Equipping the Saints

Introduction

Last week, I said if there was one word to sum up Paul’s argument in the first six vv. of Ephesians 4...that word would be “oneness” or “one”. Since the beginning of the letter to the Ephesians...Paul has argued for oneness.

Oneness of God’s sovereignty

Oneness of God’s eternal plan of salvation

Oneness of God’s people

One...one...oneness. Unity!

In fact the entire Bible...old and new testaments...are one...in that message. The Bible is unified in its presentation of God and God’s people...and God’s messiah.

Dr. Larry Petton recognizes this. He says:

Notice the UNITY of the Bible. it is miraculous!

* The Bible was written over a period of 1,500 years.

• The Bible was written by over 40 different authors (Among them were kings, military leaders, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, tax collectors, poets, statesmen, musicians, scholars and shepherds.)

• The Bible was written in many different places, at many different times and by people experiencing many different moods.

• The Bible was written on three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe.

• The Bible was written in three different languages: Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic.

• The Bible is written with many different literary styles: Prose, poetry, historical narrative, romance, law, biography, parable, allegory and prophecy.

• The Bible addresses hundreds of difficult issues without a single contradiction.

• The Bible is a book of great diversity, yet, in spite of this, it unfolds a single continuous story, and it does so without ever contradicting itself.

And that one overarching theme and continuous story is the plan of Salvation for lost sinners which is revealed from Genesis to Revelation. It is the road that leads to faith in Jesus Christ as the only hope for Heaven. They looked forward to Christ in the Old Testament. They looked at Christ in the Gospels. We look back to Christ since the Book of Acts and all the way until now in the New Testament Church.” (end quote)

All that diversity...yet unity in its message.

Today’s Passage

Today’s reading from Ephesians 4:7-16...in the context of the oneness of vv. 1-6...Paul moves to an important theological aspect theology...namely...he espouses a diversity of “graces” or gifts...given to the church.

Oneness does not preclude diversity. God’s people resemble God’s self...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...in a forever loving, self-giving, perfect union...yet three persons. Diversity existing withing unity...within oneness.

It’s a beautiful concept.

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One of the best metaphors for the church in this sense...is the metaphor of the orchestra. Picture it in your minds.

As the conductor steps on the stand...the violinists are poised with their bows...the flautists...ready to take their breath and begin...the powerful timpani players have their mallets at the ready.

In hushed silence and anticipation...ready to play their part at the conductor’s direction.

Diversity of gifts (parts to play); unity in playing the music of the conductor.

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Ephesians 4:7–11 ESV

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

These vv. can be a bit confusing.

Here Paul quotes Psalm 68:18.

Of this psalm, scholar Temper Longman III notes:

Unquestionably, its original setting is in the context of warfare, and most likely it is a song of thanksgiving for a victory over Israel’s enemies. Some of the language and metaphors are difficult to interpret, but even so, the poem’s powerful depiction of God as Warrior is impossible to miss. Tremper Longman III, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. David G. Firth, vol. 15–16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2014), 257.

It is this “warrior” God that Paul is pointing out from Psalm 68 as referring to Christ the warrior...who defeated sin and death...and who...after his resurrection is ascended back to heaven.

Paul is saying that in Christ’s victory...he secured for his people...the church various graces...or gifts to be utilized by the church.

Remember back in Ephesians 3:2

Ephesians 3:2 ESV

assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

Paul spoke of his own gift from God as a “grace”...a grace to be stewarded...in this case...on behalf of the church in Ephesus.

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Your grace from God...your gift...is to be put to work. Used to benefit the church...and by extension the entire world.

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The theological point here is the importance of Christ’s ascension. You and I...the church the world over...have gifts and grace from God...secured by the messiah...the son of God...the Lord Jesus Christ. Not to use for selfish gain...but as something to be bestowed upon all.

We all must keep in mind that the uniquness with which God made each of us....with our diversity of gifts and graces...are on loan to us from God...and are to used for God’s glory.

Closing

Specifically here...Paul states the reasons particular gifts are given.

Ephesians 4:11–16 NET 2nd ed.

And he himself gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God—a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature. So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes. But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.

Equip the saints

Build up the body of Christ toward unity of faith and the knowledge of the son of God

Why?

So that we don’t fall for the schemes of the devil or this world and its flowerly philosophies that tempt humanity to be its own god and ignore the calling of God.

Christians...all of us...the saints...are called to practice “truth in love” as the way to “grow up into Christ”

It is in these diverse gifts that the church is “fit and held” together.

Friends you and I are equipped by Christ...through the various graces/gifts of the saints...so that we would grow as his body here on earth. We each have a part to play. We each have importance. We each have been put here...in this stage of world history...perfectly able to grow into Christ...and do all he commands of us...by the power of the Holy Spirit...and through the gifts of the saints.

May we all continue to grow together in Christ...finding our unity, our strength, our gifts and graces...in him.

Thanks be to God...AMEN.