EPHESIANS: The Result

EPHESIANS Number 47
The Result

Ephesians 4:15-16
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

The idea of speaking the truth in love has been taken out of context by many and used as a pretext for a punitive approach to “helping” those who have stumbled. Under the guise of “tough love” many have been harmed and deeply hurt by Christians who misread this verse to be saying that we are to do whatever it takes to correct the faults of others, no matter the cost.

That is the exact opposite of what the Bible teaches here. Our context is the wonderful gifts Father has bestowed upon His Church in the form of people with particular talents and skills designed specifically to edify, encourage, and equip us. This is teaching us how to build one another up, not how to tear one another down. The idea here is being truthful in a way that the spirit of Love is maintained. The Love in this verse is that godly sacrificial self-giving Love called (agape’). A great example of this is found in Galatians 6:1 where we are told that if we find someone faltering, we are to restore them gently.

In this way we all grow up into the Lord Jesus in all things. Every time we falter or fall, we can rise again because others in the body are raising us up by reminding us of our place, our identity, and our lovely Lord. He is the head, prominent and leading us all.

Through His fitly joined body is brought together as a unit by the things each of us provides. Our strength is found in unity. We all have the same purpose and goal. We each have different functions, different roles, but we are all “pulling in the same direction” as it were. Each of us supplies the body with things it needs. This comes about according to the functioning capacity of each part.

In this way the Lord Jesus causes the body to grow, to increase, and to build itself up in Love.

Love really sums it all up, doesn’t it? God is Love. We are called to Love. The Scriptures tell us that Love covers sins and fulfills the Law. These three remain, faith, hope, and Love, but the greatest of these is Love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)