Ephesians.9

Walking in Unity: Embracing Our Gifts for the Body of Christ

Bible Passage: Ephesians 4:1–16

Summary: In Ephesians 4:1-16, Paul calls believers to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, highlighting the importance of unity in the Spirit and the diverse spiritual gifts that each member of the body contributes. This constitutes the “walk” part of Sit, Walk, Stand.

1. Pursue Peace in Unity

Ephesians 4:1–3 “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

The Imperative to Walk before God

Paul again (Ep 3:1) refers to himself a prisoner. As someone who cannot walk free he is exhorting all to walk worthy.

Walk Worthy

Christians have a calling to which each has a responsibility. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 “that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” Loyalty, responsibility, and accountability are terms the disciple should not flee from but walk worthy of. Just as Christ was obedient to the cross (Pp 2:8) we have a calling to the same cross daily (Lk 9:23; Gal 6:14).

Of the Calling

Lowliness - ταπεινοφροσύνη tapeinophrosune a humble understanding (Acts 20:19; Pp 2:3; Col 3:12; 1 Pe 5:5)

Gentleness - πραΰτης prautes gentleness, meekness, humility (2 Cor 10:1; Gal 5:23; Col 3:12)

Longsuffering - μακροθυμία makrothumia remaining at peace despite persecution and trials (Ro 9:22; Gal 5:22; Col 3:12).

Unity of the Spirit - The Bond of Peace

Paul appeals to believers to conduct themselves in a manner befitting their calling. This walk is characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, and mutual forbearance grounded in love. We are not to compromise to make peace but walk in the new man and keep or guard the peace that already exists in Christ, He Himself is our peace (Ep 2:14-15). The result of this walk in fellowship with the Father we are actively preserving the Spirit’s unity through peaceful relationships. The Christian walk begins with reconciliation to the God of peace; believers must embody the virtues that reflect their exalted position in Christ. Paul beseeches the church to this virtuous walk; it is not optional spirituality but an urgent summons rooted in Paul’s apostolic authority and humility.

2. Celebrate Common Foundation

Ephesians 4:4–6 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

The Foundation of Unity in Christ

The ultimate basis for all unity is that God is One, three Persons in One.

Sevenfold Declaration of One

Believers share one body and one Spirit, called to a single hope; Christ’s body should confess one Lord, one faith, and one baptism; and acknowledge one God and Father. This sevenfold unity establishes the theological basis for the spiritual walk described in the previous verses. The church’s structural oneness as a body; an organism with members in particular (1 Cor 12:27) makes divisive conduct contrary to the unity that the body requires (1 Cor 12:20-27) .

Father of All, Above All, Through All, In you All

God’s omnipresence in permeates all differences. Shared beliefs, such as one body, Spirit, and hope, unite us. This should resonate with all believers through the indwelling Spirit. Our diversity, as experienced in cultures and distance, is erased. Tribalism is upset in the context of this grand unity established by God, Paul encourages us to celebrate what unites over what divides.

3. Gifts Granted by Grace

Ephesians 4:7–10 “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)”

Christ’s Ascension and the Distribution of Gifts

Each believer receives grace according to a measure. It is μέτρον metron in Greek, defined as a measure of capacity, the word is used again in Ephesians 3:13, and 16.  Grace is given as needed and for His purpose.  It is used to establish each believer with a measure of faith in Romans 12:3b “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” These gifts are given by measure but importantly, His gift of the Spirit is without measure, John 3:34.

Christ ascended after descending to the lower parts of the earth, positioning Himself far above all. This ascension to the heavenly throne establishes Christ’s authority to distribute spiritual gifts throughout His body. The gifts are not human achievements but divine distributions flowing from Christ’s exalted position for the establishment and continuance of His work.

Every good and perfect gift is from the Father of lights (James 1:17). Christ’s grace, the greatest gift, is given to each believer uniquely. This grace we are given is for the calling each is called to. It is a divine enablement for the work of the ministry.

4. Equip for Effective Ministry

Ephesians 4:11–13 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”

Leadership Gifts for Equipping and Maturity

Romans 12:4 “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function” see 1 Cor 12:1-31 for the spiritual diversity of gifts given to the church. These are special

Apostles and Prophets - mentioned in Ep 2:20; 3:5 as foundational gifts to establish the church. Apostles were direct representatives of God, authorized messengers. Prophets could 1. proclaim or explain something inspired, 2. reveal something unknown like a mystery, or 3. foretell something that lies in the future. (1 Corinthians 14:3 “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” )

Evangelists - these are traveling gospel tellers. They are today’s missionaries and those gifted in explaining the gospel

Pastor/Teachers - this is one office that describes the shepherd of the local church. We might say the teaching elder that exhorts and teaches doctrine, Titus 1:9 “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”

Christ appointed these leaders to equip believers for ministry and build up, edifying, the body of Christ, directing the church toward unified faith and knowledge of Christ. The culminating result is a church in a mature spiritual stature reflecting Christ’s fullness. The trajectory moves from gifted leaders equipping believers towards spiritual maturity and unity of faith and knowledge. Collectively all stages of believers make up the maturing church.

For the Work of Ministry

Leaders equip the saints for ministry. We should recognize and value these roles within the church and consider how we can support or participate in them. Remember every believer-priest’s goal is “a perfect man - the fullness of Christ, it’s not a competition but a unity of faith.

5. Mature in Love Together

Ephesians 4:14–16 “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

No Longer Children

Believers should cease being spiritually immature, vulnerable to deceptive doctrines, and instead growing in all things into Christ as head; the entire body, interconnected and supplied by every joint, grows through the effective functioning of each member, building itself up in love. The Christian walk is protected by the influence of the body. That is where we experience growth where every believer contributes meaningfully. Unity and grace converge; believers walk worthily by exercising their spiritual gifts in concert, producing solid growth that glorifies Christ and in turn strengthens the church.

Tossed To and Fro

I have a weather vane on my barn. It is marked out in the cardinal directions, North South, East, and West. Like cardinal doctrines, they don’t change. But the vane spins wildly in a storm. It reacts to every gust of wind, changing direction in an instant. This is how we can be sometimes, impacted by the latest fads and opinions. Ephesians 4:14 points out the importance of having a stable foundation in our faith, so we aren’t just reacting to every wave of popular thought that comes our way.

Speaking Truth in Love

Humility is important to the life of the disciple. Learning and growth happen best in an atmosphere of trust. We are called to one Pastor/Teacher, one body, one church to be planted and grow to the fullest stature possible in Christ. Only with that trust can one receive truth in love. Without trust and humility, truth, the Word of God, will do its work like a sword and painfully cut away certain things before it can build us up in faith.