is talking about a more interactive environment. I think he is thinking about the dominant form of community at that time - the house church. The early church met in their homes. Breaking bread from house to house [Act 2.46]. Greet Prisca and Aquila and the church that is in their house [Rom 16.5]. Greet Nympha and the church that is in her house [Col 4.15]. Paul to Philemon and the church that is in your house [Phlm 2]. In homes. Common unity forged in circles - around kitchen tables and coffee tables and campfires. People doing life together. Examine the Word together. Encouraging and exhorting one another together.
Hebrews 10:24-25
…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Look at this verse. What does it sound like? Does it sound like one person speaking to the masses? To me it sounds like a team effort. It sounds to me more like a circle than rows. Stimulating one another to love, encouraging one another. And of course people are messy, so all the more reason to know how to guard the oneness! Thankfully I do get the sense here at Hope Fellowship that most of us are eager to journey in community. This passage to us is more of an excel-still-more. And I do think we can excel still more. I think what the body of Christ and what we need is not more cleverly crafted sermons or slick programs. We need more community. More truthing, more love. Are you with me?
Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” 9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of 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 a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Jesus, Jesus, Most Prestigious, how does Your body grow?
With Words from above
And lots of love
And humble hearts serving below.
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