How the Body of Christ Grows

KEY VERSE: “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” —Ephesians 4:15

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16

THERE can be no justifiable occasion for a Christian to ever speak anything but what he conscientiously believes to be the truth. Likewise, there can be no justifiable occasion for ever speaking the truth in any other manner but that of love. It follows, furthermore, that speaking the truth, and speaking it in love, are necessary prerequisites to growing up into Christ in all things.

All creation reflects the divine principle of giving. All created things, animate and inanimate, exist for the benefit of something else. The law of the new creation is the same. Those who are new creatures in Christ Jesus have become such because it is the divine purpose that their existence shall be a blessing to others. Through them, God’s promised blessings are to reach all the families of the earth.

The divine law of giving becomes operative in the life of the new creature even before reaching spiritual birth in the resurrection. Indeed, its growth in Christ is made dependent upon the exercise of itself in the interests of others; and that exercise is very largely by preaching the truth in love.

To speak the truth in love means not only to speak in a loving way, but also, that our speaking of it should be motivated by love. If this be not true, then even though we speak with the tongue of men and of angels, it will profit us nothing. But if love fills our hearts sufficiently to impel our speaking the truth that God may be glorified and that others may be blessed, it will profit us much; for thereby we will be laying up treasures in heaven.

In II Corinthians, chapter six, Paul sets forth many of the credentials of Christian ambassadorship, exhorting us to give heed to them that the ministry be not blamed. Here the apostle mentions kindness as one of the necessary elements of character to be possessed by those who are approved as the ministers of God. To speak the truth kindly, is to speak it in love.

Equally important to the manner in which we preach is the character of the message we preach. The truth is the only message a Christian is divinely authorized to preach. By the truth, we mean the Gospel truth—that Good news concerning God’s plan through Christ to establish a kingdom here upon the earth through which the whole world will have an opportunity to be blessed. It means the truth concerning the blessings that are coming to the people, as well as the truth pertaining to the means whereby the blessings will be dispensed. This includes the call and development of the church, and all the details of the divine plan appertaining thereto. Making the whole plan of salvation possible is the fundamental fact of the ransom, which should be the basis of all our preaching.—I Cor. 3:11

Paul writes, “Preach the Word.” (II Tim. 4:2) This is another way of saying that we should preach the Gospel, for the Word of God is the Gospel. And how comprehensive is the Word of God! And how profitable each aspect of the Gospel as presented in the Word. “All Scripture,” the apostle says, “given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”—II Tim. 3:16,17; Luke 4:4; Deut. 8:3

The statement that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished, is important. It means that unless we give heed to the whole message of the Scriptures we cannot expect to be thoroughly furnished. First on this list of profitable things contained in the Word is doctrine, or teaching. This is evidently a reference to the great plan of God itself, which we should know and preach. There are also teachings in the Word pertaining to righteous living. These teachings the apostle describes as instruction in righteousness.

A part of God’s will is that we should preach the Gospel. Another part of it is the manner in which we should preach—that we should speak the truth in love. The great objective of the divine will as it pertains to us as individuals, is that we may, by speaking the truth in love, grow up into him in all things. If we are to grow up into Christ as our head, our own body must be kept under, and our own wills made subject to his will. May the dear Lord help us all to attain unto this for which we have been apprehended!

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