It will be seen that the energy that actuates every member of the one body is that same

energy that pulsates through ta panta, "the all things", and which raised Christ, the Head,

the Fullness, and with Him "the all things" also far above all. The reader may

remember that in between the reference to the ascension of Christ and the gifts for men in

Eph. 4: 8, and the details of their bestowal and ministry, comes that reference to the fact

that the Lord ascended up far above all heavens that He might fill "the all things". The

reader may now better realize the close relation that there is between the church of the

one body, and that great purpose of the ages. Every time we are actuated by the flesh, or

the world, we by so much militate against the purpose of God.

This constant association with the purpose of God and its resurrection power is but

another way of saying verse 15, "Truthing, in love we all should grow". There is another

energy at work, the lie, with Satan at its head. He rules in the lower regions of "the air",

and not "far above all heavens". His associates are the "rulers of the darkness of this

world", and the "children of disobedience" (Eph. 2: 2; 6: 12).

"THE MEASURE OF EVERY PART."--It is not sufficient to remember the gifts of

apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Every member of the body has a

part to play, and it is according to the measure of each one part that the body builds up

itself in love.

Here then is a place and a power for each. Let us heartily and gratefully respond.

In our previous studies we have seen that the opening of the practical section of this

epistle (chapter 4:) sums up all true practice in the exhortation, "walk worthy of your

calling". Practice is the fruit of doctrine and cannot be disassociated from it. It would be

useless, for example, to exhort wives and husbands to comply with the practical

exhortations of chapter 5: if they did no heartily accept the doctrinal basis upon which

those exhortations rest. Consequently while it is true that we are now studying the

practical section of this epistle, there is no arbitrary exclusion of doctrine, and we shall

find much doctrine interwoven with the practical teaching of this section.

The disposition of subject matter must be observed. The positive exhortation of

Eph. 4: 1 is followed by a negative testimony as to how not to walk. Between these two

phases of truth there is a glorious parenthesis dealing with the one body (verses 3-16),

and following the negative testimony (and placed in correspondence) is the teaching

concerning the new man.