In Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul drew an analogy between the ...

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an outright denominational concept. To preach that one
who is "in Christ" is in the body of Christ, the church, is
offensive to many. Their limited understanding of what
the church is and its true relationship to Christ, causes
them to view such preaching as too narrow and restrictive.
Second and third generations of church members,
who did not have to struggle their way out of denominational
creeds and loyalties, have become what they are,
many times, more out of tradition that clear understanding
and deep conviction.
The book of Ephesians is good medicine for all such
ills. In this grand treatise, the apostle Paul transports us
to the inner chambers of the divine purpose and planning
of the Almighty "before the foundation of the
world," thence to the earthly scene of blood sacrifice,
then to the elevation of the Son of God to the right hand
of Majesty and the possession of authority over things
visible and invisible and headship over all things to the
church, which is his body. From that vantage point, his
reign of grace in the hearts of men is presented as it
blends the previously discordant elements of Jew and
Gentile into one body by the cross and rears the majestic
holy temple in the Lord for the habitation of God through
the Spirit. Such wondrous prospects for alienated
humanity explains the urgency of gospel preaching as
presented in chapter three. All men must have opportunity
to be "partakers of his promise in Christ by the
gospel." This work must be done so that Christ may
dwell in our hearts by faith and that we might be filled
with all the fulness of God. We are then shown how God
made every provision necessary for this body to exist and
function according to divine wisdom to the end that the
saved might be edified and developed to their maximum
potential in Christ. Such a noble calling is not without
price. We must reject the vanity of human wisdom and
order life and its pursuits according to God's purpose for
us. There is a continuing walk before him. Even the
varied relationships of social life must be ordered according
to his will. In all of this, Satan will oppose us and
we must arm ourselves with the whole panoply of god in
order to "withstand in the evil day."
I do not believe that one can hold to the common
notions about the church which are so pervasive in
denominational circles, and even among the irreligious,
when the book of Ephesians is clearly understood. And
it is mandatory that those within the church maintain
sharp and clear understanding on this vital theme.
Concerning Christ
The coming of Jesus Christ into the world in the
"dispensation of the fulness of times" summed up the
divine and human. The "Word" which was "with" God
and which "was" God (Jno. 1:1), "became flesh" and dwelt
"among us" (Jno. 1:14). This enabled mankind to "behold
his glory." All the attributes of Deity were in him and he
demonstrated them in the world before witnesses who
testified as to what they saw and heard (1 Jno. 1:1 -3). He
was not only "the Word," he was the Messiah of Old
Testament expectation. He was the seed of Abraham,
the root of Jesse, the son of David, the Sun of righteousness
with healing in his wings. He is the central figure
of all human history. The world cannot ignore him. To
those who believe, he is precious, while to the unbeliev-
ing he is a "stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." His
life, death and resurrection summed up the divine plan
of the ages and brought earthly fulfillment to heavenly
purpose. There is no salvation apart from him.
In Ephesians, Christ is the location of spiritual blessings,
the object of God's choice in salvation, the means of
our adoption into the family of God, our redemption from
sin, the means of our inheritance, the head over all
things to the church, our means of peace with God, the
chief corner stone of our spiritual edifice, the provider of
every necessary function for the church and its work,
and the motive power for us to walk in love. He is our
everything.
Concerning the Church
But Ephesians inseparably connects Christ and the
church. The church is "his body, the fulness of him that
filleth all in all" (1:23). The fulness of the Godhead was
in Christ (Col. 2:9). Even so, the fulness of Christ is the
church. Whatever spiritual blessings are offered to the