The Body Of Christ Series

Ephesians 4:16 [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. (ESV)

The power for being equipped and matured into lovingly authentic proclaimers is not in believers themselves, in their leaders, or in church structure. The Body receives its authority, direction, and power as it grows “up in all aspects into … Christ,” from whom the whole body [is] joined/fitted and held together. The two present passive participles that these phrases translate are synonymous and are meant to express that the close, tight, compacted correlation of function in the Body as an organism is the result of Christ’s power. That does not negate the efforts of believers, as proved by the phrases by every joint with which it is equipped/supplies, when each part is working properly. Describing the function together like a physical body, in the case of a joint in the body there is a kind of cup on one bone and into that cup there fits a kind of ball at the end of another bone. The surfaces of both are smooth so that there is no friction, and everything works easily and harmoniously and in an effective manner … This should be true of the members of the Church.’(Phillips, R. D. (2016). Ephesians (p. 348). Ross-shire, Scotland: Mentor.)

Christ holds the Body together and makes it function by every joint with which it is equipped/supplies. That is to say, the joints are points of contrast, the joining together or union where the spiritual supply, resources, and gifts of the Holy Spirit pass from one member to another, providing the flow of ministry that produces growth. The present participles denote present, continuous progress (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 392). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.)

The situation where each part is working properly recalls the importance of each believer’s gift (v 7; cf 1 Cor. 12:12–27). The growth of the church is not a result of clever methods but of every part/member of the Body fully using their spiritual gift in close contact with other believers. Christ is the source of the life and power and growth of the church, which He facilitates through each believer’s gifts and mutual ministry in joints touching other believers. The power in the church flows from the Lord through individual believers and relationships between believers. Each of the parts of the body is needed to hold the whole body together in unity. The body is truly a maturing, loving body only as each part is encouraged to grow and do its part of the work (Anders, M. (1999). Galatians-Colossians (Vol. 8, p. 153). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).

Please turn to Colossians 2

Where His people have close relationships of genuine spiritual ministry, God works; and where they are not properly ministering to each other and faithful with their gifts, God does not work in them. He does not look for creativity, ingenuity, or cleverness but for willing and loving obedience. The physical body functions properly only as each member in union with every other member responds to the direction of the head to do exactly what it was designed to do.