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There are many warnings and helpful remarks by Stuart Allen also on pages 89 to 91,
but space does not permit us to quote them here. Let us pass on, then, to verse 15:
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him, which is the Head, even
Christ" (R.V.)
We are again faced with the truth (as opposed to the "lie"), and the importance of
growing up. The words "speaking the truth" are literally "holding the truth in love". The
sense is (as Stuart Allen states) "rather living and acting the truth that the Apostle has in
mind. It is the antidote to the spiritual duplicity of the previous verse". We should be in
union with the Head, so that we grow up into Him, becoming a mature Christian. But
verse 16 follows verse 15 without a full stop:
"From Whom all the Body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth,
according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the Body unto
the building up of itself in love" (Eph. 4:16 R.V.)
The Body is "fitly framed and knit together". The Greek is the same as in Ephesians
2:21, which related to the holy temple, a habitation of God through the Spirit. In our
bodies, if we are healthy, all the members fit together, are joined together, and work
together. We are not conscious of all the members, unless one member is sick. Then, the
member fails to work together as it should and there is pain, or the bodily function is
impaired. The Body spiritual is similar. If we work together in harmony we are not
conscious of each other, but if one member fails to work in unison there is irritation,
trouble, or ill will. In Colossians 2:19 we read of "joints and bands", or joints and
ligaments. These enable the body to be joined together as one body. Colossians 2:2 says
"being knit together in love".
The joints themselves are not the origin of the supplies. The reason why we have the
supply is because the Lord does the supplying. The joints act as channels through which
the supply comes.
"Every joint supplieth" may be translated "through every joint of supply". The body
functions "according to the effectual working in the measure of every part", and this
effectual working is made possible by the life-giving energy, the resurrection power of
God.
The climax comes in the last phrase "maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying
of itself in love". The final result must be the growth of the Body, the building up of the
Body, and in this growth every member must share and do its part.
So however small and insignificant we may feel ourselves to be, we each in our
measure have a part assigned to us by God. We are given grace, according to the gift of
Christ. Each on has been appointed to his or her personal task. It is indeed an honour to
be thus employed by God to fulfill His purpose. May we be filled with all the fullness of
God.
G.T. FOSTER