Ephesians 4:1-16 Unity in God

Introduction

We have discussed the unity between Jews and Gentiles that is created by being in Messiah Yeshua, and last week we looked at how the Love of Adonai is the foundation for our love for one another.

Now we will look at the unity that we are called to through the love of God in our hearts.

Let’s read Ephesians 4:1-16

Ephesians 4:1–16 TLV

Therefore I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you were called— with complete humility and gentleness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Ruach in the bond of shalom. There is one body and one Ruach, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one immersion; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given in keeping with the measure of Messiah’s gift. Therefore it says, “When He went up on high, He led captive a troop of captives and gave gifts to his people.” Now what does “He went up” mean, except that He first went down to the lower regions of the earth? The One who came down is the same One who went up far above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. He Himself gave some to be emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers— to equip the kedoshim for the work of service, for building up the body of Messiah. This will continue until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of Ben-Elohim—to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of Messiah’s fullness. As a result, we are no longer to be like children, tossed around by the waves and blown all over by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of men with cunning in deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all ways into Messiah, who is the Head. From Him the whole body is fitted and held together by every supporting ligament. The proper working of each individual part produces the body’s growth, for building itself up in love.

God’s Love in Our Hearts

Last week we finished by talking about the necessity to have God’s love filling our hearts. Paul reminds us to be Ephesians 3:17–19 “rooted and grounded in love, [that we] may have strength to grasp with all the kedoshim what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled up with all the fullness of God.”

It is from this place of knowing God’s love for us, that we can then extend that love to one another. From this place of knowing the love, forgiveness, and mercy of Adonai, we in turn need to walk in complete humility, gentleness and patience. And I love this part, we need to put up with each other in love.

It is also from the place of knowing Adonai’s love for us that we can keep the unity of the Ruach.

Unity in Shalom

Paul now points out that the unity of the followers of Messiah should reflect the nature of Adonai. Just as the Shema says in Deuteronomy 6:4““Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

We also see that there is: one Body, one Ruach, one Lord and one God and Father of us all. So basically the unity of the church, should reflect the Echad or compound unity of Adonai.

I fear that we fall a little short. But none the less that is what we are called to. This is the goal. And this is why we desperately need the grace of Adonai given to us through Messiah Yeshua.

Gracious Gifts

Paul now describes how Adonai has given us all that we need to become what we are called to be. He starts by quoting the Targum of Psa. 68:19 Whereas the Psalm says the following as translated from the Hebrew:

Psalm 68:19 TLV

You went up on high. You led captivity captive. You received gifts from humanity, even from the rebellious— so that God might dwell there.

… he quotes from the Targum that states that Adonai gave gifts to his people. When a King conquers, it is very normal for the booty to be divided out to all the people as well.

Paul also points out that the one who gave these gifts, is Yeshua the Messiah, the one who descended to the earth. And what was the primary gift that Yeshua gave us? The Ruach HaKodesh!

On a side note, some people attempt to use this verse to say that Yeshua descended to Hell, and that Hell is a place below the earth. But as William Klein points out:

There is no contextual support for such and idea here. Paul contrasts heaven and earth - descent and ascent go from one to the other, not from the earth to “below the earth.” Descent to some nether region or the realm of the dead plays no role here and would contribute nothing to Paul’s argument.”

Actually the idea that hell is located under the ground is a concept from Greek mythology and not from Paul’s cosmology or theology. Paul has just told the Ephesians that HaSatan is the Ephesians 2:2 “ruler of the domain of the air—the ruler of the spirit who is now operating in the sons of disobedience.”

Enabling Gifts

So other than the Ruach HaKodesh, what are some of the other gifts that Adonai gives us so that we can “keep the unity of the Ruach in the bond of shalom.”?

Well, in vs. 11, we see that Yeshua Eph. 4:11

Ephesians 4:11 TLV

He Himself gave some to be emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers—

Some people call these the 5-fold ministry gifts. Only some people are called to these roles, and what is the purpose of these ministry gifts? We see it in the next verse Eph. 4:12

Ephesians 4:12 TLV

to equip the kedoshim for the work of service, for building up the body of Messiah.

So the purpose of pastors, teachers, evangelists etc. is to help/equip every believer to serve in the Body of Messiah! So my job is to help you all to serve the Lord, and to serve each other and to disciple others. And I will continue to do that until Ephesians 4:13“we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of Ben-Elohim—to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of Messiah’s fullness.”

But I have a feeling that we won’t all get there today. :D So my hope and prayer is that I will be able to help you in your journey toward becoming a mature believer for as long as we are together.

The purpose of these ministry gifts is to help us become mature believers, to be grounded in the Scriptures, to be filled with the Ruach and with the strength to stand against all of the so-called teachings and ideas. The more mature you are, then the more settled and secure you are in Who Adonai is, and who you are in Messiah.

We are all called to “speak the truth in love.”

Application

How do we apply this to our lives today? I would like to urge you all to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have all been called. I know that we all give each other plenty of opportunities to practice patience, gentleness and humility.

So let’s us pray that the Ruach will increase these things in our lives.

As the world around us is becoming more and more crazy, we all need to press into Messiah Yeshua and ask the Ruach HaKodesh to strengthen us and mature us.

There are so many things that can toss us around, and make us fearful or unsettled. So instead of going going to the news or social media, take some time to read God’s Word. Deliberately choose to lay aside your uncertainties and worries, and choose to trust in Adonai.

Not only is He still on the throne, but He has a plan, and everything has gone according to His plan.

And this week, look for opportunities to lovingly speak the truth.