THE CHRISTIANS'S RESPONSIBILITY PT 1

EPHESIANS 4:1-16

As we continue this walk, this journey through Ephesians – we see Paul’s Praise of God’s Work in Christ – his attempt to get us to understand God’s Power – as well as our new life in Christ and the inclusion of all of us Gentiles and reconciling of Jews and Gentiles to Himself.

The last half of the book is written to church on how to be IN the world – not OF the world. Distinctive living – set apart – It's all about application – how we live out our faith – how we apply God’s Word to our lives.

It's the day to day stuff we as believers deal with and how we deal with it – how we live out our faith.

This first section of chapter 4 we will be looking at Unity in the Body of Christ – it is our responsibility to be unified in Christ – not doctrinal issues or rituals but unified in Christ.

As our sermon series indicates we are looking at our identity and unity in Christ – we have been discussing the identity part not we really delve into the unity.

Let us pray!

The Christian’s Responsibility

EPHESIANS 4:1–16

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

I. THE COMMAND—vv. 1–8

1. Practicing—vv. 1–3

a. Action—v. 1 – I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

A direct translation from the Greek – would say prisoner in the Lord –

Are you a prisoner in the Lord – stripped of self and FULLY RELYING ON GOD?

Is your day controlled by the Lord – the Holy Spirit?

Not looking for Sympathy – calling us to be the same

Is the way you live your life – worthy to identify yourself as a Christian

Is God really the priority in your life

How you conduct business – is it distinctively different than the way non-believers conduct business?

It is the same calling Paul calls us to in Colossians 1:28

Colossians 1:28 – Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

I urge you – parakalō – exhort you, beg, entreat you beseech you,

Paul reiterates Ephesians 4:1 in Colossians 1:10

Colossians 1:10 – so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

We are OBLIGATED to live in a manner that is in accordance with what we say we believe

(Talk about Youth Group – challenge if Christianity was illegal)

We are called to action but we must have the right attitude

b. Attitude—v. 2 – with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

If we are obligated to live in a manner worthy of whose Name we praise we do it with and attitude of –

Humility – deep sense of one’s littleness – humbleness – counting others needs as more important than your own – OT virtue – Greek seen as a weakness

Gentleness – mildest disposition – gentle with our words, our actions being aware of the emotional needs of others

Patience – slowness is avenging wrongs, perseverance, steadfastness, endurance and forbearance – God towards us

Love – AGAPE – bearing one another with the same love that God has for us

c. Application—v. 3 – eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

it is through having a Christ-like attitude – that we can be led by the Holy Spirit –

Unity with Holy Spirit

Bond of peace – syndesmos – that which binds together

Peace is what holds us together – connecting us to the Holy Spirit – like ligaments in the body connecting muscles, bones, joints, organs

2. Parts—vv. 4–6 – There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

All are parts to Christ’s Body – there no denominational segregations –

1 Corinthians 3:4 – For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

v9 – For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

7 one’s – 7 perfect number representing God – the Trinity is in here

One body – the church – the theme of this letter – unity

One Spirit – the Holy Spirit

One Hope – one way to be saved – one way to the Father – one hope to the call – to live

One Lord – Jesus

One Faith –

One Baptism – when you choose to be baptized yourself – no one else can decide this for you

One God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all – Yahweh

3. Propensity—vv. 7–8 – But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

One Body – each part is important and we are all called to use the gifts He has given us.

We ALL have a part to play!

Part of Unity is to live out the gifts and use the gifts for God’s Glory

Body cannot function properly if another part of the body is not working

Paul quotes Psalm 68:18 – reminds people that Moses and others He gave them gifts

He still gives us gifts

II. THE CONDENSATION—vv. 9–16

1. Power—vv. 9–10 – (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Christ humbled Himself. Now He has ascended into heaven – has the highest glory

Descended – Some believe this relates to 1 Peter 3:19 and 4:6 where Peter talks about Jesus going and preaching to those in prison and those who died before His ministry on earth –

Most theologians believe this is talking about His death – and through His death He is glorified

Fill all things – He is in every aspect of creation, the cosmos etc

2. Plan—vv. 11–12 – And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

These gifts are to people – not as inclusive as in Romans 12 or 1 Corinthians 12 like we discussed last summer – but specific for the ministers of the Gospel – the building of the church and to help the church exercise their own gifts

Apostles – Apostles foundational – nowhere does Paul include us or the member of the church at Ephesus – most theologians agree – 1stcentury – seen Christ before or after the resurrection or walked with Christ – ceased with 1st generation Christians

Prophets – message from God – for the upbuilding, exhortation, encouragement, comfort

Used for instruction and teaching

Evangelists – only 3 scriptural references to this word here – Philip whose four daughters were prophets is referred to in Acts 21:8 and Timothy is called to do the work of an evangelists in 2 Timothy 4:5

Linked with pastors and teachers – most believe were in charge of planting churches were as teachers and pastors took over after the church plant was stable

Pastors (Shepherds) and teachers are linked – here by Paul – most believe two different duties for one job –

Shepherd – look after and take care of

Teacher – instruct and guide in Scripture, Christ, God, Holy Spirit etc

Paul ends this verse with verse 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

These gifts – given to specific people are to equip the saints for the work – to build up the body of Christ – to equip engage and encourage

3. Perfection—v. 13 – until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

To equip until...

Attain the unity of faith – do you think unity is important to God – how many times so far have we seen this

Why do we divide – I don’t like church over there because of the music

I don’t like the people that that church supports

I don’t trust pastors who don’t where a suit and tie when they preach

UNITY OF FAITH!

UNITY in the knowledge of the Son of God

To mature manhood – mature enough to not divide over petty stuff – not leave over hurt feelings

Mature in the faith – which is the measure of how full you are of Christ, the Holy Spirit

Maturity allows us to receive discipline along with blessings

4. Problem—v. 14 – so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Many easily led into false religions – even false versions of Christianity.

Maturity helps us recognize every wind of doctrine that comes blowing through that is not biblical

Jesus was tolerant

Jesus wasn’t judgmental

Jesus wants me happy

Jesus says my sin is not as bad as …

Maturity in faith, maturity in Christ wakens you to falsehoods and drives you in Scripture to help identify truth and human cunningness and deceitful schemes

Deceitful schemes – Greek is plane methodeia – wandering aimlessly through cunning craftiness and trickery – same verbiage as satan in the garden

Pastors – shepherds – teachers – cannot utilize these in their teaching -

5. Practice—vv. 15–16 – Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

As pastors shepherds teachers we must speak the truth in love

As Christians – followers in Christ we must speak the truth in love

Truth in love has no selfish motives – but only benefits the person being spoken to

We are to grow in every way – physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, economically, socially, and vocationally in Christ

The head is what makes the body work – artificial lungs, hearts, kidneys – no artificial brain – can live with no limbs – cannot live without a head

Cannot live – without Christ

When all joined to the head - all parts of the body should cooperate, in making it a success – it being the church