Ephesians Week 8 - Unity in the Body

Week 8

Ephesians 4:1–16 ESV

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, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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, 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. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 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.

Unity of the Body of Christ.

Paul now turns to exhortation (with three subsections in vv. 1–6, 7–10, and 11–16) based upon the truths he has been teaching

A common format for his letters, in which doctrinal truths are stated first (here, chs. 1–3), then application to life is built on that doctrine (chs. 4–6)

The exhortations of Scripture become empty moralism without this gospel foundation

Breakdown of VS. 1-16

VS. 1-3

Paul starts chapter 4 by urging the reader to walk in a manner that Christ has called them to walk

That they should show humility, gentleness, and patience

And peace should be what bonds them together

VS. 4-6

Paul now states some things that as Christians we should all believe

One body - church

One Spirit - Holy Spirit

One Lord - Jesus

One faith - in Jesus

One baptism - showing our allegiance to Christ

One God - God (Jehovah)

These are all things that you should believe

VS. 7-10

Paul is quoting Psalm 68:18 “18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.”

This is done to show how Jesus defeated evil when he was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven

The descent that Paul describes is that of Jesus dying

One cannot be raised if He didn’t first die

VS. 11-14

Paul then points out how Jesus has given every believer Pastors to help shepherd them

To teach them about Jesus

Show them the way to live a biblical life

So that they may no longer be children - and will not be tossed by every kind of thing people say about God

VS. 15-16

Instead of believing every little thing, we are to grow by truth in love

We are to grow closer to Christ who is the head of all things

If we are connected with Christ, we will grow in love for people

Questions

What questions do you have from Ephesians 4:1-16?

Paul mentions that the believers should walk in a manner worthy of their calling. Have you ever thought about the calling God has for you? What steps are you taking to walk in that calling?

Paul mentions the basic tenants of the Christian faith in VS. 4-6. Why is it important that all believers hold to these same truths?

What is the importance of Jesus’ descension onto earth? What is the importance of Jesus’ ascension into Heaven?

Paul mentions that we should not be tossed by every form of doctrine. What steps are you taking to grow firm in your faith?