A Study of Ephesians: The Same But Different

*welcome

*Update

*Open to EPHESIANS 3.

quick re-cap of what we began last week if you are catching up: we are looking at the letter of ephesians. The EPISTLE. LAst week we talked about why these letters were important, vital method of communication in the first century. We covered chapters 1 and 2. Love for you watch that message through our app you will be able to find it.

**my hope is that you will read Ephesians, engage in it, pray your way through it and study it on your own. Re-read verses that we study and look deeper at the ones you havent seen before and allow God to SHAPE you as a believer which is what EPHESIANS does: its a CHRISTIAN SHAPING letter to the church both then.. and NOW.

So we are just focusing on a few areas over these weeks, but its my HOPE that we will get you started.

so this week. 3 and 4.

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.

Prayer:

So ephesians….. Here Paul - Who is a JEW - is shaping the church that he founded. Through instruction, through revelation and through wisdom. He is a master and the Rhetoric, in fact he was probably trained in it, and he is a master debater and writer. He is also very clever in the way he uses his understanding of the local context, Ephesus, Greece, The then ROMAN world, to assert to a young church this these:

THIS IS WHO YOU ARE

THIS IS WHAT YOU DO

THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD LIVE

THIS IS WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE

For the church, there was no new testament bible. There was just this letter.

Chapter 1 Paul introduces the idea that Christians are blessed: with every blessing in the heavenly places.

chapter 2: grace through faith. nothing you did. but everything Christ did for you on your behalf.

now.. we will attempt in some way to look at chapter 3.. and 4

such rich and dense verses…

Paul uses the world mystery again here. Why? because of the local religious practices which were shrouded in secrecy and no one knew exactly what was taking place and when.

1.WERE THE SAME (WE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST.)

Ephesians 4:1–6 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.

Here in this section of Ephesians PAUL does a masterful Job of centralizing the church into the one BODY and He does it in a few different ways but I want you to notice There are many ONES here that Paul talks about: these are if you like building blocks of faith, these are the basics of the christian faith represented in a little passage: so lets study them together

this is what we see here in Verse 4:

One Body - Thats the church - Its definitive. There is only one church. Were all the same. Were all in the same boat. When we get to heaven - even them - yes even them - They will be there and eternity is a long time !!! so we best get on board with it - Were all the same body

One spirit - There is only one Holy Spirit from Genesis to revelation: one part of the trinity, a person and thats the Holy Spirit

One Hope - The eternal hope we have in Jesus. The not yet. There is no other pathway to heaven but through this hope. Thats important for you to know as a believer so that you can speak the truth in love to the person you are encountering in your world, your ephesus.

One Lord - One Authority. no other Gods beside Him. He is the one TRUE God. Yahweh.

One Faith, One Baptism - Presumably this is the baptism of the holy spirit. But thats important. Dont stop at water baptism, go all the way through into Gods presence with the oil as well.

One God & Father of ALL…….*he will make this appeal to the colossians as well.

But the Patriarchial wording here is unique to the romana dn areek world. THE ROMANS LOVED A TITLE: and it was considered a high honor to be called “father of the people” by name, or to have many titles. and Paul used this language as FINAL. God is the highest place…..Jesus ais seated in the heavenly realms. and we are blessed to be with him there (chapt 2).

Pater Patriae (plural Patres Patriae) was an honorific title in ancient Rome. In Latin, it means "father of the country", or more literally, "father of the fatherland".

The title was granted by the Roman Senate. During the Roman Republic, it was given only two times: to Camillus and Cicero. Under the Roman Empire, it was exclusively granted to the Roman emperor, usually after many years of successful rule. Not all emperors were offered the title, while others were offered it but refused to accept. A total of 23 emperors received the title.

During the early modern and late modern periods, the same Latin title was granted to several national leaders by their subjects or parliaments. More recently, the equivalent title has been father of the nation, translated into the national language.

so when Paul says in Verse 6.. Eph 4:6

Ephesians 4:6 ESV

6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

So in a sense for the church, the saints in ephesus - anyone who reads this letter - This was placing JESUS as God above all the roman Gods. all the emperors, above the imperial cult leaders of the past (who it was believed they were then seated in Heavenly places) but paul says “NO. there is only ONE GOD. Only ONE FATHER. and HES NOT JUST A FATHER To THESE CITIZENS. HE IS A FATHER OF ALL, OVER ALL. THROUGH ALL. AND IN ALL>

A truly HOLY, All powerful, All knowing, all present GOD

(what a monumental shift this must have been for the reader)

2.WERE DIFFERENT (WE ALL HAVE UNIQUE GIFTS)

We are one. But We are all Uniquely ONE

Were the same, but were different as well.

Write this down: “our unity in the body does not mean to a loss of identity as individuals”

“to each one of us” - this is a key prhase…..(this is where we get so much of our doctrine as a church: from this letter)

So studying along here… Paul makes a transition here from ONE.. to EACH

Ephesians 4:6–7 “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.”

“i cant do anything outside of the grace of God”

common grace vs specific GRACE. Common grace is what is afforded everyone. The opportunities in life, the smallest things to the greatest things: this is common grace: we can do NOTHING outside of that, even non believers. but they dont know that because they’re eyes haven’t been awakened (yet) to this grace.

but for us

the church… the believer’s: THIS IS THE ENABLING TYPE/FORM OF GRACE

THIS WORD GRACE THAT PAUL USES, IS NOT THE TYPE OF GRACE IN THE GREEK THAT MEANS GRACE TO SAVE. ITS THE WORD THAT MEANS THE ENABLING GRACE OF GOD IN US.

This is the great grace dispensary of Jesus

We know Jesus is our RESSURECTED King:

And Paul will go all the way back to PSALM 68 here and take that victory & establish for us now the church: that Jesus is fulfilling the purposes of YAHWEH now in their hearing:

Ephesians 4:7–11 ESV

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,

Jesus is our triumphant King who leads us out and into a victorious procession: but instead of us giving him GIFTS … He dispenses Grace gifts according to the measure of His own Grace: Immeasurable.

Psalm 68:18 (ESV)

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.

So Paul says were the same, were different and we all have gifts: But Jesus has won our victory and we now have these gifts because our Christ, is the ascended Christ

He says it to colossians this way:

Colossians 2:13–15 (ESV)

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

In Hebrews we see it again: Hebrews 2:14–15 “14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

So Jesus has given all of us, a gift.

Which means that NO ONE IS LEFT OUT

But also means no one can OPT out!

there is no “unsubscribe” option that you can click in this.

Now notice something here thats important: these are gifts.

ANY GIFT MAGNIFIES THE GIVER - NOT THE RECIPIENT: Your gifting in life is a direct representation of the God who made you, who designed you. Any good design magnifies the designers. Thats what you and i are. We are a people that have a unique gifitng given to us by no one else but God himself. I couldn’t get out of bed this morning if it wasnt for the GRACE of God… let alone the things that im actually good at!

ALL OUR GIFTS AS BELIEVERS TRACE BACK TO THE GIFT GIVER; JESUS!

3.TOGETHER, THE CHURCH COMES ALIVE

So we have the gifts: but they are not about size or significance.

They arent GIFTS as in toys at christmas time, but rather tools to be used in the building of Gods great church, his kingdom coming on the earth as it is in heaven. This is what you are apart of today. This is what we are all apart of as long as it takes and our LORD RETURNS, which he will.

Now i may have got you interested in these gifts and you may be wondering what are they? in the NEW TEstament there are about 5 places you will find them LISTED

The Other places these gifts are listed are ROMANS 12, 1 Peter 4, 1 Corinthians 12.

But What i do - is not the same as what you do - And thats PURPOSEFUL. Your not meant to do what i do and to have the same gift set that i do. Were the same but differn

Not all of the gifts are the same, There are varieties of gifts

1 Corinthians 12 (ESV)

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

THIS IS THE POWER OF THE CHURCH / We have an ascended CHRIST Who has defeated the grave, the powers of evil…. and a great gift distribution has taken place and is taking place:

No were in this together. If you do well, i do well, if you fall, we all fall. This is the point Paul is making which is why issues a plea to bear with one another in love - Because we are all just OURSELVES… being APART OF THE BODY.

**one of the best compliments i get about our church is when someone says: it just feels like people are real. They are not playing a christian game.

This is what Paul is shaping the church into being…..

United in christ, the body of believers is the answer to the WORLD because we are carriers of the message of Christ

We have to be there for each other, work with each other, forgive each other and be ready to give allowances for each other to get it wrong:

Ephesians 4:2 “2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,”

Notes:

Grace Dispensary

JESUS IS OUR GIFT & …..JESUS IS OUR GIFT GIVER:

We are all GIVEN unique gifts to each one according to the measure of Christs gift.

1.We’re all the same:

Everyone is joined together the church is one big gift

But yet we are all different:

Jesus has handed out Gifts. Grace given according to the measure of Christ.

United in our differences is what makes the body of Christ so unique.