Ephesians: For His GLory (7)

For His Glory

Ephesians 4:1–16 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 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, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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, 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. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 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.

Paul a prisoner for the sake of the Gospel-

This man who once was an enemy of the gospel to the point of killing those who proclaimed it- now in Chains because of the power of the gospel

This message that we have been reading and studying Paul has experienced in His own life

Acts 7- Paul known as Saul is at and approved the stoning a believer named Stephen

After this Paul would go on Ravaging the Church

Acts 8:3 ESV

But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Galatians 1:13 ESV

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.

It was hard for believer’s to trust the conversation at first

Ananias was called to go and find Saul after his conversion and He says to God, “ I have heard the terrible stories of What this man has done, not only to just christians but men who were my friends.”

Here is Paul now is prison because he experienced the Power of the Gospel in his own life

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 4

His exhortations have great power, since he himself has taken these matters seriously enough to suffer confinement in the Lord’s service.

Live a manner worthy of the calling-

Live a manner worthy of the adoption, holiness, and the unity in which we have been called

We live in a way that if fitting to what God has done in our lives, when He called us out of Darkness and into His marvelous light.

The problem that Paul addresses here isn’t trying to get the world to live like Christians, but to get Christians to stop living like the world

Characteristics of Christ Followers are humility, gentleness, patience and love- When we live these out when we walk them out there is unity- Quite Simple we like each other

These go against the culture of Paul’s time and our own

Humility; was regarded as distasteful by the pagan world of Paul’s day. Pride was more highly prized.- It simply means without arrogance

All of these traits were displayed in Christ’s own character and now are to evident in the daily walk of every Christian

Horae Homileticae Vol. 17: Galatians-Ephesians Discourse 2106: A Consistent Walk Enjoined (Eph. 4:1–3)

THE end of all true religion is practice

Our Practice of what we believe leads to Peace

as we walk like Christ, as we out humility, gentleness, patience and love we see peace Which is the state of reconciliation and love and it acts as a bond to unite believers in Christ

We don’t create unity but we preserve the unity that is already established by Christ-

We are called to keep unity and guard it

We are Part of Something bigger-

The Gospel lays the foundation for unity:

Paul Here list off seven ones-

One Body- this is the Chruch which Christ is the head over- El Captain

One Spirit- The body of Christ has one Spirit just as the human body has one-

The same Spirit at work in my life is the same Spirit at work in yours

One Hope- we don’t have separate hopes, but we are called to eternal life and to enjoy God forever

We are on the same road with the same destination

One Lord- Jesus Christ is the only Lord and savior. There are no other means for salvation and there is no other Head over the church.

We serve the same Lord and savior- We are all worshipping the same Lord

if something goes against what Christ has said or establish then we know it is not of God

One Faith- There is no other faith out there that leads to our hope- there is only one truth

Truth is there is One God and father- One Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and one Spirit at work in the lives of the believer equalling one God.

One Baptism- We are baptised into one body of believers- into one family- into one hope- into one faith- and this is because the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit

Horae Homileticae Vol. 17: Galatians-Ephesians Discourse 2107: Christian Unity (Eph. 4:4–6)

The whole Christian Church is brought by the Gospel into “one body,” of which Christ is the head, and all true believers are the members. This body is inhabited by “one Spirit,” even the Holy Ghost, who pervades the whole, and animates it in every part. It is his presence only that gives life; and were he withdrawn for a moment, the soul would be as incapable of all spiritual motion, as a dead corpse is of all the functions of the animal life. To “one hope are we all called, even to an inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us.” The “one Lord” of all is the Lord Jesus Christ, who “purchased the Church with his own blood,” and presides over it as “Lord of all,” and will judge every member of it in the last day. To all of them there is but “one faith;” to which all, without exception, must adhere, and by which alone they can be saved. Into this new-covenant state they are all admitted by “one baptism,” “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” And of all there is one God and Father, “who is above all,” by his almighty power; “and through all,” by his superintending providence; “and in all,” by the constant operation of his Spirit and grace.

Ephesians 2:1–8 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Now because we are one, we have gifts given to us by the Spirit of God to build each other up- Because we are unified in one “Body”

Horae Homileticae Vol. 17: Galatians-Ephesians Discourse 2107: Christian Unity (Eph. 4:4–6)

The force of this observation is universally acknowledged, in reference to the corporeal frame. The whole human frame proceeds from one source, is subject to the same wants, nourished by the same supplies, and affected with the same lot. In reference to that, it is judged reasonable that every part should have the same care one for the other; and that every member should sympathize with the rest, whether in a way of joy or sorrow, according as circumstances may require. All idea of a separate interest is quite excluded; and the happiness of every individual part is bound up in the welfare of the whole. Much more, therefore, may all disunion be proscribed in so sacred a body as the Church, where not merely the prosperity of the different members is at stake, but the honour of Almighty God also, and the interests of the whole world.

The foundation has been laid by the Apostle’s such as Paul- He did the hard work of building churches - now we continue to build on that

We have been given Grace to Serve Christ’s Church

During World war II the Allied Forces were composed of the armies of many nations. None of the armies ever renounced its own identity, but together they were able to overcome and defeat Hitler and his allies. They had a greater loyalty and goal- We have a greater goal and that is to build each other up-

We follow our commander Jesus Christ

Christianity isn’t passive, but we are active in build up the body of Christ- which is each other

John 16:7 ESV

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

We build by speaking the truth in love.

As we mature in our walk with Christ:

As we read God’s word; as we pray; as we continue to encourage each other to grow - we are being made into the image of Christ

Ephesians 4:16 ESV

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.

This corporate unity, the is built on the foundation of the gospel and is what binds the church together requires these three:

Sentiment: it is not possible that there should be a perfect agreement of sentiment upon every thing. But it may well be expected to prevail, so far at least as to prevent dissension and division in the Church of God

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

Horae Homileticae Vol. 17: Galatians-Ephesians Discourse 2107: Christian Unity (Eph. 4:4–6)

A departure from this rule is declared to be a proof of grievous carnality: and, if fostered in the soul, and promoted in the Church, it is judged a sufficient ground for the most marked disapprobation from every child of God:

Romans 16:17–18 ESV

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Affection- Love is the grace which most adorns the true Christian: it is properly his distinctive mark

Romans 12:10 ESV

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Horae Homileticae Vol. 17: Galatians-Ephesians Discourse 2107: Christian Unity (Eph. 4:4–6)

In the body, no one member can say to another, “I have no need of you:” the least and lowest has its appropriate office, as well as those whose powers are of a superior order: nor does its difference of form or office cause it to be overlooked, or its welfare to be despised.

The Christian world is doubtless very defective; Minor differences and distinctions are magnified among them into occasions of mutual aversions-

Charles Simeon :But let not Christianity be blamed for this. The evil arises solely from that corruption of the human heart which Christianity is intended to subdue and mortify.

The duty of all, to whatever denomination of Christians they may happen to belong, is, to “love as brethren;” yea, to “be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one to another.” The true pattern is that which was set us on the day of Pentecost———To all, therefore, I would say, with the Apostle, “If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded; having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind

Conduct- As immortal beings, we all have one great pursuit, which we ought to follow with our whole hearts, and in comparison of which all other things should be as rubbish.

Philippians 3:7–8 ESV

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Charles Simeon: “ To advance the cause of God in this world, and to reach the promised land, should be the objects nearest to all our hearts. In this, then, let us all unite: “forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, let us press forward for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Let us, I say, as many as be perfect, “be thus minded

Simeon, C. (1833). Horae Homileticae: Galatians-Ephesians (Vol. 17, p. 342). London: Holdsworth and Ball.