Ephesians 4:15-16 15But speaking the truth in love, let us grow up in all things into him who is the head, namely Christ, 16from whom the whole body, being joined and held together by every supported joint, according to the working of each and every part, makes the body function so that it builds itself up in love.
One essential quality needed for unity and growth in the church is speaking the truth in love. Speaking the truth implies honesty, openness, vulnerability, and integrity. Speaking the truth to people can sometimes cause hurt feelings, alienation, or push people away. In today’s church culture, this can be detrimental to church growth and the incorporation of new people, so it is often avoided and the easier path of apathy is taken. The only way truth can be spoken in a way that brings healing is when it is done out of love. The type of love (agapē) required can only come from God and is found most powerful and perfectly in Jesus Christ. This is the love that Paul prayed the Ephesians to have in 3:14-21. With the love of Christ within them, the Ephesians would be equipped to nurture one another to live out their calling as new creations in Christ.
As they learn to live out this love, they will be empowered to grow to maturity as individuals and as a community. Paul uses a first person command (hortatory subjunctive) to call the readers to grow up and increase in their love and relationship with Christ, and this would affect their whole lives (all things). There is no limit to how our lives can improve and change when love is put first. The specific goal of this growth is into him, meaning Christ. This is not love for love’s sake but love for Jesus’ sake. For, it is only in him that we find the true meaning and purpose for our existence. He is the head who directs all things of our lives. He is the Master, Lord, Savior. When he is put first, all other things of our existence will find their right place.
In v. 16, Paul returns to the theme of the church as the body of Christ. It is from the head that the rest of the body finds its direction and basis for existence. Without a head, a body cannot live. The church cannot exist unless Christ is the head. No group of people can call itself a church unless Christ is supreme. Sadly, some churches dawdle in conforming to the world and its values. This will cause such a “church” to cease to be who God has called it to be. Christ must be supreme within a church. It is from him that everything else derives its meaning.
Paul continues the metaphor of the church as the body and refers to the joints which support the weight and extensions of the body. Arthritis in the church will cause it to stumble and fall in a world full of deception and selfish values. Every part of the body must function as designed so that it can move about and do as the head directs it. A sore limb, a broken bone, and bruised muscle, and other ailments will cause the body to malfunction and not be able to walk worthy of its calling. Paul ends v. 16 with the way he started v. 15, with the idea of love. The only way the body can build itself up, heal itself, and carry out its purpose is love. Love is the blood of the body, what flows through every joint, bone, and muscle, that keeps the body functioning. It is what brings healing to those in the church who are hurting. It keeps the church moving towards its goal. Every member in the church must have this life source flowing through them.
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