2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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THE BODY OF CHRIST
TUESDAY, MAY 5
Ephesians 4:1-13
Ephesians 5:21-33
“For the edifying
of the body of Christ.”
THE BODY OF CHRIST
As the bride of Christ, the Church is also His body. The bride and body metaphors are really one. Several times in Ephesians 5:21-33, Paul mentions the two metaphors together. In verse 23, he says that Christ is “the saviour of the body” in His relationship as the Husband of the Church. Again in verse 28, husbands who love their wives, love “their own bodies.” Verse 30 reminds us that “we are members of his body,” and verse 31 quotes Genesis 2:24 with reference to the marriage union.
The great spiritual lesson taught by the metaphor of the bride is the lesson of the purifying influence of the love of God in our hearts. Perhaps the strongest lesson taught by the metaphor of the body is the lesson of the mystical spiritual unity of believers, as members of the body of Christ (Rom 12:5; Eph 4:25).
The unity of believers in the body of Christ is strongly emphasized by Paul: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph 1:22-23, cf. Col 1:18); “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph 4:2-6).
The purpose of the several gifts which Christ has given to different members of His body is “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph 4:12-13).
THOUGHT: Can the Church, the body of Christ, be sinlessly perfect in this present age?
PRAYER: Father, help me to grow in Christlikeness each day until I reach sinless perfection in the day of Christ’s return.