The
ultimate goal of all the varied gifts in the body of Christ, His
church, are to prepare God's children for works of service so
that the church may be built up.
"Built up" comes from the Greek word
oikodome. This Greek word is from two Greek words,
oikos, meaning "house," and demo, meaning
"build." So it refers to the act of
building. It has also been translated "edifying"
and "edify" and "edification." It is
the promotion of spiritual growth, which is accomplished by the
Word of God. We are to do nothing to tear down, but are to do
all to build up the spiritual growth of the church, the body of
Christ:
Acts 20:32: "Now I commit you to
God and to the Word of his grace, which can build you up and give
you an inheritance among all those who are
sanctified."
Romans 14:19: "Let us therefore
make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual
edification."
Romans 15:1-6: "We who are strong
ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please
ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his
good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please Himself
but, as it is written: 'The insults of those who insult You
have fallen on Me.' For everything that was written in
the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the
encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the
God Who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of
unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one
heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 14:12: "So it is with
you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in
gifts that build up the church."
Ephesians 4:14-16: "Then we will no
longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown
here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and
craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead,
speaking the Truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him
Who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and
builds itself up in love, as each part does its
work."
Colossians 2:6-7: "So then, just as
you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted
and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
and overflowing with thankfulness."
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11: "For God
did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through
our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are
awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore
encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you
are doing."
Jude 17-20: "But, dear friends,
remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They
said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who
will follow their own ungodly desires.' These are the
men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not
have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up
in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep
yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."
No one
acts individually, separately, in the body, but all members of the
body work together for the building up, growth, maturity of the
whole church. The aim is stated in verse 13,
"attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
Christ," meaning that we exemplify (show forth by example)
all of His virtues and excellencies, and, therefore, the virtues
and excellencies of God the Father. We are to continue to be
built up and to build up the body, the church, for the sake of
other members of the body, and for an example to those outside of
the body, so that they may be brought to Christ.
We are to be built up until we reach unity in the faith,
until we reach unity in the knowledge of the Son of God, and until
we become mature. This unity, building up, growth, maturity
is a never-ceasing process of emptying ourselves of
"self" and being filled to overflowing with God, Christ
and the Holy Spirit. We become the receptacle into which They
are poured--from fullness comes fullness:
John 1:16-18: "From the fullness of
His [Christ's] grace we have all received one blessing after
another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and Truth
came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God
the One and Only, Who is at the Father's side, has made Him
known."
John 13:15-17: [Jesus said,] "I
have set you an example that you should do as I have done for
you. I tell you the Truth, no servant is greater than his
master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do
them."
Acts 11:22-24: "News of this
reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas
to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace
of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the
Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the
Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to
the Lord."
1 Corinthians 11:1: [Paul said,]
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of
Christ."
Ephesians 1:22-23: "And God placed
all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over
everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him
Who fills everything in every way."
Ephesians 3:14-19: "For this reason
I kneel before the Father, from Whom His whole family in heaven and
on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious
riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your
inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and
long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love
that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the
measure of all the fullness of God."
Ephesians 5:15-20: "Be very
careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making
the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's Will
is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with
psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your
heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for
everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Philippians 1:9-11: "And this is my
prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and
depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best
and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with
the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to
the glory and praise of God."
Philippians 3:17: "Join with others
in following my [Paul's] example, brothers, and take note of
those who live according to the pattern we gave you."
Colossians 3:15-17: "Let the peace
of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you
were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ
dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all
wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with
gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether
in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through Him."
1 Timothy 1:15-16: "Here is a
trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst
of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an
example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal
life."
1 Timothy 4:12: [Paul, writing to the
young evangelist, Timothy:] "Don't let anyone look down on
you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in
speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
Titus 2:6-8: [Paul, writing to the young
evangelist, Titus:] "Similarly, encourage the young men to be
self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing
what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and
soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who
oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say
about us."
1 Peter 1:18-19: "For you know that
it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you
were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from
your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb
without blemish or defect."
1 Peter 2:12: "Live such good lives
among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they
may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits
us."
1 Peter 2:21-22: "To this you were
called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,
that you should follow in His steps. 'He committed no
sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.'"
