Walk worthy

Chapter 4 begins the second part of the Epistle. The sublime truths of chapters 1 to 3 place weighty practical and ethical obligations on the church’s members. What would constitute a worthy response in view of such a heavenly calling?

Significantly, Paul calls for humility, meekness, and longsuffering - qualities despised rather than admired in the ancient world. The church is not yet perfect, therefore the unity established by the Spirit of God must be diligently maintained, v. 3.

The apostle then identifies a seven-fold uniqueness uniting Christian faith and life: (1) one body (of Christ), i. e., the church; (2) one Spirit; (3) one hope (to share the glory of Christ); (4) one Lord; (5) one faith (in the Lord Jesus); (6) one baptism (in water); (7) one God and Father of all. These considerations are central to the shared life of the church.

But there is also diversity. Upon His exaltation, the conquering Lord received gifts for men, and shed them forth upon His church. Some gifts were foundational in their exercise - apostles and prophets, 2. 20. The essential truths revealed through them are permanently recorded in the writings of the New Testament. The gifts of evangelist and pastor-teacher have to do respectively with bringing men to Christ, and thereafter instructing them in Christ and looking after them for Christ. These gifts will continue to be graciously supplied until the church is complete. Not that these gifts monopolize the church’s ministry; rather, they are ‘for the perfecting of the saints’ enabling them in turn to develop their particular gifts ‘unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ’, v. 12 RV.

The objectives of this corporate growth are stated, vv. 13-16. Saints will be preserved from the instability caused by wily false teachers. More positively, the body will grow up to approach the fullness which is resident in the Head, Christ. This collective growth must be sought and experienced by local assemblies today. If Christ is to be truly represented and proclaimed, we need to develop in Christ, not simply as individuals, but in relation to one another. Love is indispensible, if the body of Christ is to grow and be built up, cp. vv. 2b, 16.