and he gave the apostles, the prophet, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry; to the extent of building up the body of Christ.*
The work of ministry is the building up the body of Christ, until it is no longer children, but grows up in to the full measure of the stature of Christ. The fruit of the Church in regards to building up is bearing fruit of maturity.* The gifts are given unto or to the extent of this purpose. Does Paul write here all the gifts are given for the building up of the body? no, he writes the gifts of apostles, the prophet, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers. This implies growth is of first importance. The mature plant bears fruit. Are there other gifts given and what are their purpose in the body? The body is complete when all the gifts are joined and linked together so that the body builds itself up, truth in love. This growth is in knowledge of the Son, to maturity, complete to the full measure of Him. There is no doubt in my mind this is the primary purpose of the Church. Now, let us look at the other gifts, how they work in the body. Paul writes each part is important in the body, without each part it is
not a whole body, and honor is given in a way so that there is no
division.
from whom the whole body, joined and united together through every supporting ligament, according to the working of each individual part, makes the body grow to the extent it builds itself up in love.*
From whom the whole body... in Christ we grow up, without him our works are in vain, fruitless. Jesus said without abiding in the Vine, you can not bear fruit. Thus a Church that doesn't abide in the Vine doesn't bear fruit, no matter what good works they do. Is this possible a church that does mighty works but exists a part from Him? The concept of fellowship is broken in a Church that leaves Christ out of the equation, we see he knocks on the door of such a church saying, repent, let me come in, have fellowship with me, sup with me.* Abiding in Him is of most importance. As each individual member grows up through abiding, into maturity through knowledge of the Son, becoming great in the kingdom, he then becomes a servant to the body of Christ for what purpose? For his own personal gain lording over others, exercising authority over as the world does?* No, for the purpose of growing up the body, according to the working of each individual part, making the body grow to the extent it builds itself up in love. This inward focus of growth will not implode but will bear fruit, as unto serving Christ, not selfishness but selflessness as Jesus said to Peter, follow me, feed my sheep. Truth in love it grows up, as the truth perfects and love is the bond leading to maturity.
if the whole body are eyes where's the ears? If the whole body consists of ears where's the nose? Now, at the present God has arranged the members in the body, each one of them as he wills.*
We are chosen by God according to Grace, and the gifts are given according to grace. The head is Christ therefore in submission to Christ the mature would set an example of humility, service, and reverence unto Christ and His purpose, not doing such for personal gain, not honoring their gifts over others, as this would cause division. If the indispensable part of the body thinks it is not a part of the body, this doesn't make it true. But such would exist in a body that gives greater honor to certain members. Showing favoritism in the body as James writes is a sin. Some today say we should all be outreaching to the community. Others say we should all be evangelizing. There are gifts given of evangalism and giving. Say these are hands and feet then it is like saying every member should be hands and feet. But this is not what Paul is teaching us, "for the body exist not a single member but many." The body is not one single gift of evangalism nor just a few gifts but made up of all, therefore if one gift is saying we should all be like its member, it is giving greater honor to itself. This is causing division as the body is whole when all members are joined and working together, given equal honor as serving Christ in equal favor.
God has arranged the body giving greater honor to the one lacking so that each existing no division but the members spend careful thought for one another.*
I am hands and feet, I am a mouth, I am an ear, deserving of greater honor... it is not to be so, the great in the kingdom of God become servants. Such giving of greater honor will cause division within the body. The member that is covered in greater modesty, is given honor so all are cared for equally, loving one another as we are commanded. There is to be no division within the body, showing no favoritism, so it cares for one another equally, loving one another in unity of truth and love, growing itself up. To focus outward forsaking the body is not serving Christ. Especially good we are to be to the body of Christ, the family of God, before we outreach to the world. If we do not care for and love one another, having division within, we offer nothing to the world. The one lacking is the one who is not mature, this is what James writes, that maturity brings about wholeness, lacking in nothing. If this is true then the great, those ussually given more honor, the mature become servants giving greater honor to the one lacking for the purpose of growth, so that the body grows itself up in unity.
from whom the whole body, joined and united together through every supporting ligament, according to the working of each individual part, makes the body grow to the extent it builds itself up in love.*
From whom the whole body... in Christ we grow up, without him our works are in vain, fruitless. Jesus said without abiding in the Vine, you can not bear fruit. Thus a Church that doesn't abide in the Vine doesn't bear fruit, no matter what good works they do. Is this possible a church that does mighty works but exists a part from Him? The concept of fellowship is broken in a Church that leaves Christ out of the equation, we see he knocks on the door of such a church saying, repent, let me come in, have fellowship with me, sup with me.* Abiding in Him is of most importance. As each individual member grows up through abiding, into maturity through knowledge of the Son, becoming great in the kingdom, he then becomes a servant to the body of Christ for what purpose? For his own personal gain lording over others, exercising authority over as the world does?* No, for the purpose of growing up the body, according to the working of each individual part, making the body grow to the extent it builds itself up in love. This inward focus of growth will not implode but will bear fruit, as unto serving Christ, not selfishness but selflessness as Jesus said to Peter, follow me, feed my sheep. Truth in love it grows up, as the truth perfects and love is the bond leading to maturity.
if the whole body are eyes where's the ears? If the whole body consists of ears where's the nose? Now, at the present God has arranged the members in the body, each one of them as he wills.*
We are chosen by God according to Grace, and the gifts are given according to grace. The head is Christ therefore in submission to Christ the mature would set an example of humility, service, and reverence unto Christ and His purpose, not doing such for personal gain, not honoring their gifts over others, as this would cause division. If the indispensable part of the body thinks it is not a part of the body, this doesn't make it true. But such would exist in a body that gives greater honor to certain members. Showing favoritism in the body as James writes is a sin. Some today say we should all be outreaching to the community. Others say we should all be evangelizing. There are gifts given of evangalism and giving. Say these are hands and feet then it is like saying every member should be hands and feet. But this is not what Paul is teaching us, "for the body exist not a single member but many." The body is not one single gift of evangalism nor just a few gifts but made up of all, therefore if one gift is saying we should all be like its member, it is giving greater honor to itself. This is causing division as the body is whole when all members are joined and working together, given equal honor as serving Christ in equal favor.
God has arranged the body giving greater honor to the one lacking so that each existing no division but the members spend careful thought for one another.*
I am hands and feet, I am a mouth, I am an ear, deserving of greater honor... it is not to be so, the great in the kingdom of God become servants. Such giving of greater honor will cause division within the body. The member that is covered in greater modesty, is given honor so all are cared for equally, loving one another as we are commanded. There is to be no division within the body, showing no favoritism, so it cares for one another equally, loving one another in unity of truth and love, growing itself up. To focus outward forsaking the body is not serving Christ. Especially good we are to be to the body of Christ, the family of God, before we outreach to the world. If we do not care for and love one another, having division within, we offer nothing to the world. The one lacking is the one who is not mature, this is what James writes, that maturity brings about wholeness, lacking in nothing. If this is true then the great, those ussually given more honor, the mature become servants giving greater honor to the one lacking for the purpose of growth, so that the body grows itself up in unity.