When the gospel of Jesus Christ has cut, crushed, cured our hearts, and set our lives and desires in a new direction–which at one time we thought impossible—we desire to share this good news of victory and freedom we experience at the cross with others.
When we experience the gospel’s power like this we begin to share with the world, the “good news” that Jesus died and rose in victory over sin and death on the third day. This message makes disciples, sets captives free, and brings all who have ears to hear and eyes to see into a right relationship with God and thereby building up the body of Christ, the church.
Today we’ll study together how it is the gospel which propels and prepares the church to “Go and make disciples": sending "apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers" (Ephesians 4:11) with the same message of hope and power that Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection. Let’s begin by looking at a passage in Ephesians chapter 4.
“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:7-16 (ESV)
Question 1: What is the purpose the Lord gave “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” according to Ephesians 4:12?
Question 2: Looking at Ephesians 4:7-10, what message are the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers supposed to proclaim that "equips" and "builds up the body of Christ"?
All believers are to have this same singular focus, that is, to become equipped for the work of gospel ministry. All believers are to “make disciples of all nations” with the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins and the transformation of lives. The gospel is “for building up the body of Christ.”
As a bodybuilder would use the components offered to him at the gym for “building up his body,” believers have been given the gospel–for building up the body of Christ. The church body must be built up before we are able to go out and reach the world. In other words, the gospel message must be firmly be taught and preached in the church before the church is able to take it into the world.
As we deliver this powerful message of the cross, God sees to it that more and more are added to the “body of Christ,” thereby building it up. We are not to be merely about “adding numbers,” but rather we are to be showing people that Jesus died for them, removed their sin from them, and therefore destroyed its power over them with His blood.
We want all people to see Jesus breathing out His last breath to give them His Spirit, taking their sin on Himself and dying, and cleansing them with His blood. In dying like this, Jesus is drawing all people out of darkness and into His marvelous light where they experience the power of His death and resurrection themselves, and begin to proclaim the excellencies of God.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Friend, Jesus first descended into death on the cross before being raised from the dead where He ascended on high to set captives free. "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men" (Ephesians 4:8). Jesus entered into this dark world, into the darkness of death to rescue you and bring you “into his marvelous light.”
“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,” Colossians 1:21-23
Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers were given the same message to preach, Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This message is a stumbling block to some, foolishness to others, but to those being saved—THE POWER OF GOD (1 Corinthians 1:18). The gospel is for the church!
Question 3: Are you a pastor, elder or church leader equipping your church members with the message of the cross? Are you a church member being equipped with the message of the cross? Please share your thoughts.
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Alex writes, "I’m a church member who is being equipped with the message of the cross and I count it a blessing to share this message with my family, the men in my church, and the men I mentor here in SCF. There is no other message, no other truth, that is more important. The message of the cross of Christ is needed now more than ever!"
Ann writes, "I know that God is changing my heart and mind preparing me beforehand for the works he had for me. Through His word and this teaching, I am realizing more fully that sharing the gospel is not so much about my testimony as it is telling people about Jesus, His life, His death and burial, and resurrection for us so that we can be set free. Thank you, Lord, for doing in my life what you are doing!"