Context No. 3811 of 4322 · Ephesians

Ephesians 4:9-16: in context

9Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 11He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; 12for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; 15but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ, 16from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

Paul describes how the ascended Christ gives gifts to his church, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and the purpose is not to create a passive audience but to equip all the saints for the work of ministry, building up the body of Christ. The goal is maturity: that we all grow up into Christ, who is the head, no longer tossed about by every wind of teaching, but speaking the truth in love and growing together.

Two things stand out. The church is meant to grow up, to move from an immature faith easily blown off course toward the fullness of Christ, and this happens as we speak the truth to one another in love. And every part matters: the body builds itself up in love as each individual part does its work. There is no passenger in Christ's body; each member has a share to contribute, and the whole grows healthy only when each joint supplies what it should. We are called to grow toward maturity together, each doing our part, speaking truth in love, so the whole body is built up.

Am I growing toward maturity in Christ, speaking the truth in love and doing my own part in building up his body, rather than remaining a passenger tossed about by every wind?

Sources

Ephesians 4:12: "For the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ."
Ephesians 4:15: "But speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ."
Ephesians 4:16: "From whom all the body... makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love."