Ephesians 4:1-16

Personal Observations:

v. 2-3, the manner in which Christians are called to conduct themselves are as follows: with humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance (bearing with/enduring) for one another in love, diligence in the preservation towards the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

v. 9, Paul is contrasting ascension with descension, so it is likely that the descension to the lower parts of the earth is reference to Christ’s incarnation rather than him descending into the underworld.

v. 9-10, Paul make it clear that Christ’s descension was before his ascension that His ascension was for that He might fill all things.

v. 11, How does Paul transition from the ascension/descension of Christ to His provision of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers?

v. 11-12, Apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers were provided for the equipping of Christians, towards the building up of the body of Christ.

v. 13, This ministry of building up was to last until complete unity in the faith was attained and full knowledge of Christ in measured proportion that belongs to the fullness of Christ.

v. 14-15, Because of this purpose for Christians, they are not to be like children in their wisdom, but are to be grounded in Christ, anchored in Him, growing in every aspect of Christ, all in a manner of truth in love.

v. 16, This body of love is fitted and held together by the head, Christ Jesus, according to the proper working of each individual. The church functions and grows in obedience to Christ through Christ, who causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. A sort of self-maintenance empowered by Christ.

Subject: What am I talking about?

“Why is unity central to the Church?”

Complement: What exactly am I saying about what I’m talking about?

Spiritual unity in the Church is a reflection of the oneness spread into every facet of the relationship between God and His people.

Unity in the Church

Unity in the Church

The Big Idea:

Spiritual unity is central to the Church because it is a reflection of God’s relationship with His People.

What does this mean?

Unity is central to the Church

Is this true?

So what?

Prayer Requests & Praise Reports

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Intro:

Up to this point it, Paul has been nothing short of praiseful towards God and the work He is doing amongst the Gentiles. We’ve seen how he deeply desires to remind them that they are sealed to God with the Holy Spirit (v. 1:13), that they would know the abounding hope they have in Christ, the value of which God Himself puts upon the Gentiles (v. 1:18), the great power God has displayed on behalf of the Gentiles (v.1:19), exemplified in the resurrection and ascension of Christ, who was seated at the Father’s right hand, putting everything into subjection to King Jesus (v. 1:19-23).

Paul gives glory to God that when we were sinners, He intervened and saved us by His grace, that in His salvation, He created new creatures () for good works which reflect the character and action of God himself (v. 2:10). And it’s on this very premise that Paul makes it a point that the Gentiles are therefore full-partakers in the salvation of Christ, that they are citizens with the saints, reconciled to God completely through the cross of Christ (2:11-22).

They are the good works which reflect the character and action of God himself.

Paul proceeds to tell the Gentiles that for all this, he continually prays that they would know and understand the love of Christ, filling them with the fullness of God. (3:1-19). Paul concludes this section with a doxology.

Now 4:1 introduces all that follows: in response to God’s blessings Christians are to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, or to live worthy lives.

Bruce, F. F. (1984). The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (p. 291). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

A Worthy Life (v. 1-3)

The One Confession (v. 4-6)

The Attaining of Unity (v. 7-16)

A Worthy Life (v. 1-3) How does this exhortation connect with Unity?

v. 1, Paul, the prisoner of the Lord, strongly calls the Ephesians to walk in a manner that reflects the calling Christians are called to; this is to say, come as you are is not an invitation to remain the way you are. Clearly there is a standard of expectation for the Christian in which they live

v. 2-3, the manner in which Christians are called to conduct themselves are as follows: with humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance (bearing with/enduring) for one another in love, diligence in the preservation towards the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

What marks the worthy life/walk? A lifestyle that preserves unity.

What is important to note is that God, by the Spirit, has already established unity (cf. 2:11–22). Harmony in Christ’s body is God’s purpose. It is because of this that Christians should live according to God’s purpose and strive to maintain this unity.

Peterman, G. W. (2014). Ephesians. In The moody bible commentary (p. 1851). Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.

The One Confession (v. 4-6)

(2:15-16, the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles into one body)

v. 4-6, From the mentioning of unity of the Spirit, Paul then expounds on this oneness: One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father

This Christianity in a nutshell:

The lives of Christians should reflect its reality.

You belong to One Body. What kind of implications would that have? As Stephen the Levite, a Christian rapper, had once put it, if you’re not a part of a Church, how do you even know if you’re Christian? In a culture where individualism is expected, the Bible eradicates such a notion that you can be a Christian and not be involved in the Body. In many ways it is very much like being a sailor in the Navy. You’re rarely ever going to be in a position where all you are is the one-sailor-wolf-pack. And fundamentally we get that, it’s installed in us during basic.

In belonging to the One Body, you share in the One Hope of your calling: eternal life. Think back to 1:18, to know the hope of our calling in Christ. Our hope is ultimately to be home with God; this unifies us.

We share in One faith (, ) have them read, we partake in One baptism (we partake in the death and resurrection of Christ (, )

And notice that Paul makes specific mention of Trinity, the Godhead, the Father, Son and Spirit in this passage. We see that God is inner-woven throughout this Oneness and I believe it fitting in that God Himself is the standard of Unity in Himself.

In a sense this is our confession, the set of doctrines that guard and protect us from false teachers as it was written to protect the churches of Ephesus. (Acts 20:28-30)

The Attaining of Unity (v. 7-16)

(Let observations begin prior to this intro to the point):

Here the letter moves from the call to unity and the basis for it, to diverse gifts that each member has for building this unity. The goal of their use of gifts is to attain to the unity of the faith (v. 13).

4:7. Within this unity each one performs service that is enabled by Christ’s grace. He gives grace—that is, grants spiritual giftedness—just as He wills (cf. ).

4:8–10. Paul cited (at 4:8) because Jesus’ victory and exaltation is another example of God’s triumph, similar to the one in the psalm.

Some traditions take v. 9 as referring to a descent into hell (based on a misunderstanding of ) but more likely it refers to the incarnation. Jesus ascended (was exalted after resurrection); before that He descended; that is, he became flesh (). The lower parts of the earth refer to earth itself (like saying “the city of Chicago,” where “the city” is “Chicago”).

The result of Christ’s exaltation (cf. ) is that He might fill all things (v. 10). The filling is not spatial, but in light of 1:23 and refers to exercising sovereignty.

v. 11-12, in the exercising of this sovereignty, Christ distributes gifts. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers were provided for the equipping of Christians, towards the building up of the body of Christ.

v. 9-10, Paul make it clear that Christ’s descension was before his ascension that His ascension was for that He might fill all things.

v. 11, How does Paul transition from the ascension/descension of Christ to His provision of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers?

v. 13, You’ll note, this building has three overlapping goals: first, a two-aspect unity (faith and knowledge, v. 13); second, maturity (v. 14); and third, Christlikeness (vv. 15–16; cf. “fullness” in 3:19).

This building has three overlapping goals: first, a two-aspect unity (faith and knowledge, v. 13); second, maturity (v. 14); and third, Christlikeness (vv. 15–16; cf. “fullness” in 3:19).

What’s more is that this ministry of building up was to last until complete unity was attained.

v. 14-16, Because of this purpose for Christians, they are not to be like children in their wisdom, but are to be grounded in Christ, anchored in Him, growing in every aspect of Christ, all in a manner of truth in love. You’ll note at Paul’s speaking, and as we noted previously, this is not simply individualistic, the goal is the growth of the whole body.

Maybe think of it as sort of self-maintenance empowered by Christ. The church functions and grows in obedience to Christ through Christ, who certainly causes the growth of the body, but it is clear in the gifts He gives, we are also partakers in the cultivation of body growth.

Conclusion:

-What is the unity of the Spirit in bond of peace?

The Big Idea:

Spiritual unity is central to the Church because it is a reflection of God’s relationship with His People.