Ephesians 4 Prt 2: Unity in and through our diversity.

Introduction:

Good Morning Life church.

Turn with me to

Ephesians 2:13–16 NASB95

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.

Jesus has destroyed the walls that separate humanity.

Now both Jews and gentiles, every ethnic group, and every tongue under the sun has been united in Jesus,

A new humanity unified in Jesus with a beauty of diversity.

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LAST WEEK:

As a new kind of humanity, sons and daughters of the creator King, we have become the household of God!

Paul wrote that we must now live in a manner of this calling.

A unified manner.

A life where we live for our brothers and sisters before we live for ourselves.

A life of Humility, gentleness, patience, and longsuffering towards all the household of God.

We are to be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in a bond of Peace.

————————————————- PAUL NOW TURNS HIS FOCUSS FROM THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH TO, HOW JESUS USES THE DIVERSITY OF THE CHURCH TO BRING UNITY AND MATURITY.

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WE WILL READ EPH - 4-7-16

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LETS BREAK THIS DOWN INTO SMALLER SECTIONS AND SEE WHAT PAUL IS TEACHING.

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Ephesians 4:7 NASB95

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

Ephesians 4:7 NLT

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

WHO HAS GIVEN THE GIFTS OF GRACE? JESUS!

AND WHO HAS HE GIVEN THEM TOO?

EACH ONE OF US.

Paul speaking on this same concept to the church in Corinth wrote;

1 Corinthians 12:7 NASB95

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:11 NASB95

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

JESUS BUILDS HIS CHURCH THROUGH HIS GIFTS TO THE CHURCH.

Every believer in Jesus is given graces to build the church.

No one misses out - Jesus distributes special gifts to each individual to build up His church.

JESUS BUILDS UNITY AND MATURITY IN THE CHURCH THROUGH HIS GIFTS IN INDIVIDUALS.

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PAUL CONTINUES 8-10

Ephesians 4:8–10 NASB95

Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.” (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

Paul Quote from PSA

Psalm 68:18 NASB95

You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that the Lord God may dwell there.

Reference to Numbers- 8 & 18

TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PAUL IS TRYING TO SAY ABOUT JESUS, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE REFERENCE AND SCRIPTURAL CONTEXT.

PSA 68 - IS SPEAKING ABOUT NUMBERS IN A POETIC WAY.

GOD led the Hebrews out of slavery to Egypt -

He ascended to Mt Zion where he gave the law to Moses.

Israel gave to God select men from the tribe of Levi to serve Him.

God recieved their gift and gave them back to Israel as mediators between Himself and them in worship.

SO WHAT IS PAUL SAYING ABOUT JESUS?

Paul sees Jesus as the final savior who rescues all people from all nations from Satan, death, and the principalities.

He died to ransom us from slavery.

Resurrected to give us new life and eternal life.

And ascended the highest of mountains - he now sets at the right hand of God.

Ephesians 1:19–22 NLT

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.

As exalted King we give ourselves to Him as a gift.

In return He gives us back as individuals filled with His Spirit to the Church.

Jesus then distributes His gifts of grace to each of us by His Spirit for the building of His Church.

Every individual believer in Jesus belongs to Jesus.

Every individual believer has been gifted by Jesus and placed in the Church.

You are His gift to the Church and each of us are gifted in specific ways to build and encourage His Church.

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Now in verse 11 Paul lists a few specific gifts of Jesus given to the Church.

Ephesians 4:11 NASB95

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

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WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE GIFTS OF CHRIST TO THE CHURCH?

Ephesians 4:12–16 NASB95

for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

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CONCLUSION:

Jesus purchased individuals from slavery to sin, death, spiritual principalities.

He placed these individuals into a new community known as the body of Christ - The Church.

He has unified them in himself making a new kind of humanity.

A humanity not shaped by Adam and his sin but by Christ and His Perfect, Holy, Love.

And each individual of this new family, Jesus gives back to the church gifted by the Spirit.

Gifted to encourage, build up, gifted to equip the saints for ministry, gifted to build the church until it obtains unity in Christ.

If you belong to Him - You are His gift to the body of Christ.

And He desires to use you to bring unity and maturity.

Lets Praise Him for all the gifts He has given to this Church.

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Post Worship -

Hug 3-4 necks and thank one another for being a gift of God in your life.

Be specific about how God uses them to build, encourage, mature and unify the Church.