The Assembly: Part 3, Ephesians 4:4

Ephesians 4:4  •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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The Lord met Saul of Tarsus at his conversion with the words, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” For the first time the truth of the believer’s oneness with Christ was there told out. The assembly is one with Christ, united to her risen, glorified Head, the Son of Man. To Paul was given to unfold this blessed truth, “which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ Jesus by the gospel; whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power.” Ephesians 3:4-104Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, (Ephesians 3:4‑10). And we find in Colossians 1:2525Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (Colossians 1:25), that this subject completes the Word of God, “the mystery hidden from ages, and from generations, but now made manifest to His saints.” In Ephesians 1 to 2:10, is an unfolding of God’s purposes and counsels about Christ. How God has called and blessed those who are to be His companions, and has made His will known to them, that Christ will be the center of all His ways and glories, and in verses 22, 23, “hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be Head over all things to the assembly, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.”
We have seen how the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost, uniting all the believers in Christ into one body. At first it was composed of Jews, then Samaritans, proselytes; and lastly, Gentiles were added. 1 Corinthians 12:12-2312For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14For the body is not one member, but many. 15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. (1 Corinthians 12:12‑23), takes them all in, and all on equal ground, and all working together as one body. “We, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:4, 54For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:4‑5). Everyone ever since then, who has believed the gospel of His salvation, and has been sealed with His Spirit, has been brought into the body of Christ. Those who have passed away to be with the Lord are not looked at as in it just now, as the body is here on earth, but they will be in it when the Lord has taken us all up to be with Him in the glory.
This is the only membership we find for believers in Scripture; none but believers are in it. It was God who put them in it by giving them the Spirit. Baptism with water has nothing to do with this. Romans 12:4, 54For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:4‑5), is their mutuality. 1 Corinthians is their practical working together, exercising their functions. “There is one body” (Eph. 4:44There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4)), is what the truth asserts, and it is the principle of the gathering together of the saints now to the name of Christ. The one loaf on the Table at the Lord’s Supper expresses the truth that our communion is on that ground. (1 Cor. 10:16, 1716The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:16‑17)). Ephesians 4:8-168Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:8‑16), is the ministry the Lord provides for it till perfection is reached.
He loved the assembly, and gave Himself for it (Eph. 5:2525Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25)), that was up to the time of His death, before ever it was formed. Verse 26 is what He is doing for it in this present time, separating it from the world, fitting it for Himself; and verse 27 is what He is going to do for it when the last member has been added to it. Then His pearl of great price will be seen in all His beauty that He had put upon it (Matt. 13:45, 4645Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:45‑46)), and will be with Him forever.
O God! with great delight
Thy wondrous thought we see,
Upon His throne, in glory bright
The bride of Christ shall be.
Sealed with the Holy Ghost,
We triumph in that love;
Thy wondrous thought has made our boast,
“Glory with Christ above.”