This series is written by Nathan Paugh, copyright protected.
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The ultimate goal of the preparation of the saints and the work of their ministry is the building up of the body of Christ.”¹ This building up of the body ultimately finds itself producing a great level of unity within the body of Christ. This unity allows for believers young and old to be able to come together around a common goal and push forward.
As the local church (the body) grows toward Christ-likeness individually, the corporate unity begins to take place.
Having established that the gifted people were given to the church for the immediate purpose of preparing all the saints to minister for the building up of the body of Christ, Paul explains the need for the process to continue until attaining the goal that believers mature to the measure of the fullness of Christ.”²
Maturity does not always equate to unity nor does unity always equate to maturity. Many times one will make the other to be more likely, but they can be used synonymously. Full maturity that is to the measure of the fullness of Christ cannot humanly be experienced this side of eternity, but it is extremely necessary for the believer to continue to strive toward that end. Paul explains in verses fourteen and fifteen the importance of growing individually so that the whole body can function as it was designed. If one part has failed to develop as it should then failure is eminent and thus the entire body will suffer.
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¹ Frank Thielman, Ephesians, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2010), 280.
² Harold Hoehner, Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2002), 551.
©2013 Mark Davis
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