In Ephesians 4:14-16 (GNT) Paul gives us a clear picture of how the body of Christ and each of its members works and grows:
“Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent. Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.”
Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:2 (CEB): “… like a newborn baby, desire the pure milk of the word. Nourished by it, you will grow into salvation.” And that is how it is for all of us. When we first start our walk with Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we need the pure milk of the word. Spiritually we are too immature to eat anything else, and at that stage, that is how it is supposed to be!
The body of Christ should grow
It is so exciting to watch babies and children grow. We are glad when we see them take their first steps and say their first words. I have heard some people say, “Oh I wish they would stay a baby forever!” But if that would really happen, something would be very wrong. Unfortunately, there are people that think the same way about spiritual growth. But Jesus is not looking for a spiritual baby as His bride. So, how can we grow up to become part of the body of Christ?
“Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby and knows nothing about right teaching. But solid food is for those who are grown up. They are mature enough to know the difference between good and evil.” Hebrews 5:13-14 (NCV). Another translation says that they are unskilled in the word of righteousness. In other words, we need to practise the word of righteousness!
Jesus shows us in Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV) how important that is: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
Do what the word says
The secret for the body of Christ to grow is that “each separate part works as it should.” Most believers think that hearing and believing the word of God is what gives us spiritual growth.
But the truth is that the only way to grow spiritually is by doing what the word says, as we read so clearly in James 1:22-24 (NLT): “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” We need to be honest with ourselves and ask ourselves if we are doing what we read and hear from the word of God.
Read more about practicing the word of God: “The message of the cross: practical Christianity”
James says in James 1:25 (NLT): “But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” It is clear that it takes hard work to take up the battle against the sinful lusts and desires in our fallen sinful nature. To say No to ourselves and take up our cross takes real effort. But that is exactly how we become a member of the body of Christ! (Luke 9:23.)
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 (NLT). When we hear the word of God, we see a little bit of Jesus and at the same time we realise how far we are from actually being like Jesus. It doesn’t feel nice when we see this difference but it is then that God shows us how we really are by nature and where we have to change. And if we truly believe the promises that are in God’s word, then we come to what Peter calls “great and precious promises” as we can read in 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV):
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Another translation (CEV) says it like this: “God made great and marvelous promises, so his nature would become part of us.”
The nature of Jesus grows within us
We are talking about a development where our strong lusts and desires become weaker and weaker until they die! And at the same time the godly nature of Jesus grows within us! Is this really possible? Absolutely, totally and completely YES!
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.” Galatians 5:24 (NLT).
“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40. Jesus teaches us to take up and use our personal cross, which means that we resist the sinful desires that live in our fallen nature and choose to do God’s will and not our own will. He teaches us to place our personal cross at the door to our hearts so that we can always keep a pure heart for God.
When “each separate part works as it should”, that is to take up their cross, then they will experience the growth of the body of Christ, which is to grow in the fruits of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22.
