Ephesians 4:15-16

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

(v15, NIV)

What does it mean to speak the truth in love? I have heard it explained as putting other people's needs before mine. For example, my need may be my need for someone else to like me or my need to cause as few arguments as possible. However, the need for the other person may be the need to hear the truth. They may need to be rebuked or need the care of a friend. Therefore, I may need to set aside the possibility that whatever I need to say may not be accepted so pleasantly, but they may need to hear it. This is only one example or one way in which we may need to speak the truth in love. Regardless, without love we are only a noisy gong or a clanging symbol.

The word 'instead' at the beginning of the verse refers to the previous verse. Verse 14 talks about no longer being infants and no longer being tossed to and fro by the waves of false doctrine. So instead of remaining children, we are to mature and grow up. Who we grow up to be is important as well. Some people grow up to be a certain type of person or into a certain job. Some people grow up to become carpenters, computer programmers, lawyers, janitors, and many other types of jobs. There are also different characteristics we grow into and grow out of. We may grow into a leader or a warrior or maybe someone humorous or someone serious. Instead of remaining as children, we are to grow up into Christ. This is who we aspire to grow up to be.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

(v16, NIV)

Christ is the head. If we are different parts of a body, Christ is the head. The head contains the brain and controls the rest of the body. As such, us mere body parts should submit ourselves to the will of the head and work together under the head. If we were to go about doing or own thing regardless of instruction given by the head, then the body cannot function properly. If we grow up into Christ, he grows the entire body; because it is from him that the whole body grows and builds itself up in love.