The letter to the Ephesians contains 3 great pictures of the church:
1 - The Church as a Building (Ephesians chapter 2)
2 - The Church as the Body (Ephesians chapter 4)
3 - The Church as the Bride (Ephesians chapter 5)
Each of these 3 pictures contains the secret of the strength of the church:
1 - The churches foundation in the apostles, prophets and Christ
2 - The church in Her unity of love, a strength in those personal connections 3 - The church in Her relationship with Christ
Each of these 3 pictures also indicates the means by which the church glorifies Christ!
1 - As the place of worship and praise - the temple
2 - In the character of Christ - in the body
3 - In the completion of God's work in sanctification
Here in the church God uses many to perfect the few in His work of Grace by gifts. Self sacrifice and the use of our gifts can at times feel like loss, but as we bless others in self sacrifical love, God so often prepares us to be blessed. The widow of Zarephath gave her very last handful of meal to Elijah only to receive back a blessing multiplied in the riasing of her son from death to life! In the picture of the church as the body of Christ, God demonstrates the uniqueness of His character as displayed in His people to the whole world, as He did in the Old Testament with Israel, a people separated from the world, distinct and holy, a testimony of Gods character to a fallen world.
Dr J Stewart Gillespie