Ⅲ
In Christ, who is the cornerstone, “all the building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord”—2:21:
A
The phrase all the building denotes the universal building, the church throughout the universe—v. 21.
B
The word fitted means being made suitable for the condition and situation of the building—v. 21:
１
To be fitted together is for all parts of the frame of the Body to be fitted together to form one structure—4:16.
２
In the building all the materials are fitted together; this is not merely to pile up but to build up—2:21.
C
Since the building is living, it is growing because it is organic—1 Pet. 2:5:
１
This building is growing into a holy temple, a holy dwelling place of God; this indicates that the holy temple is a living building—Eph. 2:21.
２
Apparently, growth and building are separate things; actually, the building of the house is the growth of the Body—4:15-16.
３
The building of the church as the temple, the house of God, is by the believers’ growth in life—1 Cor. 3:6-7; Eph. 4:15-16; Col. 2:19; 1 Pet. 2:2.
４
The Body grows with the growth of God—Col. 2:19:
ａ
The growth of the Body depends on the growth of God, the addition of God, the increase of God, within us—Eph. 4:16.
ｂ
God gives the growth by giving Himself to us in a subjective way—3:16-17a:
⑴
For God to give us growth actually means that He gives us Himself—1 Cor. 3:6-7.
⑵
The more God is added to us, the more growth He gives—Eph. 4:15-16.
Morning Nourishment
Eph. 2:21 In whom all the building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.1 Cor. 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.
Col. 2:19 ...Holding the Head, out from whom all the Body, being richly supplied and knit together..., grows with the growth of God.
[In Ephesians 2:21] we see that in Christ, who is the cornerstone, all the building, including both Jewish and Gentile believers, is fitted together and is growing into a holy temple. The actual building of the church as the house of God is by the growth in life of the believers. Today the church is growing. However, it is not growing in our natural life, but in the divine life, the spiritual life. The word fitted means being made suitable for the condition and situation of the building. As the Body of Christ, the church has been regenerated, and as the house of God, the church is being built. Apparently, growth and building are separate things. Actually, the building of the house is the growth of the Body. If the Body does not grow, the house cannot be built. (Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 236, 233)
Today’s Reading
In the Scriptures we often see that growth and building are linked together. First Corinthians 3:9 says, “You are God’s cultivated land, God’s building.” As God’s cultivated land, we need to grow; as God’s building, we need to be built up... Hence, Ephesians 2 says that this spiritual house, this dwelling place of God, is built up by growing (vv. 21-22), just as our body reaches its full stature by growing. Moreover, 1 Peter 2 says that having been saved and having put away sins, we need to long for the spiritual milk so that we may grow (vv. 1-2). Following this, it says that as living stones we are being built up as a spiritual house (v. 5). Ephesians 4:12-13 says, “Unto the building up of the Body of Christ, until we all arrive... at a full-grown man.”... The more we grow, the more we are built up... God’s growth and mingling in us are God’s building. (CWWL, 1958, vol. 2, “The Building Work of God,” p. 279)[God] gives the growth by getting into us... The growth of the Body depends on the growth of God, the addition of God, the increase of God, within us. Therefore, God gives the growth by giving Himself to us in a very subjective way. We should daily take time to absorb the Lord, take time to assimilate the riches of Christ. Our contact with the Lord should not be rushed. If we are in a hurry, we shall not be able to absorb much of His riches. We need to allow adequate time for prayer. This will enable us to absorb more of the riches of our God.
Our God today is the processed, all-inclusive Spirit, and we have a spirit with which to absorb Him. Thus, we must exercise our spirit to stay in His presence to absorb Him. This takes time. Although we all have experienced absorbing the riches of God, our experience is not yet adequate... Do not spend so much time in your mind, emotion, and will, but spend more time in your spirit to adore the Lord, to praise Him, to offer thanks to Him, and to speak to Him freely. As you fellowship with Him in this way, you will absorb His riches, and He will add more of Himself into you. The more God is added into us, the more growth He gives to us. This is the way God gives the growth.
Only God can give growth. In my ministry the most I can do is to plant or water. I cannot give growth to anyone, for I cannot give God. Only God can give you Himself... God Himself is our food, and we need to seek Him at His dining table, where we need to take time to eat Him slowly. Then more of Him will be added into us. This addition of God into us is the growth He gives. For God to give us growth actually means that He gives us Himself. (Life-study of Colossians, pp. 456-457)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1958, vol. 2, “The Building Work of God,” chs. 2-5; The Conclusion of the New Testament, msgs. 9, 59, 336