Having parsed out what “one” means to Jesus, Paul expands the metaphor to “one body.” When we hear “one body” we usually think, at least in my experience, that the reference is to the church as “one body.” That should be true of course, but Paul wants us to think of the body of Christ himself on a far grander scale:
“Therefore it says, ‘When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men’ (Psalm 68:18). “(In saying, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)” (Eph 4:8-10).
What is it that Jesus set out to “fill?”
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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, 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” (Eph 4:11-14).
Following this passage gives us children a good case of vertigo – descending to great depths, ascending to astonishing heights, being tossed to and fro by:
- changing winds of doctrine;
- human cunning;
- craftiness; and
- deceitful schemes.
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 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” (Eph 4:15-16).
I have never heard a sermon that focuses on the actual joints and other human body parts as the “body of Christ.” The ones I have heard always address this body as the local church or the denomination.
You and I are not only parts of a metaphorical “body of Christ” that focuses on programs and ministries. We are parts of the very physical/spiritual body of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Going forward, I will think of myself as a single cell in Jesus’ body, and you should too. This changes everything.
Why?
Because it is up to me and to you to nourish the cells of the body “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, so that we may no longer be children.”
After two thousand years, we are still children in disunity. When Jesus descended to the lower regions, it was to fill us with himself and the grace of gifts to lead others to salvation and eternal life!
Streamside Unity exists to publish, teach, connect, and practice the perfect unity Jesus prayed for.
We believe it is time for the church universal to grow up and to “attain to the unity of the faith.”
In Part 3, we will see an agenda for growth and maturity in unity of the faith and knowledge of Jesus.
Hurry back!