Ephesians 4:15-16

‘But speaking truth in love may grow up in all things into him who is the Head, even Christ, from whom the whole body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in due measure of every part, makes the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.'

We need to recognise here that Christ is both Head and body. He is the Head because He is Head over all things (Ephesians 1:22) and especially of His church (Ephesians 5:23). And He is also the body (Ephesians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 10:16). For we are only the body because we have been united as one with Him in spirit in His spiritual body, in His death and resurrection (Ephesians 1:19 to Ephesians 2:10).

Some have this the wrong way round. They see the Head as in Heaven and the church His body on the earth. But this is not Paul's teaching. He has taught that both Head and body are in heavenly places. Christ's body in Heaven and the body on earth are one body in heavenly places, in the spiritual realm. Paul never loses sight of the fact that we are one with Him in His body (1 Corinthians 10:16). This is why he can say ‘Christ' when we expect him to say ‘the church' (1 Corinthians 12:12). This is what Ephesians 1:19 to Ephesians 2:10 teaches us.

‘But speaking truth in love.' Literally ‘truthing it in love'. It can refer to both words and actions. This is the result of true growth in Christ, truth spoken and truth lived from a heart of love. This then contributes to our growth into Him Who is the Head for He is the Truth (John 14:6). When we stray from this we hinder our own growth. Note the contrast with falsehood taught from the heart of deceit (John 14:14). Yet what seems a loving heart can be deceitful, for men easily deceive themselves. We need to ensure that what we hear is the truth and this can only be by comparison with the whole word of God. And if someone introduces ‘a new thing' we need to doubly beware.

‘May grow up in all things into Him who is the Head, even Christ.' The consequence of speaking truth in love will be that we grow up ‘in all things' into Him Who is the Head i.e. the One Who is Head over ‘all things' (Ephesians 1:22), the sovereign King of the universe. We grow up into our glorious heritage which we will share with Him.

‘Even Christ.' This intervenes between ‘the Head' and the next statement. He does not want ‘the Head' too closely linked with the idea of the body lest a mistaken impression be gained. He does not want us to see Christ as the head in contrast with the church as the body (see Appendix). Thus what follows relates to Christ as the body rather than as the Head, although closely linked to His Headship (when the ancients thought of the body being directed it was by the heart or the ‘inner parts (bowels)', not by the head).

‘Even Christ, from whom the whole body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in due measure of every part, makes the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.' Through the guidance and direction of Christ, and in union with Him, those who are united with Him in His body grow together, becoming joined in love, perfectly fitted together, with each part working together with the remainder and fulfilling its responsibility towards the whole. Thus the body grows, building itself up in love.