NOTES for Eph 4:11-13
For the apostle, every ministry in the Church is above all the building up of the Body of Christ. Belonging to the Church does not mean belonging to a structure or even to a particular church community, or at least not merely formal membership. It means first of all being included in the relationship between the Father and the Son that creates the Kingdom and opens it to every seeker. Throughout the ages, those seeking God tried in many different ways to establish a living relationship with Him. Sometimes they succeeded in something, but more often they did not. Now, after Christ has come, our relationship with God must be established together with Him - at least if we are Christians.
From this perspective Paul calls his brothers in Ephesus to view everything they do as Christians and members of the Church. This is not a matter of formal discipline or of having every action and ministry approved by some "senior leaders." The question is whether the person carrying out a ministry is aware of their direct relationship with Christ. There are many good and useful works. The only question is whether Christ has given grace specifically to us for the work we are doing at this moment. Today we are probably more accustomed to seeing grace as a kind of spiritual energy with which God strengthens us through Jesus Christ, giving us power for all the good works that occur to us and that we consider good - or simply for a pious life, which is also a good thing.
Paul connects grace with a specific commission given by Christ within the spiritual process of building the Kingdom and of forming and strengthening His relationship with the Father. Such are all Christ's gifts, and grace is given in proportion to the gift, providing the strength to put it into practice and unfold the possibilities Christ has given. Belonging to the Church means that a Christian's life and activity are directly included in the building of the Kingdom as the relationship between the Father and the Son grows and is strengthened. The person who enters and participates in this relationship is also changed, transformed, and made an inhabitant of the Kingdom. In this way the Church becomes the Body of Christ, full of love and life.