For several weeks we have given attention to various references about Christ’s ascension, sometimes directly stated and sometimes clearly implied.
The significance of this event included being the precursor to the sending of the Holy Spirit, the inauguration of Christ’s high priestly ministry and the enablement of victorious Christian living for His followers.
In this concluding look at this climactic event, we give attention to how His ascension results in the gifting of maturing believers for effective Christian service. For this, we return to the Book of Ephesians.
In the epistle’s opening chapter, we read how Paul prayed for the believers in verses 15–23. As often happened when Paul prayed for others, his prayers almost imperceptibly transitioned from intercession to instruction.
‘Head over all’
Having mentioned the greatness of divine power, the apostle describes it as the power that raised Christ from the dead and “seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places” (v. 20) and “gave Him to be head over all things to the Church, which is His body” (vv. 22–23).
This week’s thoughts about the ascension begin with considering Christ’s headship over the Church. From that exalted position, Christ wants to fill His body, the Church, with all the fullness of God.
Later, in Ephesians 4, we read that the ascended and enthroned Christ apportions grace to each member of His body (v. 7). His apportioning grace bestows gifts to believers and gifted leaders to the church (vv. 8, 11).
Building up the body
Lest we think the divine intention is to leave all ministering to the gifted leaders, the passage goes on to say that the purpose for gifted leaders is to build up the body by equipping “the saints for the work of ministry” (v. 12).
The divine intention is that the whole body, members and leaders alike, engage in effective service with the goal that “we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (v. 13).
As our heavenly Head watches over His body, the Church, He delights to see us grow up spiritually in all things so that we do not remain “children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (v. 14). One important mark of spiritual maturity is that we all come to speak the truth, careful that we do that speaking “in love” (v. 15).
From His heavenly position, the ascended Christ is looking for the whole body to be “edifying … itself in love” (v. 16).
May our collective growth in maturity and effective service warm the heart of Him who reigns in heaven at the Father’s right hand.
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