Ephesians 4:1-16 Each Part Working Properly

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Each Part Working Properly

Ephesians 4:1-16

Introduction: Ephesians 4:16 states, “…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.” 

The title of this lesson comes from this verse and is the theme the elders set for this year. Each of our group studies will focus on how each segment of the church can work together in growing the body. 

To begin, I would like you to give thought to the principle of verse 16 and the idea that each member in the body is to be equipped, and once equipped, is to be “joined and held together” with all the others parts. And when each part works properly in conjunction with the other parts, it will “make the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” 

Seeing this pattern given by the apostle, has this been your experience in a local church? It is certainly not the norm, is it? The emphasis has often reflected the denominational pattern of the church providing “services” to the members instead of being a body of believers who function together. 

  1. The “Body” 
    1. The use of the word “body” in reference to the church does not often catch our attention. We read over it fairly rapidly without grasping the fact that Paul is purposeful in his usage. When we think of a living body, we think of a very elaborate design in which all the working parts function together in whatever purpose the head has in mind.
    2. Therefore, the word “body” is a critical part of the text:
      1. Verse 4: the one body (universal) is proclaimed
      2. Verse 12: saints are equipped for building up the body
      3. Verse 16: the whole body joined & held together by every joint with which it is equipped by the head, Christ
      4. Verse 16: when each part is working properly the body grows so that it builds itself up in love
      5. Verse 25: truthfulness and treatment of each other is important because “we are members of one another.”
    3. Through this section, Paul is relating something that we naturally conclude when we read Acts. The preaching of the gospel does not just proclaim salvation, it creates a community. And that community is not just a group sharing like beliefs, but becomes a functioning body that is stronger and more effective than its individual parts. Obviously, this body has purpose. 
    4. 4:1 alludes to the purpose: “walk worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” 
      1. Before giving one command, Paul wrote three chapters on what God had done in Christ when he “chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him” (1:4). He follows with our purpose: 
        1. “to the praise of his glorious grace” (6)
        2. “So that we might be to the praise of his glory” (12)
        3. “to the praise of his glory” (14)
      2. In 2:10 he again gives purpose: “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand…”
      3. In 3:10-11 we are designed to fulfill God’s eternal purpose of displaying God’s manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
      4. In 3:19, this is accomplished by us being “filled with all the fulness of God.”
      5. In 4:24, we become his image-bearers as we are “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
      6. And in 5:8-11, God has made us light so that we expose the works of darkness.
    5. In this brief snapshot Paul places before us an amazing and glorious pursuit. It is beyond our imagination that something so glorious could be produced through our weakness. But the Lord assures us, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…” (3:20).
  2. The Key to Attaining God’s Purpose in Us
    1. Please keep in mind, this is God’s purpose, not ours, and the purpose is not to our glory, but to his. He re-created us in his image, a plan before he even made the world.
    2. Let me suggest that chapters 4-6 can be divided into two primary sections: 
      1. 4:1-16 Attaining God’s purpose in the functioning of the body
      2. 4:17–6:20 Living in holiness and submission
    3. For our purposes we will concentrate on highlighting 4:1-16 and how God grows us to his purpose by functioning within the body. In other words, God forces us into tight, dependent relationships, insisting on humility, gentleness, patience and love (4:2) so that our only recourse is to adopt the character of Jesus to “survive” and get to the goal. In this God is praised and made visible through us. In fact, “love” is the critical word used at the beginning (4:2) and the end (4:16).
    4. The second word that is critical is “unity.” It is used in verse 3 and 13, but is implied repeatedly throughout the text. What should get our attention is unity is not just what you see in 4:1-6, the attitudes and teachings encouraged by the Spirit. Many churches attain this by becoming good friends and fostering positive social interaction and care for one another. Certainly, that fits with what a body does. It cares for its individual parts.
    5. 4:11-16 goes beyond how we typically define unity – the lack of disunity. No, in this case unity is how the body works together, accomplishes God’s purposes together, equips and grows one another together. (Elders often have conversations about something that would edify the body. But invariably the conversation turns to whether or not the body will unify in the effort.)
    6. The third key to the text is somewhat surprising. Verses 7-16 concentrates on gifts. We are accustomed to both Paul and Peter stressing gifts being given to Christians and even long lists of the varying gifts. Because of that, we are quick to read gifts in this text and think of varying abilities or talents God has given to the members of the body. However, look more closely:
      1. Verse 7: God has given grace to each one of us. No exceptions here. All have been favored by the Lord and placed into the body as a “gifted” person.
      2. But then notice verse 11. begins with, “and he gave…” What did he give? He gave people. As with all the other lists of gifts in the NT, none are complete. This particular list has to do specifically with those who equip saints. But notice, they are the gift. (By the way, note that Jesus is equipping saints, those set apart for this purpose.) Therefore, it is important that in this text that the people of God are gifts in God’s working body. Have you ever thought of yourself as a gift to God’s people, a gift to God’s church? Most of us do not think that way because we feel so inadequate. But that is the point of a gift. By ourselves, we are not adequate. But God equips us and grows us into a gift.
    7. Scope back. Why? Why is he creating this “group” with each being a special gift in the body? 
      1. It gets us to the goal of our calling, bringing about God’s purposes. It doesn’t happen independently. This intertwining of gifted parts makes it happen.
      2. Therefore the body becomes the means by which the goal is accomplished. The body is not the goal, but the means to it. We get each other to maturity. We keep each other from being tossed by the teachings of the world. We help each other to learn to open our mouths in confessing Christ by speaking his truth in love. And we recognize each of us as gifts to each other so that the body grows tightly together, functioning together, and then producing a people who are image-bearers and monuments for God in the world.
  3. Four Takeaways
    1. Use yourself as a gift to the body in the work of the Lord. If you are God’s gift to the body, then you need to give yourself away! To do this, it is first necessary to open your eyes. Remember when Jesus said, “Lift up your eyes, the fields are white for harvest.” Jesus was talking about souls, but the same principle is true with all of God’s work. The opportunities are always there if we will open our eyes to them.
    2. What do you do well that could be applied to your work in the body? Think especially in fulfilling people needs, first spiritual needs, then also physical needs.
    3. How could you explore new ways to work for the Lord, ways to stretch yourself in talents that have not yet been developed. Think of how God stretched Moses or Gideon to be great leaders in Israel.
    4. How can you work together with the other gifts in this body? “Joined and knit together” are Paul’s words. How can others better equip you and how can you equip others. The closing words give the picture: “makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” 

Conclusion: Is this your picture of the body? Is this how you are working within the body? Do you realize that without your participation and gift to the body, God’s purposes are not accomplished? When this happens we fail God’s plan from before the world began.

Berry Kercheville

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