Ephesians 4 Part 1

ADDRESS THE SPEAKING IN TONGUES LAST SUNDAY.

Good Morning LC!

Today we jump back into Ephesians.

We will do a review of the first 3 chapters

For the sake of time we will then look at EPHESIANS 4 1-6

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OVERVIEW AS A REMINDER OF CHAPTERS 1-3

Ephesians 1-3 is Paul’s theological treaty on what God has done for all people, in all places, from the cross until his coming again.

CHAPTER 1

Paul writing to a diverse church in Ephesus made of Jews and Gentiles, declares an inclusive Gospel.

At this point all religions are local and defined by tribal and geographical gods.

The Christian message is Yahweh is God of all people and through Jesus, all people can be saved.

It is a message that is both exclusive and inclusive.

Exclusive - Only one way. Inclusive - all are welcome.

God chose us – Jew and gentile before the foundation of the world

He predetermined to adopt us all – Jew and gentiles through Jesus

We Jews and Gentiles are redeemed bought from slavery from sin and death through the blood of Jesus.

We are introduced to the concept of the “Mystery of the Gospel”.

Finally Paul, declares that the risen Jesus has been placed far above all authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but the age to come.

CHAPTER 2

Paul after sharing the Gospel of Jesus declares we the human race have all started in the same position

dead in our sins, subject the spirit of the age, which is a manifestation of the Demonic Principalities and powers. We Jew and Gentile were all by nature children of wrath.

And being we – all humans from all nations and people groups start in the same dreadful place, we are all likewise rescued by the same rich mercy of God through Jesus and have all been raised up with Jesus above the spirit of the age.

This is all a gift of God that we receive by faith and not something we can obtain on our own right or in our own goodness.

CHAPTER 3

Now Paul gets to the meat of what the mystery of the Gospel is, that he mentioned in chapter 1.

Ephesians 3:6–7 NASB95

to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

PAUL IS ADDRESSING A CHURCH THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE UNIFIED BUT ARE BEING DIVIDED BY RACE AND CULTURE.

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The central theme of this Book is the Mystery of the Gospel!

That mystery is how the Good news of Jesus not only unites humanity to God the Father as children of God but reconciles and unites us of diverse cultures, languages, history, and demographics as brothers and sisters – a new multi-ethnic family!

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THE UNIFICATION TO ONE ANOTHER COMES BY

1. Recognizing we all start in the same place – children of wrath in slaved to our sin and to the Zeitgeist or spirit of the age which is a false god and demonic power known as the spirit of the Antichrist.

2. Recognizing we have all been redeemed in the same manner, through the redemption of Jesus through His shed blood on our behalf to purchase us out of sin, death, and slavery to the spiritual powers.

3. Finally, to recognize that we all (all believers in all times and in all places, under different settings and cultures) are raised up with Jesus and seated with Him above all powers, dominions, names, and spiritual forces who try to enslave us in sin.

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ALRIGHT, NOW WE ARE READY FOR EPHESIANS 4 -

TURN WITH ME TO

Ephesians 4:1–6 NASB95

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

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PAUL STARTS BY INDIRECTLY ADDRESSING RADICAL INDIVIDUALISM.

“Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord!”

1 Corinthians 11:1 NASB95

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

You are and individual but you are not an authority unto yourself.

We were created in a hierarchy - always to be under the government and wisdom of God.

Eating the fruit in Gen 1 was a rebellious act of trying to be our own authority.

Scripture is clear, we are all under a higher authority than ourselves.

Romans 6:20–22 NASB95

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

You are either a slave of Christ or a slave of the Principalities and demonic spiritual realities.

Radical individuality tears at the fabric of unity.

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I IMPLORE YOU TO WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF YOUR CALLING.

Being that you have been rescued by God through Jesus, I beg you to live as sons and daughters of God! Live with one another as God had always intended.

4 GRACES OF THE NEW AND FREE LIFE IN CHRIST. Our Royal Code.

These codes of conduct are graces of God which were deposited in you when the HS moved into you.

Humility -

A life like that of Jesus

Matthew 11:29 NASB95

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Our humility to one another is to be His flowing through us.

We are to treat each other as more important than ourselves.

Philippians 2:3–4 NASB95

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Gentleness -

Again, gentleness is a characteristic of Christ that flows to you from the HS.

Gentleness is the position we take to a brother or sister who has fallen in sin.

Galatians 6:1–2 NASB95

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

2 Timothy 2:25 NASB95

with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

When we are sinned against by a brother do we demand a pound of flesh?

Or do we react to one another in gentleness as Jesus has towards each of us?

This is not weakness but a strength that is able to waive our own right for the sake of the other.

Patience or Long Suffering

This grace of Jesus empowers us to forgive 70x7

Genesis 4:23–24 NASB95

Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, Listen to my voice, You wives of Lamech, Give heed to my speech, For I have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me; If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

Matthew 18:21–22 NASB95

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

PATIENCE AND LONG SUFFERING CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF REDEMPTION.

It empowers us to love when others would give up and demand retribution.

Again, this is the longsuffering of God towards His people flowing through us.

1 Corinthians 13:4 NASB95

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,

You will never make disciples of Jesus if you do not walk in the grace of Patience and Long suffering.

Showing tolerance for one another in love.

The idea of tolerance here is to have mutual forbearance.

The practical expression of patience.

We bear with one another’s weaknesses and failures in the midst of tensions and conflicts, showing a lifestyle that is consistent with Jesus.

Conflict will happen, tensions will arise, but I will not give up on us as brothers and sisters in Christ.

WHEN WE LIVE THESE GRACES OUT WE ARE!

Diligently preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

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NOW PAUL GIVES US HIS THEOLOGICAL REASONING FOR THIS.

WHY SHOULD I LIVE THIS WAY?

Ephesians 4:4–6 NASB95

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

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CONCLUSION:

God has redeemed us from our false gods, the spirit of the age, sin, and death.

He has made us sons and daughters to Him - We are children of the star breathing KING!

And as children we are to become like our Father!

When we live out His Gifts of Grace

Humility / Gentleness / Patience / Forbearance.

We reflect the Glory of God for all the world to see.

Our lives become a sacrifice of Worship and Praise!

All families fight but the Family of God is to fight for one another not against one another.

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