The Ecclesia at Ephesus 4. “Edifying the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12) Mid-Atlantic Christadelphian Bible School - July 2018
In creation God would teach that fellowship was a good, God-given thing (Genesis 2:23, 24) The love Adam had for Eve, Christ has for his bride (Ephesians 5:25) Together they were to fill the earth with glory Saints, chosen from before the foundation of the world, complete the work with Christ (Ephesians 1:22,23)
The unified ecclesia God chooses - He gave the increase (1 Cor 3:7) Christ is the head (Eph 1:22) Christ is the foundation (Eph 2:21) To be builded together (Eph 2:22) A habitation fit for the Almighty to dwell in (1 Timothy 3:15) Ecclesia should make known God’s wisdom (Eph 3:10) A responsibility in relation to the state (Eph 3:10) A responsibility to each other (Eph 3:13)
Unity, not uniformity Varied roles (1 Cor 12, Eph 4:11) The body only functions when each part does what it should (Eph 4:15,16) What is the purpose of all this? (Eph 4:12) perfecting of the saints for service for the building up of the body