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What a beautiful description the Apostle Paul wrote regarding the church structure. Whilst the church is many members across the globe and over hundreds of generations, it is meant to ‘look like’ and ‘function as’ the spiritual body of Christ. When filled and led by the Holy Ghost, it is not just representative of its head but has been born again as the body of Christ. The rebirth of water and spirit foreshadowed by Jesus to Nicodemus (see John 3:5) is confirmed by Apostle Paul as the means to be a purposeful part of this body. Verse 13, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

He continues, with careful words, to ensure that the body values each part and works to remain unified so that it can be nourished and partake of blessings that come from connection to the head, Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Colossians 2:19, “And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.”

The universal church has access to the activity of the Holy Spirit in the gifts listed above. The Spirit requires cleansed hearts to work in as its dwelling place of the new temple. Paul lists those gifts, and we can revisit whether we are accessing the fullness of God’s gifts by checking their place within the church today. Do we receive ministering of the word (Priests/pastors/teachers)? Are the languages of the world all receiving the language of the Holy Spirit (Evangelists)? Do we hear the testimony of Jesus in the spirit of prophecy (Prophets)? Is the authority transferred in apostleship from Christ active in the church (Apostles)? Do we witness miracles and healings?

Paul’s statement that God set in place ‘first apostles’ does not just mean first in time. It also refers to first in authority for the church. His letter to the Ephesians confirms the purpose of the fullness of the fourfold ministries being in place until the body is complete, Ephesians 4:11-13, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

We pray that Paul’s vision of the church is something that we strive for in our words and actions. Ephesians 4:15-16, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”