*** Ephesians 4:7-16 The Believer Is to Walk by Using His Gifts, 4:7–16

Ephesians 4:7–16 (NRSV)

7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.” 9 (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) 11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. 15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

The Believer Is to Walk by Using His Gifts, 4:7–16

(4:7–16) Introduction: note the word “but.” It is strong. As studied in the previous passage, the church is one body, and every member is to strive to keep the oneness and unity of the Spirit. But believers are not only a unity, they are a diversity. There are differences between believers. What are those differences? They are gifts, special abilities given by God which are to be used to strengthen believers and to reach the world and minister to it. Gifts—spiritual gifts given by God—are the subject of the present passage. The believer is to walk using the gifts God has given him. (See outlines and notes—Ro. 12:3–8; 1 Co. 12:1–14:40 for more discussion.)

1. Every believer is gifted (v. 7).

2. Every believer’s gift has cost the greatest possible price (vv. 8–10).

3. Every believer’s gift is Christ-centered (v. 11).

4. Every believer’s gift has a threefold purpose (vv. 12–16).

1 (4:7) Gifts, Spiritual: every believer is gifted. Note the words, “But unto every one of us is given … the gift of Christ.” There is not a single believer exempted or left out; Christ has given every believer some spiritual gift. It is important to note what is meant by spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift does not mean the natural ability or talent of a person. God, of course, keeps natural abilities and talents in mind when He gifts a person, but spiritual gifts are special gifts given to believers. They are highly specialized gifts—gifts that are given to build up believers in the church and in witnessing and ministering to the world. The point to note is that every genuine believer has received a spiritual gift, a highly specialized gift. He has received his gift to carry out the ministry of the Lord upon the earth.

Note another significant point. Jesus Christ gives us the grace to use our gifts. Grace means the strength, wisdom, courage, motivation, love, concern, care, and power—all the favor and blessings of Christ. Whatever is needed to use the gift, Christ gives us. He measures out the exact amount of grace needed for the maximum use of a gift.

Thought 1. What a glorious truth! What a spark of encouragement! Everyone of us is gifted by Christ—gifted with a highly specialized gift. And we have the measure of grace—whatever measure is needed—to use our gifts. Christ pours out His grace upon us, equipping us to carry out our task upon earth. This is significant, for it means that our gift is the gift of Christ. It is the very best gift for us. We should not be displeased with our gift, nor covet to be like someone else and have his gift. Christ has placed us and given us the very best gift for us—if we are truly His, yielded and committed to serve Him.

“And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey” (Mt. 25:15).

“God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Ro. 12:3).

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith” (Ro. 12:6).

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Co. 4:7).

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Co. 12:4).

“But the manifestation [illuminations, gifts] of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Co. 12:7).

2 (4:8–10) Gifts, Spiritual: every believer’s gift has cost the greatest possible price.

a. Note the picture. The picture of Christ giving gifts to men is dramatic. It is the picture of an ancient king who has conquered his enemies. The king is sitting astride his white stallion and riding under the arch of triumph as he enters the city. Teeming thousands shout their adoration and praise. Following in his train is his army. And then following his army they come, the enemy stumbling along on foot in chains, looking like the defeated foe they are. They had initially come to fight tooth and nail to subject the people of the great king to their tyranny. But now they come to offer gifts to the great conqueror. The conqueror receives the gifts and in turn bestows the gifts upon his own people. (see Ps. 68:18.)

There are great enemies of man—enemies that attack time and time again—enemies that try to make man aimless and meaningless.

⇒ There is the great enemy of alienation and separation. Alienation is the energy and tendency that tries to shut God and others out of a person’s life. Tragically, alienation results in a sense of emptiness, uselessness, and loneliness.

⇒ There are two great enemies that snap away all meaning for man—sin and death.

However, Christ has gone to war in behalf of man. Christ has conquered all enemies that make life useless and meaningless. Now He gives the greatest gift of all—the gift of meaning, purpose, and significance in life. He fills life with all that a man could possibly desire and use. He gives the greatest gifts, gifts that keep a person busy with the most meaningful and purposeful life imaginable.

Thought 1. If Christ has really given such meaning and purpose to life, why then are so many people bored with their work and life? Why are so many (even believers) dissatisfied, empty, without purpose, and wanting a change? Scripture tells us, and it tells us plainly.

(1) A person has not committed his life to Christ—not fully, not totally. He does not really deny himself and follow Christ.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Lu. 9:23).

(2) A person has not sacrificed himself, all he is and has, to serve Christ and mankind. A person has not committed himself to a life of service. Real life is found only in service. God has ordained it so.

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Mt. 16:25).

(3) A person lives and sows to his flesh instead of the Spirit.

“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting [meaning, purpose, significance]” (Ga. 6:8).

b. Note the great cost Christ paid to gain the right to gift believers. He had to die and descend into the lower parts of the earth. F.F. Bruce points out that the “lower regions” of the earth may mean three things: the earth to which Christ came; the sepulcher in which the Lord’s body was laid; or Hades—the abode of the dead (Ac. 2:25–35; see Ps. 16:10; 110:1). (The Epistle to the Ephesians, p. 83.) (See DEEPER STUDY # 1—1 Pe. 3:19–20.)

In allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture, the correct interpretation would seem to be “Hades.” When other Scriptures contrast the descent of Christ with the ascent of Christ, the two farthest extremes seem to be indicated.

1) In Ro. 10:6–7 “ascending into heaven” is contrasted with “descending into the abyss”—the abode of the dead.

2) In Ph. 2:8f, Christ humbling Himself to the lowest “depths of death” is contrasted with Him being “exalted to the highest” heavens by God.

3) In Mt. 12:40, Christ being “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” is taken from Jonah 2:3–4 “in the heart of the seas.” In light of these facts, Christ’s descending into the lower parts of the earth must mean more than Christ just being placed in a sepulcher. It must mean the place of departed spirits or the abode of the dead.

The point is this: Jesus Christ had to die and experience hell for men in order to gain the right to gift men. That is the enormous price our gifts cost. If He had not died, then we could not be saved or gifted with spiritual gifts. There would be no purpose or significance to life—not beyond a few short years upon this earth. All we would have to look forward to would be death. But Christ has died, and He has conquered all the enemies of man—conquered them in order to gain the right to save and gift us.

“Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (Jn. 12:31).

c. The great value of what Christ did is glorious. He died that He might ascend above the heavens and fill all things, that is, fill the whole universe with His presence. Jesus Christ is the Sovereign Majesty of the universe. He is seated at the right hand of God the Father, and He rules and reigns over all. He is now able to save and gift men. But remember: it is because He paid the greatest price possible. He died for us—died to gain the right to pour His grace and gifts out upon us.

“Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God” (Lu. 22:69).

3 (4:11) Gifts, Spiritual: every believer’s gift is Christ-centered. Note the words, “He gave.” It is Christ and Christ alone who gives spiritual gifts to men. Men cannot work up the gifts, nor give the gifts to other men. Christ alone possesses the spiritual gifts to give to men. Five gifts are mentioned here.

a. The gift of an apostle. The word apostle (apostolos) means to send out. An apostle is a representative, an ambassador, a person who is sent out into one country to represent another country. Three things are true of the apostle.

⇒ He belongs to the One who has sent him out.

⇒ He is commissioned to be sent out.

⇒ He possesses all the authority and power of the One who sends him out.

The word apostle has both a narrow and a broad usage in the New Testament.

1) The narrow sense. It refers to the twelve apostles and to Paul as an apostle (Ac. 1:21–22; 1 Co. 9:1). In this narrow sense there were at least two basic qualifications.

(1) The apostle was a man chosen directly by the Lord Himself or by the Holy Spirit (see Mt. 10:1–2; Mk. 3:13–14; Lu. 6:13; Acts 9:6, 15; 13:2; 22:10, 14–15; Ro. 1:1). He was a man who had either seen or been a companion of the Lord Jesus.

(2) The apostle was a man who had been an eyewitness of the resurrected Lord (Ac. 1:21–22; 1 Co. 9:1).

2) The broad sense. The word “apostle” refers to other men who preached the gospel. It is used of two missionaries, Barnabas (Ac. 14:4, 14, 17) and Silas (1 Th. 2:6); and two messengers, Titus (2 Co. 8:23) and Epaphroditus (Ph. 2:25). There is also a possibility that James, the Lord’s brother (Ga. 1:19) and Andronicus and Junia (Ro. 16:7) are referred to as apostles.

In the narrow sense, the gift of an apostle was bound to die out because of the unique qualifications to receive the gift. But historically, in the broad sense, there is perhaps a sense in which the qualifications and gift itself are still given and used by the Lord. The Lord’s servant of any generation must see the Lord and know Him intimately. Similarly, the servant must personally see and experience the power of the resurrection. Certainly there are some in every generation who have seen the Lord Jesus and who know and experience the power of the Lord’s resurrection. Perhaps the Lord Jesus endues them with the very special gift of an apostle to be used throughout His most precious domain—the church.

b. The gift of a prophet. This is the gift of speaking under the inspiration of God’s Spirit. It includes both prediction and proclamation, and neither one should be minimized despite the abuse of the gift.

There is no question, the gift to predict events has been abused to the point of the ridiculous. However, the abuse of a gift does not eliminate the fact that the Spirit of God sometimes gives believers a glimpse into coming events in order to prepare and strengthen them to face the events.

However, the major function of prophecy is clearly stated by Scripture, and the fact should be heeded by all believers:

“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” (1 Co. 14:3).

c. The gift of an evangelist. This is the gift of carrying the gospel all over the world. It is the gift that specializes in proclaiming the gospel to the lost of the world. It would include both what we call the evangelist and the missionary.

“And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him” (Ac. 21:8; see Ac. 8:26–40).

d. The gift of a pastor (poimenas). This word means shepherd. A.T. Robertson points out that the Lord Jesus told Peter to shepherd His sheep (Jn. 21:16), that Peter told other ministers to shepherd the flock of God (1 Pe. 5:2), and that Paul told the elders (ministers) of Ephesus to shepherd the church of God for which Christ had died (Ac. 20:28) (Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol. 4, p. 53.) The traits of a shepherd can be seen by looking at the references to Christ as the shepherd of believers. The pastor is an under-shepherd to the Chief Shepherd, Christ Jesus our Lord.

1) The shepherd knows the sheep; He knows each one by name. This is said to have been a fact among shepherds and their sheep in Jesus’ day. Shepherds actually knew each sheep individually, even in large herds. The fact is certainly true with Christ and His sheep.

“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (Jn. 10:14).

“But if any man love God, the same is known of him” (1 Co. 8:3).

Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) (B. The Believer Is to Walk by Using His Gifts, 4:7–16)

2) The shepherd feeds the sheep even if He has to gather them in His arms and carry them to the feasting pasture.

“He shall feed the flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Is. 40:11).

3) The shepherd guides the sheep to the pasture and away from the rough places and precipices.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Ps. 23:1–4).

4) The shepherd seeks and saves the sheep who get lost.

“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?” (Mt. 18:11–12).

5) The shepherd protects the sheep. He even sacrifices His life for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11).

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (He. 13:20).

6) The shepherd restores the sheep who go astray and return.

“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (1 Pe. 2:25).

7) The shepherd rewards the sheep for obedience and faithfulness.

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Pe. 5:4).

8) The shepherd shall keep the sheep separate from the goats.

“And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left” (Mt. 25:32–33).

e. The gift of a teacher. Some commentators consider teaching to be part of the gift of the pastor, that is, the pastor is the pastor-teacher. The function of the teacher is the gift to instruct believers in the truth of God and His Word. It is the gift to root and ground people in doctrine, reproof, correction, and righteousness. Teaching is a high calling, one of the greatest of callings. Teaching is ranked second only to the spiritual gifts of apostle and prophet (Ac. 13:1; 1 Co. 12:28; Ep. 4:11). Every apostle, prophet, and pastor has the gift of teaching, but every teacher is not an apostle or prophet or pastor. The gift of teaching bears one of the largest responsibilities given by God; therefore, the teacher will be required to give a strict account to God for his faithfulness in using his gift (see note, Teacher—Js. 3:1).

The spiritual gift of teaching is the gift of understanding and communicating the Word of God, of edifying believers in the truths of God’s Word. It involves understanding, interpreting, arranging, and communicating the Word of God. The gift of teaching is given to the believer who commits his life to the Word of God, to sharing its glorious truths with God’s people.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Mt. 28:19–20).

4 (4:12–16) Gifts, Spiritual: every believer’s gift has a threefold purpose. Note a significant fact: the five gifts described above are gifts that involve speech or proclamation. They are very specialized gifts, gifts that are usually looked upon as being the official or professional gifts of the church. They are not given in full measure to every believer although every believer …

• should be as an apostle in that he is serving Christ in a very special ministry and faithfully using the gift God has given him

• should be as a prophet in that he is daily proclaiming God’s Word

• should be as an evangelist in that he is bearing witness to the lost

• should be as a pastor in that he is shepherding and caring for people all the time

• should be as a teacher in that he is teaching the truths of God’s Word to all whom he knows

a. There is an immediate purpose for the professional or office-bearing gifts in the church and among God’s people. It is to equip believers to do the work of the ministry. The word perfecting (katartizo) means to equip for service and ministry. This is critical to see, for the office bearer in the church is not to be the only one who goes about doing the work of the ministry. In fact, his primary task is to be an equipper, a person who makes disciples and prepares others to serve Christ (see note, Discipleship—Mt. 28:19–20). Note another critical point: the very purpose for equipping laymen is so that the body of Christ, the church, may be built up. This is a significant point, for it means that the church cannot be built up without the members themselves doing the work of the ministry. All believers within a church must be involved in the work of the ministry. As Wuest says: “This is an order that the Body of Christ, the Church might be built up, by additions to its membership in lost souls being saved, and by the building up of individual saints.” (Wuest, Kenneth S. Ephesians and Colossians. “Wuest Word Studies,” Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1953, p. 101.)

If the work of the ministry was left up to the professional ministers, the task would never get done, for there are too few official ministers. Lay persons must be equipped to reach the lost and to minister to the needs of a world reeling under the weight of evil and suffering and death.

b. There is an eternal purpose for the office-bearing or professional gifts. It can be stated no clearer than what the verse itself says. It says three things:

1) The minister of God works to bring about a perfect unity among God’s people. The minister of God is called …

• to bring peace and reconciliation to the church

• to lead people into perfect harmony and oneness of spirit

• to shepherd people out of cliques, divisiveness, murmuring, grumbling, griping, and all the other sins that militate against a perfect unity

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Co. 1:10).

2) The minister of God works to bring about the knowledge of the Son of God.

3) The minister of God works to bring about a perfect man, a man who measures up to the stature of Christ Himself—to the fullness of His stature.

c. There is the personal purpose for the professional or office-bearing gifts. This purpose also involves three parts.

1) That we no longer be children and immature, being led astray by false teaching. Again, the verse is the best commentary on itself. Ministers are given to us to keep us from being “children, tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of [false] doctrine” or false teaching. We must always remember, there is such a thing as …

• “the sleight of men”: deceivers, cheaters in the faith, men who will cheat us out of the truth

• “cunning craftiness”: deceivers who act clever and have novel ideas that sound correct, but they are only deceptions of the truth

Note that such men are plentiful, so plentiful that they are just lying, waiting to deceive.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Mt. 7:15)

2) That we grow up in all things—in Christ. Note there is only one way to do this: by speaking and proclaiming the truth. This is the task of the minister.

“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (Jn. 15:3).

3) That we do our part in building up the church. Note that every joint or every believer “supplies” something to the body of Christ (the church). And what every joint or believer supplies is very significant. Note how the significance is stressed: Christ takes every joint or believer and the believer …

• is fitly joined together with all the other believers

• has his work compacted with that supplied by other believers

• has an effective and productive work along with that measured by other believers

• helps to increase the body

• helps to edify the body in love

What more could be said about the contribution made by every believer? What greater challenge could be given to a believer? We must give all we are and have to get the job done. Much is at stake for each of us. An eternal weight of responsibility rests upon every single believer, for each one is responsible for reaching people and building them up. Some people will never be reached and ministered to if a single one of us comes up short. For this reason, everyone of us is gifted by Christ Jesus our Lord.

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Co. 12:4–7).