So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11 – 13

Jesus Christ is building the church by supplying all that is necessary for its growth and development.  Here Paul lists them as apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers.  Their calling is to equip the entire church to serve all so that the body of Christ may be built up.  This is all God’s doing!  Our part is to recognize what God has already done and to cooperate with him in building the magnificent body of Christ on the earth.  If all followers of Jesus play their parts, wonderful things happen.  The opposite is true as well, if we believers do not bless others with the gifts that we received, listed above, then the body is weakened.

God is the giver.  We are that which he gives.  Our role is to do our parts until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  There is no greater calling!

Our responsibility is to strive to reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  As we review the history of the church, it might appear as a campaign to divide, to pull apart, to establish our own identities.  This must sadden the heart of Jesus.  Should we not bend every effort to do our parts to contribute to the fullness of Christ?

I note that Paul is not pressing all believers to strive to obtain a cultural unity but a unity that people in all cultures can embrace, the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, a unity that brings together believers no matter what their cultures.   That is spiritual maturity!