Ephesians (lesson 7) Unified Body of Christ

August 5–11, 2023

Ephesians 4

We have been studying so far the first three chapters of Ephesians. 

In chapter one and chapter two, Paul reminded Ephesians and us about the truth as it is in Christ, the means of our salvation. 

In Ephesians, he doesn’t present the whole truth of the salvation in Christ because he preached it to Ephesians repeatedly when he lived in Ephesus for a few years. So, if you want to know more about it go to chapter 5 of the book of Romans 12-21.

Then, in chapter three, the key theme is the unconditional love of God that is the ground of our salvation.

Having reminded them of the gospel he preached to them, Paul now turns, what he usually does at the end of all his epistles, to Christian living. 

And chapters four, five, and six are dealing with how the gospel transforms our lives.  How Christians, justified by faith in Jesus Christ, should live.

In chapter four of Ephesians and the first six verses, Paul is expounding to his readers the effect that the gospel produces in terms of the relationship between believers. 

SUNDAY, August 6 The Unity of the Spirit Ephesians 4:1

How does Paul encourage believers to promote the unity of the church?

PRISONER Eph 4:1

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord...”

What example does Paul give us to follow in order to promote unity?

Paul tells us here that in order to be a united body of Christ we must follow his example by becoming prisoners of Christ.

What does it mean to be a prisoner of Christ?

It means to surrender all to Jesus, to fall in love with Him to such an extent that we are willing to forget about our own will and obey only Christ’s will.

Why there are divisions among us and why we are not the perfectly united body of Christ?

Because only some of us are controlled by HS because only some of us are willing to surrender all and become prisoners of Christ.

Can I surrender all using my own willpower and become a prisoner of Christ?

No.

Who is the only One who can make me a prisoner of Christ?

Only Holy Spirit can do it.

Solution?

I wake up every morning between midnight and 6 am and fervently pray for one to two hours, praising God, humbly asking for forgiveness, surrendering all, asking for HS to make me Lord's prisoner, and praising God for making me one, before I see the results.

Can I notice any difference after a few months of praying like that?

Yes, a big difference.

Does it mean that I'm already a prisoner of Christ like Paul was?

No, far from being as dedicated as Paul, because it is a lifetime process and I just started a few months ago.

But I already know that the Lord forgave me, works in me and through me, gives me peace that surpasses all understanding and He will continue this process and make constant progress if I keep on praying like that surrendering all to Him.

Eph 4:1 again

“WORTHY OF THE CALLING”

In Eph 4:1, Paul also invites you to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Eph. 4:1).

What is our calling? What did God call us to be?

God called us to be His special sons and daughters filled with His Spirit.

How much God paid to make us His Children?

2Cor 5:21

What does it mean to live a life worthy of God’s calling?

“Saving Private Ryan”

“Saving Private Ryan” movie: You must be worthy!

‌Based on a true story that took place in WW2.

American mother already lost 5 sons in Europe. The last and youngest one was still alive. So the president gave orders to save him and bring him back home.

While saving him 3 soldiers died and finally the captain (Tom Hanks) was shot and while dying said to that private Ryan: "Make it worth it."

‌And at the end of the movie as the old private Ryan came to the graveyard and stood at the grave of that captain who died for him, with tears in his eyes he said that for all his life he did his best to be a good man and he asked his wife to confirm it which she did.

‌Please notice that only after the captain saved that soldier he asked him to make it worth it.

‌And also Lord Jesus first saves us and then asks us to live a life worthy of His sufferings and death. Apart from that He also gives us power to do it.

Philippians 1:27

“Only let your conduct (the way of life) be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, ... you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”.

WALK

In Eph 4:1 Paul uses another important word:

The verb walk (“walk worthy of the calling”)

What is the meaning of “walking” in Paul's writings?

Galatians 5:16

“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

It is extremally important because walking in Spirit means victory over sin!

Romans 8:13

“For if you live (walk) according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

We are not saved by living by the Spirit but if we don't it means we don't truly accept the salvation gift and believe.

“Walking” refers to living by the power of the Spirit received by asking with faith.

5 VALUES (VIRTUES)

According to Eph. 4:2-3 what 5 values do we need in order to be a united body of Christ?

humility, gentleness (kindness), patience, love and peace

How can we possess these virtues?

The first 3 virtues are included in agape love.

How do we get agape love?

Rom 5:5

We receive agape with HS.

How do we get HS?

Gal 3:2

How do we get peace?

Rom 5:1

How all these virtues can be ours?

The same way as our Master, by constant fervent prayers, by surrendering all to God, by being totally dependent on God, by walking by the Spirit.

Jesus - perfect example…

He emptied Himself (Phil 2:7), came in the likeness of sinful flesh and was made like Abraham's descendants in every way,

Yet He was perfectly humble and patient when persecuted, bitten, ridiculed, accused, and crucified. He was always gentle (kind) in dealing with sinners. Always told the truth with love.

And finally, He loved us sinners so much that He became a sin and a curse for us.

Now Christ wants to repeat the same in us:

John 15:5

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides (remains) in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit (is humble, gentle and patient) ; for without Me you can do nothing.

HUMAN BODY - SYMBOL OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

In Eph 4:16 and in some other letters, Paul uses the human body as an illustration of the members of the church as the body of Christ.

And, what is the key point in this illustration?

In a healthy human body, all parts, organs and systems are cooperating with one another for the common good and health of the entire body.

But in order to maintain such harmony every organ and system must be submissive to the control centre, the brain.

The same is true in the body of Christ, His Church. In a healthy Church, the members must be united supporting, loving and cooperating with one another.

But in order to maintain this harmony, all members must surrender and obey Christ - the Head of the Church, who guides the Church through His Spirit.

ELLEN WHITE

“A union of believers with Christ will as a natural result lead to a union with one another... We are one in Christ, as Christ is one with the Father.

It is only by personal union with Christ, by communion with Him daily, hourly, that we can bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit.“ — God’s Amazing Grace, p. 211.

COPING WITH ENEMIES

Does the human body have to cope with enemies that constantly attack and try to kill it?

Yes. Our body is attacked from outside by viruses, pathogenic bacteria, and toxins. And from inside, it is attacked by its own abnormal cells that become cancer cells - the body's own enemies.

How does the body defend itself against those enemies?

The body does it through the immune system controlled by the nervous system.

Does the Church - the body of Christ have to cope with external and internal enemies that constantly attack and try to destroy her?

Yes. All the individual members and the Church as a body of Christ are constantly attacked from outside by Satan and the army of evil angels or people inspired by them. It is also attacked internally by its own unconverted members who become like cancer cells. Even among the 12 disciples of Jesus, there was one that was inspired by the enemy.

How the body of Christ defends itself against those enemies?

What is the immune system of the Church?

How does Lord Jesus defend His Body against enemies?

He does it by Holy Spirit (available only for those of us who are born from HS and who fervently ask for HS every day), His Word and His angels.

Is there anything we can and must do to help our immune system to protect our physical bodies against viruses or cancer cells?

Yes, what is it?

Healthy lifestyle, plant-based unrefined diet, avoiding sugar, cheese, pizza, and animal foods, garlic onion, raw veggies, Black seed oil, supplemental Vitamin D3, magnesium, selenium, zinc, quercetin, and water treatments, and laughter exercises.

Is there anything we can and must do to help our spiritual immune system protect the body of Christ (the Church) against spiritual viruses (evil angels) or spiritual cancer cells (our own members controlled by the enemy)?

Yes, what is it?

1Thess 5:17

“Pray without ceasing”

What does it mean?

Short prayers won’t work - my example (I can’t see any difference when I pray short superficial prayers)

Pray for o another but we must be specific and pray for individual members mentioning their individual names.

Every morning I pray for the Harrow Church mentioning the individual names of the members I know, including you. And I hope you are praying for me every day mentioning my name which is Slawek and for my beloved wife - Nosipo.

Ellen White

“We must be much in prayer if we would make progress in the divine life.”

„Satan knows that all whom he can lead to neglect prayer and the searching of the Word of God will be overcome by his attacks. Therefore, he invents every possible device to engross the mind.”

What does the enemy do to keep us away from true prayers and the Bible?

He does his best to make our minds interested in everything except prayer and the Bible.

Rom 8

Please notice that there is a constant ongoing war between Holy Spirit and Satan (who uses our flesh) over what?

The war over our mind?

Romans 8:5–6

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

PERFECT UNITY POSSIBLE NOW?

Is perfect unity in the body of Christ possible now?

No.

It will be during persecution, but not now.

Why?

Because there are among us members that are not born of the Holy Spirit, who don't surrender their lives to Jesus and who are controlled by the enemy.

And what is Satan’s obvious strategy?

To place in God’s Church false Christians who look holy and are active but are controlled by him and to do what?

To oppose the truth of the gospel or to introduce false doctrines and to cause divisions in this way.

EXAMPLE of opposition to God’s truth from history?

1888 message - Waggoner said the law in Romans 7:4 and Gal 3:25 was the moral law. The majority of leaders and delegates opposed the truth by claiming that it was ceremonial law. They kept on doing it even after Ellen White confirmed that Waggoner was right. It caused division.

Even when we still have a different understanding of certain truths we can talk with love and pray and find a common language because we are led by the same Spirit.

Example: Last Sabbath we had a guest preacher. When I listened to him all he said was true we deceive ourselves that we will be saved in spite of living in sin and playing Church, but I felt that there was something more important missing in his sermon, the gospel of freedom.

Apostle Paul also states in Rom 8:13 that if we live according to the flesh we will die. But is this the only truth he proclaimed? No, first he gives the wonderful freedom from the condemnation of the law Rom 6:14; Rom 7:6 and after that, he warns us that if we after accepting our freedom in Christ do not surrender and walk by the Spirit but condone and indulge sin in our life we will die because God doesn't save us in sin but from sin.

And after the sermon, the Lord made that brother sit opposite me and talked. And I shared with him my understanding of the gospel to make sure we have the same view. And when I quoted Rom 7:6 he said that Paul meant ceremonial, not moral law.

… Not ceremonial but moral law that condemned us and marriage example. Also, Spirit of Prophecy supported Waggoner in 1888 by saying that the law in Gal 3:24 is especially the moral law...

He didn't oppose it because he is led by HS.

Try to proclaim the true gospel as it was preached by Paul in God's church and I can guarantee you that sooner or later you will meet opposition. If you don't, it means you proclaim the evangelical gospel and satan doesn't care...

Divisions can be triggered also by our own cancer cells that attack the true doctrines or introduce false ideas.

EXAMPLES:

Canright and Ballenger

Dr Kellog - pantheistic ideas

Conradi caused big division in Europe

In most cases, they attacked the sanctuary message, the spirit if prophecy and Sabbath.

EGW Notes — SUNDAY

“It is not the opposition of the world that endangers us the most; it is the evil cherished in the hearts of professed believers that works our most grievous disaster. . . .

In order to be united, “we must place ourselves under Christ’s command.” —Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 242.

MONDAY, August 7 Together as One in the One

Col 3:1-3 Paul explains here the meaning of this title:

1. Since YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST (he repeats the same as in Eph 2:5-6), set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (surrender your minds to HS completely and seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness).

3. For YOU DIED (aorist = died in Christ, same as Rom 6:6), and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

What is the secret of our unity with Christ and the foundation of our unity as the body of Christ?

We must accept that God placed us in Christ 2000 years ago. And therefore we were perfect in Him. We died with Him. We resurrected together with Him and are now in heavenly places in Him.

Therefore we are to stop thinking and worrying about things of this world but think about Jesus, love Him and surrender our minds completely to Him through HS.

Why?

Because we died with Him and we are not under low but we are married to Christ, are one with Him and because He is our holiness and we are hidden with Him in God.

Eph 4:4-6

What seven aspects of unity does Paul list in Eph 4:4-6 to encourage us to be united?

1. There is one body (one true Church of Christ)

Rev 12:17 (true Church keep God’s commandments, including Sabbath, and hold fast to the testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophecy, Rev 19:10)

Isaiah 4:1

“And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying,

‘We will eat our own bread and wear our own apparel;

Only let us be called by your name,

To take away our reproach’.”

Eph 4:6

2. one Spirit (Holy Spirit)

If we all are born from HS by faith in Jesus, and we surrender our minds to the same HS, and if we live by the same HS, we can be united.

Can members of the Church have a spirit that is not of God?

Yes, if we are not born of HS and if we don't surrender our minds to HS.

1John 4:3

3. just as you were called in one hope of your calling (to be followers of Christ and God’s holy sons and daughters)

4. one Lord (only Jesus Christ, nothing else)

5. one faith (faith in Jesus, one justification which is only by faith not by works, one faith is the faith of Jesus, and it is faith in all the truths revealed in the Bible)

6. one baptism (true baptism into Jesus and into His death Rom 6:3-4 - funeral of our old self that died with Christ)

7. one God (God revealed in the Bible) and Father of all

who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

TUESDAY August 8 The Exalted Christ, Giver of Gifts

Eph 4:7-12

What is happening here, and what is Paul’s point in these verses?

7. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

8. Therefore it says,

“WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,

HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES,

AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.”

9. (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Jesus’ descent to the earth is another way of referring to the incarnation.

It means that the incarnation of Christ is the foundation of the gifts. Without taking our nature Christ wouldn't have the right to save us nor give us back HS and agape we lost in Eden.

10. He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

What does it mean?

Feeling all believers with what?

By saying “feeling all” (believers) Paul must have meant “feeling all” believers with “gifts” because before and after this phrase He talks about “gifts”.

And the greatest two gifts Christ fills believers with is HS and Agape:

Rom 5:5

Now he lists some of the gifts that come with HS:

11. And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

And finally, Paul explains the reason Christ gave us the gifts:

12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Paul simply states here that Christ not only saved us from sin and eternal death but now He also blesses us believers with the most precious gifts that enable us to serve Him and humanity.

EGW Notes — TUESDAY

"Not until through faith and prayer the disciples had surrendered themselves fully for His working was the outpouring of the Spirit received...

The gifts are already ours in Christ, but their actual possession depends upon our reception of the Spirit of God.” —Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 327

WEDNESDAY August 9 Gifts of the Exalted Jesus What “gifts” does Jesus give, and for what purpose?

Eph. 4:11–13

Paul identifies four groups of “gifted” people as part of the treasure trove of the exalted Jesus that He gives to His church:

(1) apostles - refers to the 12 apostles called by Jesus

(2) prophets - that includes also the Spirit of Prophecy. Is the SoP Christ’s gift? Yes

Revelation 12:17 (NKJV)

“And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

NIV: “hold fast”

Do we hold fast the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy (Rev 10:19)?

(3) evangelists (all of us are called to be evangelists which refer to the task all of us are called, to proclaim the good news).

(4) shepherds (ESV) (pastors)

(5) teachers (all Christians are called to be teachers).

Christ gives these gifts to accomplish important work:

“to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12, ESV)

and “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” (Eph. 4:13).

What God has given us in the ministry of Ellen G. White?

EGW Notes — WEDNESDAY

“There are some in these last days who will cry: ‘Speak unto us smooth things,' But this is not my work. . . . In the name and strength of my Redeemer, I shall warn and counsel and reprove and encourage as the Spirit of God dictates, whether men will hear or no. My duty is not to please myself, but to do the will of my heavenly Father, who has given me my work.” —Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 231.

THURSDAY, August 10 Growing Up Into Christ What danger threatens the Christlike maturity of the church?

Ephesians 4:14 (NKJV)

"We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine (“deceitful schemes”, ESV) , by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”

What is the key cause we are deceived by false doctrines?

1. The Christian immaturity, of remaining children or babies in faith even though we are Christians for years and decades. We never learn to walk by the Spirit.

2. We do not pray and study by ourselves but trust others for interpretation.

What are some of the “winds of doctrine” blowing through our church today, and how can we stand firm against them?

EXAMPLES

A sister sent me an audio message and tried to convince me that Christ and HS are not divine and that trinity worship was practised by some pagan religions.

So I answered that I know that the trinity idea can be found in some pagan religions and in Catholicism, but this doesn’t prove anything because Satan makes counterfeits of various biblical truths, including the Trinity. The dragon (Satan), the beast from the sea (papal Rome) and the false prophet (corrupt US government and fallen Protestantism) from Revelation 13, are the evil triune counterfeit of the divine Trinity. No wonder this concept can be found in some pagan religions.

The Bible doesn’t use the word “Trinity” but the idea of the three divine Persons (triune God) and the plurality of God appears in the Word of God many times. “In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col 2:9). Similarly, there is no reason to doubt that Holy Spirit is a divine Person.

It is also true that some of the Adventist pioneers initially rejected the Trinity doctrine (due to their Arian roots), but Ellen White corrected them. For instance, M. L. Andreasen (one of the leading SDA theologians) didn’t believe in the Trinity. However, after he found in The Desire of Ages and other writings what Ellen White wrote on this subject, he changed his view. Initially, he questioned whether Ellen White had actually written some of her statements in The Desire of Ages and other books. But when he spent three months studying the original manuscripts, he was convinced of the accuracy of her published position. At the end of this article, I have included an interesting account of the progress of the Trinity doctrine in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Desmond Ford attacked the truth about the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and investigative judgement. Was it difficult to defend the truth? No. But satan managed to cause division in the Church and deceive many because people don't study by themselves and do pray and are deprived of HS.

In the 1950s satan managed to cause huge division in our Church by introducing the book Questions on Doctrine which changed our position on the humanity of Christ.

We must be sure we are born from HS and live by the Spirit and study the Word with HS as otherwise we may reject or even attack God's truth which is extremely dangerous.

Ellen White:

“My message to you is this: No longer consent to listen without protest to the perversion of truth.” Special Testimonies” (Series B, No. 2, p. 15)

So, we are to do our best to promote unity and love in Christ’s Church by making sure we are born from the Spirit and by living by the Spirit.

But, we are not to maintain unity by accepting false ideas or by being quiet when the truth is perverted.

Not only we are to reject false teachings but God expects us to be brave and disclose them no matter what are the consequences.

In what ways does a healthy church function like a healthy body?

Ephesians 4:15–16

“but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

EGW QUOTES

“Jesus Himself, in His infinite mercy, is working on human hearts, effecting spiritual transformations so amazing that angels look on with astonishment and joy. The same unselfish love that characterises the Master is seen in the character and life of His true followers.” —Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 731.

“Many know so little about their Bibles that they are unsettled in the faith… There needs to be much more prayer.” —Evangelism, pp. 362, 363.

“Few pray all night, as did our Saviour, or devote hours in the day to prayer.”

“There can be no growth or fruitfulness in the life that is centered in self. . . .

By every means in your power seek to save the lost.

As you receive the Spirit of Christ—the Spirit of unselfish love and labor for others—you will grow and bring forth fruit.” Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 67

EGW Notes — SATURDAY

“No member of the Lord’s firm can work successfully in independence, detached from the others.

Each is to work under the supervision of God.

By Christ’s wonderful union of divinity with humanity, we are assured that even in this world we may be partakers of the divine nature.” Our High Calling, p. 182.

Why we, saved by grace sinners, can be partakers of divine nature?

Only because Christ who is divine was partaker of our representative sinful nature.

“We are to be God’s thread to work out His design.” —That I May Know Him, p. 323.

“There can be no growth or fruitfulness in the life that is centered in self. . . .

By every means in your power seek to save the lost.

As you receive the Spirit of Christ—the Spirit of unselfish love and labor for others—you will grow and bring forth fruit.” Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 67