Ephesians 4:1-32
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Chapter 4 - Christ blesses us with Spiritual gifts
*Week 7: Eph 4:1-16
(Summary: Unity!)
a. From doctrine to Practice
b. What does a worthy walk look like
c. Building up the saints
Week 8: Eph 4:17-31
(Summary: The New Man)
a. Off with the old and on with the new
b. But - why do I still sin?
c. Replace Vice with Virtue
(4:1-3) 1 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.
From Doctrine to Practice
Practical The practical
— Paul uses the first 3 chapters of Ephesians to lay out the practical
— He says, now that you know this, walk
— In Romans, he uses 11 chapters to cover doctrine
— Then in Rom 12:1 he says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
In Galatians chapters 1-4 talk about freedom from the law
— Then 5-6 starts the practical application (Gal 5:1)
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Exhort Παρακαλω (Parakaleo) I exhort
A strong plea, not a suggestion
— Imploring, begging that they walk worthy of their calling
Q: Verse 4:1 - How are we supposed to walk? What does it mean to be worthy of something ?
(4:1) walk worthy of the calling
Worthy αξιως worthily
— Balancing the scales
— What is on one side should equal the scale
— We are paid according to worth
— Now walk according to your worth - a child of God, a fellow heir of Christ
— Practical living matches your spiritual position
Not Saying
Not saying that we become worthy of being called
— But live in a way that reflects beauty, privilege of being a child of God
(4:1) with which you were called
Q: Here is that word “calling” again. What calling is Paul referring to here?
Calling
The sovereign, saving, effectual calling of God to salvation (cf. Rom 11:29, 1 Cor 1:26, Eph 1:18, 4:1, Phil 3:14, 2 Thess 1:11, 2 Tim 1:9, 2 Peter 1:10)
— Jesus said you cannot come to me unless you are called ( John 6:44)
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
— Elsewhere, Paul say whom he called he also justified (Rom 8:30)
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
— Here in Ephesians (4:1)
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
He Chooses
No one can be saved apart from receiving Christ as Savior
— But no one on their own can choose Christ who has not already been chosen by the Father and the Son (cf John 15:16)
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
Search and Rescue
God sent Jesus not only to provide salvation but to seek and save us, the lost (Luke 19:10)
— A search and rescue mission
10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
(4:2) with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
Q: Can you see the five-fold (5) description of how Paul describes the worthy walk in 4:2?
The characteristics of a worthy walk. What a worthy walk should look like
5 Fold Description
The description looks a lot like what we see in Col 3:12-15
(a) Humility / lowliness
(b) Meekness / gentleness
(c) patience / forbearing / long suffering
(d) love
(e) unity
#1 Humility
(4:2)with all lowliness
— Be completely humble (NIV)
Humility ταπεινοφροσυνης (tapinophrosune) Humility
Compound word
— Literally, think or judge with lowliness
— John Wesley observed: that neither the Romans or the Greeks had a word for humility
— It was abhorrent to their thinking
— The word was coined by Christians
— Paul may have coined the word himself!
Foundational It is a foundational Christian virtue
— The opposite of pride
— You want to know if someone is walking the Christina walk - look for humility
— Humility is the opposite of the world celebrates
— Countless Award shows, parading and promoting oneself.
Pride The first sin was Pride
— Lucifer exalted himself and was cast out of heaven (cf Isa 14:22-23, Ezek 28:11-19)
First Beatitude
The first beatitude begins with humility (cf Matt 5:3) and God opposes the proud (cf James 4:6)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Be Humble The Lord calls His people to humility
— See the Proverbs (cf. Prov 15:33, Prov 22:4, Prov 27:2)
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.
2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.
Humility Once grasped, it is forfeited
Christ was an example of humility
— The kenosis of Christ (cf. Phil 2:7-8)
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Q: Contrast Pride vs Humility
Pride vs Humility
Pride Humility
The root behind every sin Every virtue has humility at it’s root
Pride hides who we are Humility allows us to see ourselves as we truly are (and as God sees us)
Pride behind every problem we have with people Humility behind harmonious relationships and spiritual success
Bernard of Clairvaux
Humility begins with proper self-awareness. The virtue - by which a man becomes conscious of his own unworthiness. The first thing an honest person sees is his sin (cf 1 John 1:8-9)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Boast in the Lord
If my entrance into heaven is:
— not based on my merits
— not based on my living a perfect life
— if he saved me while I was dead in my sins
— if he saved me by Grace undeserved and chose me before the foundation of the earth
Then, as Paul said “But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord” (2 Cor 10:17)
#2 Meekness
(4:2) and gentleness
— Meekness
— be gentle (NIV)
— gentleness (ESV)
— mildness (D-R)
Q: What is meekness?
Gentleness πραοτητος (praotes) meekness, gentleness
Very closely related to humility, humility produces meekness
— Some dictionaries define it as timid, lacking in courage
— THAT IS NOT the biblical definition
— Moses was described as humble, gentle ( Num 12:3 )
3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
— For Moses was a man exceeding meek above all men that dwelt upon earth (D-R)
Not weak Moses was not weak
— He stood up to Pharaoh, let my people go!
— Meekness is power under control
— To be submissive when provoked
— A willingness to suffer injury rather than inflict it
Meek but righteous anger
Moses confronted Israel when they were rebellious and turned to idolatry (Ex 32:19-29).
— Jesus displayed righteous anger (cf. Matt 21:13)
13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
Paul said Paul said here Ephesians in "Be angry and do not sin” (Eph 4:26)
The unsaved
A person with biblical meekness has the right attitude about the unsaved
— Don’t feel morally superior than a lost person - drug addict, prostitute, thief liar (cf. 1 Peter 3:15)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Q: What is patience? Do you have it? How do you learn it?
#3 Patience
(4:2) with longsuffering
Patience It takes time to learn patience
— One way is through suffering
— A pastor prayed for a young man included Rom5:3 And not only that,
but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produce perseverance (patience)
Long suffering
Long suffering - another word for patience
— To suffer loss
Paul
Paul was willing to endure any hardship, ridicule, persecution
— Moses demonstrated long suffering (Heb 11:25-27)
25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
#4 Love
(4:2) bearing with one another in love
— The Christian walk should also be marked by Love
This is a hard one!
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions” (Prov 10:12 )
— Takes abuse from others while continuing to love them
Not saying
Be a doormat, put up with his/her behavior, while you boil inside
— He is saying that your inner attitude should be love
Love αγαπη (agape) love
Same word as before (1:15; 2:4; 3:17; 3:19)
— The only way that this forbearing love can be expressed is with αγαπη love
— Unconquerable benevolence
— Invincible goodness
— Love that prays for enemies (cf. Matt 5:43-44)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Q: What attitudes are consistent with the Christian walk ? (2-3)
Lowliness (humility), gentleness, long suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit...
#5 Unity
Result
If you judge yourself with lowliness - which is humility, and
— if you are meek towards other (not weak), and
— if you are patient and long suffering with others, and
— if you are bearing with each other in agape love
— If you do all these things - the result will be unity in the church, wonderful personal relationships with other people
(4:3) endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
With other believers
Notice who creates this unity: the Holy Spirit
— Not talking about Protestants and Catholics united
— According to a 2018 Pew Survey 52% of Protestants thinks salvation is faith + works
— 52% believe in the authority of the church + tradition + the bible
— 70% reject sola scriptura and sola fide
— So - Protestants already are closer to Catholics than 500 years ago
Evangelicals and Catholics Together is a 1994 ecumenical document signed by leading Evangelical and Roman Catholic scholars in the United States. — Signed by Charles Colson, Bill Bright, J.I. Packer
Not Jesus’ intent Jesus prayed for spiritual unity (cf. John 17:11, 21-23)
11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
(4:3) endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
— make every effort (NIV)
Endeavoring σπουδάζω (spaudazo) Be diligent, make haste, endeavor
— demands zeal dedication to do these things
— It isn’t easy, it requires effort
Unity Work at unity by doing these things
(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.
Unity! Unity !
Study of Numbers
19th century it was a fad to look for number patterns in the bible
— #1 represented unity
— What do you think 3 represented?
— #3 represented the trinity
— #7 the seven-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit (cf. Isa 11:2, Rev 1:4c)
Greatly Exaggerated
The significance was greatly exaggerated
— Ethelbert Bullinger wrote a 200 page book on numbers in the bible:
— Numbers in Scripture. It’s Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance
7 fold #1
In this passage we see the seven fold repetition of the number #1 which deals with the unity of the church:
Q: Can you find the 7 fold repetition of the number 1 in 4:4-6?
(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
— One Body (4:4)
— One Spirit (4:4)
— One Hope (4:4)
— One Lord (4:5)
— One Faith (4:5)
— One Baptism (4:5)
— One God (4:6)
— One Father (4:6)
The One Body of Christ - The Church
Another way to look at Ephesians 4:4-6 is that this is all about the church
Metaphor
One Body- a metaphor for the church
— In 1 Cor Paul describes the church as Christ’s body (cf 1 Cor 12:12-31)
— An argument for preserving unity
— If one part of the body is cut off there is great personal loss
One Holy Spirit
One Spirit One Holy Spirit
— It is the inner unifying force of the body (the church)
— We are individual temples of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 3:16-17)
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
— And we saw earlier in Chapter 2 that Paul said Christ is the cornerstone (cf. 2:20-21)
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
Spirit is a pledge
The Holy Spirit is a pledge given to us like an engagement ring
— Paul said the spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance (Eph 1:14)
— One of our blessings in Christ
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
The same spirit
Our stories of conversion differ but it is the same spirit
— The spirit works the same
(1) Awakens us to sin - we are not right with God, we are hostile to his Character, holiness, violated his laws
(2) The work of regeneration - God supernaturally places us in Christ - changes our hearts
(3) The work of faith - made alive in Christ. We place our faith in Christ to follow him
(4) The work of sanctification - we produce the fruit of the spirit (cf. Gal 5:22-23)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Q: Does anyone want to share their conversion? How they were saved?
James Boice
Isn’t it marvelous that regardless of what background you come from or how we have come to Christ, the one Holy Spirit of God has united us in a much more important common experience?
One common Hope
Q: What does Hope mean? Use it in a sentence
Hope
Today is means something uncertain, wishful but something we don’t expect or count on
N.T. Hope
Hope in the New Testament is something certain, assured
— It is something to expect and count on
— Opposite of the world’s definition
(4:4) One hope of your calling
— Our hope is to be certain to be Christlike, perfect, glorified in Heaven
—In Christ we all have different gifts, abilities, but in Heaven we will all be Christlike (cf Eph 1:4, Rom 8:29)
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
One Lord
One Lord, one way, one path, one road, one way to salvation (cf Acts 4:12)
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
One True Faith
Not the act of Faith
— But the doctrine of Faith as revealed in the NT
— There is only one true Faith (cf. Jude 3)
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
— Jude (half brother of Christ) wanted us to vigorously defend for the Faith
— Jude was worried about losing the gospel to False teachers
— Martian Luther rediscovered the gospel 500 years ago (1517)
Q: How do you lose that Faith?
You lose it when
You don’t carefully study His word, mix your faith with unexamined traditions, worldly influences, contradictory forms of truth
One Baptism
Strange/Odd
Odd that Paul would include baptism here was something that unites the church
— Baptism has historically divided the church
— Are you baptized in a lake, stream, a pool or a baptistery?
— A little water, sprinkled or immersion?
— As an adult or a child?
— Were you baptized before or after you came to Faith in Christ?
Dry Verse
This is a dry verse
— Not water baptism but symbolic of our baptism into Christ
— Another dry verse (cf. Rom 6:3-5, 1 Peter 3:20-21)
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
MacArthur commenting on 1 Peter 3:21
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
3:21 Corresponding to that … now saves you. Peter is teaching that the fact that 8 people were in an ark and went through the whole judgment, and yet were unharmed, is analogous to the Christian’s experience in salvation by being in Christ, the ark of one’s salvation. baptism … through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter is not at all referring to water baptism here, but rather a figurative immersion into union with Christ as an ark of safety from the judgment of God. The resurrection of Christ demonstrates God’s acceptance of Christ’s substitutionary death for the sins of those who believe (Ac 2:30, 31; Ro 1:4). Judgment fell on Christ just as the judgment of the flood waters fell on the ark. The believer who is in Christ is thus in the ark of safety that will sail over the waters of judgment into eternal glory (cf. Ro 6:1–4). not the removal of dirt from the flesh. To be sure he is not misunderstood, Peter clearly says he is not speaking of water baptism. In Noah’s flood, they were kept out of the water while those who went into the water were destroyed. Being in the ark and thus saved from God’s judgment on the world prefigures being in Christ and thus saved from eternal damnation. an appeal to God for a good conscience. The word for “appeal” has the idea of a pledge, agreeing to certain conditions of a covenant (the New Covenant) with God. What saves a person plagued by sin and a guilty conscience is not some external rite, but the agreement with God to get in the ark of safety, the Lord Jesus, by faith in His death and resurrection (cf. Ro 10:9, 10; Heb 9:14; 10:22).
One God of All (4:6)
(4:6) one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7th item on the list
#1 - 3 were centered around the Holy Spirit (body, spirit, hope)
#4-5 were centered around the son (faith, baptism)
#6-7 One God and Father
Trinity
Q: How do we normally think about the trinity?
Backwards
We usually say, Father, Son, Holy Spirit
— But here is it backwards: Holy Spirit, Son, Father
Boice
James Montgomery Boice makes this observation: Paul is arguing from the effect to the cause. Visible effect of the Holy Spirit given to the church through the work of Christ. And is flows from God who is over all through all and in all
(4:7-11) 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.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers
For me One of the most enigmatic, mysterious, difficult to interpret passages of scripture
To each a Gift
Many commentators consider this the heart of Ephesians.
— Tells how the church should function Overview - talks about gifts, these gifts come from Christ.
— His gifts to the church. Everyone has a gift
— A different type of gift than those listed elsewhere in the NT
Q: Do you see a small letter next to the words in italics by verse 4:8?
Omitted
Sometimes these letter indicate that a portion is not in the earliest manuscripts (cf. Mark 16:9-20)
— Here, an OT quote of PS 68 (sort of !)
— About triumph
— Possibly about bringing the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem
— God is victorious over his enemies
— Ascending his throne to receive gifts from all men
— Victory parade, king’s solders and recaptured the captives (solders that had been freed).
Christ
Now Christ has defeated the enemy, ascended to the right hand of the Father, receiving gifts
— Brings his captivity captive
— Once slaves to sin
Receive “ you have received gifts from men” ( Ps 68:18)
18 You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the Lord God might dwell there.
But Wait!
Gave Eph 4:8 is different
(4:8) Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”
Turned around Paul turns this around
Boice
A textual problem. Some commentators think Paul altered the text for his own purpose. That’s hard to believe. Why even use the quote? Historically, a King would both receive and give the spoils of war. The Hebrew word used here can mean either “receive” or “brought” Two (2) ancient texts of Ps 68 (Aramaic, Syriae) which translate the word as “gave”
Gifts Christ is giving gifts
— 1. They are coming from Christ
— 2. Each person gets a gift. What a shame when we don’t use our gift!
Clergy and Laity
John Stott (1921-2011) points out that there has developed a division between clergy and laity. Clergy leads, does the work of the ministry. The people (laity) follow like sheep and give money to support the clergy. It would be one thing if this were a social observation, but this is an institutionalized doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church
1906 Papal Encyclical
Vehmenter Nos. As for the masses, they have no other right than of letting themselves be lead and of following and of following their pastors as a docile flock.
(4:7) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift
But
Why is the word “but” here? What are we talking about?
Unity
Used here as an adversative rather than a simple conjunction
— It could be translated “in spite of’ or “on the other hand”
— It brings together the idea of unity that has been the theme of verses 3-6
— The unity of the church, the body of Christ - humility, meekness, patience, forbearing, love, unity
Diversity These gifts are for diversity
— Unity is not uniformity
— Robot Christians, all the same
(4:7) each one
A personal, intimate relation to and through each one another
— Each believer is uniquely gifted
— The spirt is given for the profit of all ( cf 1 Cor 12:7)
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
— The spirt distributes gifts individually as He wills ( 1 Cor 12:11)
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
(4:7) grace was given
Synonymous with the gospel
— Short-hand for the gospel
— Undeserved, unmerited, unearned, God-motivated, self act; another dimension
— The greatest gift of grace is self
— God gave himself to sinful man
— He gives us salvation, His kingdom, His inheritance, His Spirit, His power, His love, His peace, His glory and Eph 1:3 every other spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ
Our Choosing
When we choose a marriage partner we base it on a lot of things
— Do I like them?
— Are they attractive?
— Do they have any bad habits? ; Come from a good family?
God’s Choosing
When God “chose us before the foundation of the world” (1:4) he did so out of pure grace and nothing that he saw in us that made us worthy of his care
— All God can see in the world is sin yet “He so loved the world that he gave his only son (John 3:16) that he might redeem the world
— He also emptied himself of glory that he might offer glory to fallen man
— He gave his own life that might offer to spiritually dead men eternal life
Grace that enables us
The “grace in which we stand” (Ro 5:2) is also the grace that enables us
— That is the idea used here and in Romans 5:2 (cf Eph 6:10, Phil 4:3, 1 Tim 1:12, 2 Tim 4:17)
Every believer
A grace given to every believer
The definite article η χαρις (he charis) - the Grace
— It is the grace unique to Christ
MacArthur
“The term for grace is charis and signifies that what is given is not the charismata (the special gifts by this word in Ro 12:6-8 and 1 Cor 12:4-1) but the subjective grace that works in and shows itself through the life of a believer. The grace is the enabling power that makes the special gifts function to the glory of God.”
(4:7) according to the measure of Christ’s gift
Measured
The Lord has measured out the proportion of each gift
— That makes each gift unique
— Exact portions of enabling grace and faith needed to energize our gifts
Gifts to the Church
There are 5 different lists of gifts given to the church
— About 19 or 20 gifts altogether
— wisdom, knowledge, gift of healing, miracles, discerning of spirits, prophecy, tongues and interpretation (cf. 1 Cor 12:8-10 )
8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
— apostles, prophets, teachers, administrators, miracles, healings, tongues (1 Cor 12:28-30)
28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
— prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhorting, giving, leadership, mercy (Ro 12:6-8)
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
— apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (4:11)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
— preaching, ministering (1 Pet 4:11)
Gift δωρεά (dōrea) gift
The word “gift” used here in 4:7 does not focus on the un-deservedness of the gift as do the special gifts (charismata)
— We just listed out the five (5) lists of special gifts (charismata)
— These are all undeserved gifts (cf. Rom 12:6, 1 Cor 12:4, 1 Peter 4:10)
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
— The word “gift” used here in 4:7 does not focus on on the spiritual source of the gifts as does pneumatikon (“spiritual gifts” or literally spiritual things; cf 1 Cor 12:1)
— Here the word “gift” focus on the freeness of the gift
— Freely you have recieved, freely give (Matt 10:8; Ro 3:24)
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Sovereignly Given
Gifts are sovereignly given by God
— Diversities of gifts and ministries but the same Spirit (1 Cor 12:4-7)
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
— the same spirits distributes individually as He wills (1 Cor 12:11)
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Do not seek
No gift should be sought
— They are part of God’s plan
— God gave the gifts to the body as He pleased (1 Cor 12:18)
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
— Some gifts appear weaker but are necessary (1 Cor 12:22)
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
Don’t Waste
Don’t put your gift in the garage, or on the shelf or in your Public Storage unit
— No gift should be unused.
Don’t Exalt
It is exactly what we need from the Lord
— No gift should be exalted (cf Rom 12:3)
— we should not think of ourselves more highly but soberly as God has given each of us a measure of faith (Ro 12:3)
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Diversity You may have a number of gifts, not just one, but everyone has a gift
Degree You may have the gift of teaching but not the same degree as another person
— We have different gifts according to the grace given to us (cf Rom 12:6; Eph 4:7)
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
— Not a single teaching gift, not the same abilities or emphasis for any given gift
— We are all unique like snowflakes
(4:11) Prophets
4 Gifts that Christ Gives to the Church
Q: What are those gifts in 4:11?
4 Gifts Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers
#1. Apostles
Apostles αποστολους ( apostolos) apostles
— One sent on a mission
— Speaking of the 12 apostles including Matthias who replaced Judas (Acts 1:26)
— and Paul, apostle to the Gentiles (Gal 1:15-17, 1 Cor 15:7-9, 2 Cor 11:5)
Qualifications
a. Chosen directly by Christ
b. Seen Him resurrected (Mark 3:13, Acts 1:22-24)
Today Today some people claim to be apostles which is impossible
Messengers
Some claim that the bible speaks of as many as 25 “apostles” in the bible
— The confusion is the word apostle (apostoloi) which means messenger
— When used in a general sense it can be applied to:
— Barnabas (Acts 14:4)
— Silas and Timothy (1 Thess 2:6)
— Apollos (1 Cor 4:6-9)
— James - the half brother of Jesus (Gal 1:19)
— 2 unnamed men in 2 Cor 8:23
— And Andronicus and Junia (Rom 16:7)
— And Christ himself according to Heb 3:1
False Teachers
False teachers came as “apostles” when in fact they were not
— these false teachers claimed to be apostles (cf. 2 Cor 11:13)
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
Authenticated True apostles were authenticated with signs and wonders
— They were accompanied with signs and wonders and mighty deeds (cf. 2 Cor 12:12)
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
Short-lived
“The term apostle does not appear after Acts 16:4. No NT record of any apostle being replaced after the apostle died. No Apostles today. The word apostle can mean anyone “sent out” but here in the technical sense and apostle was a special office / gift given to the church to lay the foundation of the church (Eph 2:20-22) When someone today says that they are an “apostle” they usually do not mean someone sent out but rather a continuation of the 1st century office of apostle. “ (MacArthur)
#2. Prophets
Prophets
Spoke for God
— Sometimes revelation (Acts 11:21-28)
— Sometimes expounded on already given revelation (Acts 13:1)
— Always spoke for God, but not always a new message
— Could be anyone who speaks boldly in His name (cf. 1 Cor 14:3, Eph 2:20)
— The prophets speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men (1 Cor 14:3)
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
— The church was laid on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone (2:20)
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
Passed Away
Prophets and Apostles have passed away but they laid the foundation of the church
— We now have the scripture
— No need for additional revelation
#3 Evangelists
Q: Do we all have the gift of evangelism?
All called to be
Some are especially gifted: Billy Graham, Luis Palau
— Billy Graham points out in his book, The Holy Spirit, the only person who was called an evangelist was Philip, and he was a deacon
— We are all called to evangelism
— The great commission in (Matt 28:19)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
#4 Pastor - Teacher
Shepherd ποιμενας (poimen) Means shepherd
— care, protection, leadership (i.e. Pastor)
Teacher διδασκαλους (didaskaloi) Teacher
— the function of a pastor
— Many have this gift, as is the case with evangelism
— Many who are not ordained have this gift
— Elders, deacons, Sunday school teachers, who are caring for the church
— The word for Pastor (poimen) used many times in the NT
— Translated as shepherd
— Only here is it translated as Pastor by the KJV, NKJV, NIV
— But, ESV, ASV, NRSV translates it as shepherds
Q: Is Pastor, Elder, and Bishop all the same thing?
Office Interchangeable.
— The poimen (shepherd)
— episkopos (Bishop, overseer)
— presbuteros (elder, older person)
Elder Speaks of who the man is - an older person
Bishop Speaks of what he does - oversee the church
Pastor Speaks of his character and attitude - shepherd, protector, leader and teacher
Textual evidence
Same qualifications
— Bishop ( 1 Tim 3:1-7)
— Elder (Titus 1:5-7)
All three together
Peter brings all three terms brings all three terms together - pastor, bishop and elder ( 1 Peter 5:1-2 )
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
(4:9-10) 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.)
Ascended
But first descended
— Not talking about death
— Rather, his incarnation
— He emptied himself ( Phil 2:6-9 )
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
(4:9) what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
— Interesting that Paul phrases this as a question!
— The extremes between heaven and earth
— The place of life and death
Q: how is this phrase used elsewhere?
When David speaks of the lower parts of the earth he is speaking of death (cf Ps 63:9)
9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
— Jesus referred to it as death making reference to Jonah in the belly of a fish (cf Matt 12:40)
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The lower parts of the earth also refers to created things: trees, mountains, earth
— “Shout your lower parts of the earth” (cf Isa 44:23)
23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel.
— The womb of the women is called the lower part of the earth
— I was “skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth” (cf Ps 139:15)
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
What does it mean?
“It is meant to provide a striking contrast to His ascent far above all the heavens, emphasizing the extreme range of our Lord’s condescension and exaltation...
The intent of the phrase in this letter is not to point to a specific place, but to refer to the depth of the incarnation. It is interesting that each of the uses of the phrase outside Ephesians can also relate to the depth of Christ’s incarnation. He was formed in the womb (Ps 139:15), lived on the earth (Isa 44:23), referred to His own burial as a parallel to Jonah’s being in the fish (Matt 12:40), and His death is consistent with the phrase in Psalm 63:9. “ (MacArthur)
Christ’s Descent
But, His descent went beyond the womb, the grave, the earth
— He went to the pit of demons (cf. 1 Peter 3:18-19)
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
Q: Did Christ preach the gospel to the demons?
Made Proclamation
He proclaimed his triumphant announcement - victory over the demons
— “he went and preached to the spirits in prison” (1 Pet 3:19)
— made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits (NIV)
Proclaim κήρυσσω (kēryssō). vb. to preach or proclaim
— Doesn’t mean that the message is good
— not the same word as preaching the gospel (from εὐαγγελίζω, euangelízō Cf. Luke 3:18, 4:45, 7:22)
— He not preach the gospel; he proclaimed victory (cf. Col 2:15)
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Sheol
OT calls it a place of torment for the demons
— The unrighteous dead and demons that had sex with humans (cf Deut 32:22, Job 26:6, Ps 16:10)
— Christ told the demons, both bound and loose, that they were all subject to Him (cf 1 Peter 3:22, Eph 1:20-21)
22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22-23)
— Where the righteous dead resided
— This was taught at the time of Christ
— Early church dogma taught, these righteous dead could not enter God’s presence, until after the cross
— Early church taught that Christ opened the gates of Sheol and released these godly captives
Building the Body of Christ
Ephesians 4: 12-16
(4:12-16 ) 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; 14 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.
Wrong Focus
20th century church says that ministry is to be done by a paid staff
— The staff is to reach the community
— Structure the church service to be “seeker friendly”
Right Focus
The purpose of evangelists, pastors is to build up the saints
— Clergy jobs is to equip the saints
Laity’s job
— We do the ministry
— We reach our neighbors, co-workers
Result
— The church is built up
Q: If pastors-teachers are to equip the saints, what does equipping mean?
Equipping
Lead us from sin to obedience
— Sanctification, teach us the Word of God
Basic Tools
#1 The Bible
Pastor-teacher has to feed the flock using God’s word
— Then lead them to feed themselves (cf 2 Tim 3:16-17, John 15:3 )
#2 Prayer
The apostles gave themselves to teaching and prayer
— Pauls always praying for the churches
#3 Testing
Testing also equips the saints for ministry
— Refines the believer to greater holiness
— Testing perfects our faith (cf James 1:2-4)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
#4 Suffering
Following Christ means not only being raised with Him from the dead, also sharing in the fellowship of his suffering
— From prison Paul wanted to share in his suffering and the power of His resurrection (cf Phil 3:10)
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
— Peter said after we have suffered for a while we will be established, strengthened (1 Peter 5:10)
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
(4:12b) for the work of ministry
Not a one man show
The Pastor cannot do it all
— His job is to equip deacons, elders, teachers and others to do the work of ministry
— The work of ministry is the work of every Christian
(4:12c) for the edifying of the body of Christ
Edifying οἰκοδομή (okiodome) building up, edifying
— Literally the building of a house
— The church grows by evangelism
— But the idea here is internal, spiritual growth, maturity
— Paul told the Ephesians the same thing (Acts 20:32)
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
(4:13) Unity of the Faith
— Faith, the same idea as in 4:5.
— The doctrine of the Faith which we are to preserve
— Not believing faith
— Unity will result when we are properly taught, faithfully serve and built up in spiritual maturity
(4:13b) Knowledge of the Son of God
Know the Lord
Life long process of knowing the Lord intimately
— Earlier Paul prayed that the Ephesians would have knowledge of Him
— He prayed that God would give us the spirit of wisdom (Eph 1:17)
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
— And in his sister letter to the Colossians he prayed they would have all spiritual understanding Col 1:9-10 )
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
— And attain all the riches of the full understanding to the knowledge of the mystery of God (Col 2:2)
— At the end of Paul’s life we could say he counted all things loss for the surpassing value of knowing Christ (cf Phil 3:8-10)
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
(4:13c) to the measure of the fullness of Christ
Christ Alone
Christ is the only full-grown perfect man
— That is our goal
— As we grow in sanctification that is our goal never to be obtained in this life
(4:14 )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,
Q: Doesn’t the bible teach us to be like little children?
Approach the Kingdom
Approach the kingdom as little children
— Simple trust
— Come with simple childlike faith (cf Matt 18:3)
3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Regarding Sin Be infants in regard to sin, evil
— As babes, their sins are not sophisticated
— Babies are not innocent but relatively, be babes in regards to sin but adult in your thinking (cf. 1 Cor 14:20) (NIV)
20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
Q: What comes to mind when you think of little children?
Children
Fun to be around, cute, easily fooled, naive, will believe anything, trusting, short attention span, fickle
(4:14 )that we should no longer be children
Unfortunate
Unfortunate that these are the marks of a Christian - or a local church
— No doctrinal solidarity (4:13 unity of faith)
— No spiritual unity (4:13 Knowledge of the Son of God…fullness of Christ)
How?
No knowledge of God’s Word, not anchored
— No godly teaching elders, pastors-teachers
Result
They grab every new fad, every counterfeit truth, humanistic, pagan
— Feel-good messages, easy-believism
Warnings
The NT repeatedly warns of this exact danger
— (cf Acts 20:30-31, Rom 16:17-18, 2 Cor 11:3-4, Gal 1:6-7; Gal 3:1, Col 2:4-8, 1 Tim 4:1, 1 Tim 4:6-7, 2 Tim 2:15-18, 3:6-9, 4:3, Heb 13:9, 2 Peter 2:1-3, 1 John 2:19, 26)
For 3 Years
For 3 years Paul ministered in Ephesus (Interesting that he spends 3 chapters giving them a seminary’s worth of doctrine)
— For 3 years he told them that false teachers would come
— The danger was not outside the church
— The danger was inside the church
— Deceivers will come from within their own ranks (cf. Acts 20:30-31)
30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
(4:15) Speaking the truth in love
Truth ἀληθεύω (aletheuo) but holding the truth, speaking the truth
— Truth is actually a participle (a word formed from a verb then used as an adjective)
— example: working women, burned toast
— One word translated “but holding the truth”
— So instead of saying: speaking the truth in love, literally “truthing it in love”
The Gospel
This verb is used one other place in the NT
— Also by Paul with respect to having preached the gospel to the Gentiles (cf. Gal 4:16 )
Reach out in Love
We are to reach out in love
— Preaching the gospel in love to a lost world
6 Marks of the church - James Montgomery Boice
John 17:13-26
Joy, holiness, truth, mission, unity and love. Love is the most important
— What happens when you remove love from any of the other attributes of the church?
Joy - Love
Hedonistic pursuit of pleasure, no string attached
Holiness - Love
Pharisees and Scribes
— Self righteousness
Truth - Love
Orthodoxy
— Truth remains but it is bitter and no one wants to join your church
Mission - Love
Leads to colonialism
— Win people to our denomination not Christ
Unity - Love
Command and Control
— Church tells you to fall in line or else
But When you add love
Love + God Results in Joy
Love + Jesus
Results in Holiness (cf John 14:15 )
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
Love + Word
Results in truth (cf Ps 119:43 )
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
Love for the World
Leads to missions
Love for one another
Leads to unity
(4:15b) We are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ
Grow up
Grow up in all aspects to be like Christ
— To be Christlike (Eph 4:13) a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
— And Eph 5:2 - and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us
— This was the reason we were called (cf 1 Peter 2:21)
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
(4:15b) who is the head
The Head Indicates authority (cf. Eph 1:22)
— God gave Christ to be head over all things to the church
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
(4:16) 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.
Christ the Source
He is the source of our power, unity
— He causes the body to be fit together, work together
What is our Part
We have a part to play
— Every joint supplies
— We intercept with all other joints, use our gifts, minister
Gifts
Requires that we use our gifts
— The proper working of each individual part
— We are not intimate with other believers, we cannot be faithful with our gifts, he cannot work through us
Off with the Old, on with the New
(4:17-19) This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Q: Are you familiar with the expression - when in Rome do as the Romans do?
Worldly Advice
If among successful people, act successful, sophisticated
— If among common people, act common, earthly
Therefore (4:17a)
Whenever you see “therefore” you should ask what is it there for?
Because
#1 We are called to salvation
#2 Chosen by God before the foundation of the world
#3 Unified in the Body of Christ
#4 Gifted by the Holy Spirit
#5 Built up and taught by gifted men
— We should therefore… you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk
Salvation - Not improvement
Salvation is not improvement, but a total transformation
— We have a new you
New You
— New mind, will, heart, inheritance, relationship, power, knowledge, wisdom, love, citizenship (cf. Rom 6:4)
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Become new
Not that we receive something new
— We become something new (cf 2 Cor 5:17)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Replaces the old you
Our new nature is not added to the old nature, it replaces it
— you are new “I” (cf. Gal 2:20)
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Ephesus
The Gentiles of Paul’s day
— Leading cultural and commercial center in the Roman empire
— Also a leading city in debauchery and sexual immorality
Temple
The temple of Artemis
— Artemis, greek goddess of the moon, daughter of Zeus and Leto
— Also known as Diana
— Center of much wickedness in Ephesus
— Artemis was also a sex goddess, everything was permissible at the temple
— Thousands of temple prostitutes
— Idols were everywhere
— Made of silver
— Paul’s preaching really impacted the trade, to the point that the silversmiths rallied against Paul (Acts 19:24-28)
Bank
The temple also contained a bank, rich collection of art work
— No one dared steal from the bank
Criminals
1/4 mile around the temple was a sanctuary for criminals
The world system
1. futility of their thinking
2. darkened in their understanding
3 separated from the life of God
(4:17) Futility of their mind
Act as you think
People act as they think
— Vain thoughts, understanding is darkened as a consequence of being separated from God
— He does not know God and cannot think rightly
— Transformation must begin with the mind
— A few verses later Pauls writes Eph 4:23
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
Ignorance of the Truth
(4:18)Darkened in their understanding
Always learning
— Always learning but sinful man is ignorant (cf 2 Tim 3:7)
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Sin’s consequences
When me reject God, their penalty is foolishness, futility of thought, a darkened mind (cf. Rom 1:21)
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
(4:18) hardness of their hearts
Unresponsive The ungodly are unresponsive to the truth
— (KJV, NKJV) uses “blindness” to describe them
— No matter how loud, they cannot hear the truth
Romans Paul makes the same point in Romans 1:18-23
#1 God revealed himself in nature
— We are all without excuse
#2 People still rejected God, suppressed the revelation (v18)
#3 God’s wrath is upon them
— He is not favorable towards them but judges them for their sin
#4 God judicially and sovereignly determined to blind their minds
— Exclude them from His presence and confirm them in their spiritual ignorance (cf. Rom 1:21-22)
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
A depraved Mind The consequence: a depraved mind (cf. Rom 1:28 )
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
— St. Augustine “the punishment of sin is sin”
Spiritually and morally calloused
(4: 19) who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Absent restraint
Absent all moral restraint
— Don’t care
— Rejected God’s standard
— Legal in the US -so why not?
— Cut yourself off from God, eventually calloused and God gives you over to a debased, depraved mind
Martyn-Lloyd Jones
“Our conduct should always be to us something which is inevitable in view that we believe. . . if my Christian living is not quite inevitable to me, if I am always fighting against it and struggling and trying to get out of it, and wondering why it is so hard and narrow if I find myself rather envying the people who are still back in the world, there is something radically wrong with my Christian life.”
(4:20-24) But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
The School of Christ
All about education
All having to do with education
(1) You learned Christ
(2) you heard of Him
(3) You were taught in Him i.e. The school of Christ
(4:2) learned Christ
Interesting phrase
— It does not say: you have learned of Christ or learned from Christ
Q: What do you think it means?
Come to know (NIV)
— Extraordinary, because you are learning a person not a fact or a doctrine.
— Aorist tense (cf. Matt 11:29, John 6:45)
Aorist tense
In English, aorist tense is like simple past tense. I hit the ball.
— In our simple past we have no idea if was a one-time thing or on-going
— The sentence, I attended college or I raised 4 children, are also simple past but clearly not on-going
Learned μανθάνω (manthano)
Here, aorist active indicative (AAI), augmented with “ε” so that it reads εμαθετε (learned)
— AAI means a one-time act
— We learned Christ
— The process of learning truth, also “to come to know.”
— Learning truth as in Rom 16:17, Phil 4:9.
— But also to come to know as here
— Come to know - salvation (cf. 1 John 2:4)
Not easy believism
Some people say, you don’t have to give up anything to change anything to become a Christian
— They elevate God’s grace
— They believe everyone receives salvation when they believe in Jesus Christ as their personal saviour
— They say that Lord refers to belief that Jesus is able to be their saviour
— Proponents of Free Grace - Charles Stanley, Charles Ryrie, Zane Hodges, Bill Bright, Chuck Swindoll
— Free Grace = easy believism as opposed to Lordship salvation (cf. Matt 7:21)
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
But Why do I still sin?
Paul explains the reason in (Rom 7:17-18) and (Rom 7:20)
17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
Sin is still in the flesh
Our sin is still in our flesh
— Only when we are in glory will we be free from sin (cf. Rom 8:23, Phil 3:20-21, 2 Peter 1:3-4)
— Only then can we express our new nature
— “It is not the perfection of our lives, but the direction of our lives” (MacArthur)
— Do we have holy longings?
One Nature
We have one nature, not two (old and new)
— We are not spiritually schizophrenic
— The old nature dies
— The new self lives
— We sin not because of the old nature but because of the garment of sinful flesh
— We have residing sin but not reigning sin (cf. Rom 6:14)
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
John Macarthur
“No Christian is totally free from the presence of sin in this life, but in Christ he is willingly freed him his orientation to sin.He slips and falls many times, but the determined direction of his life is (always) away from sin.”
(4:21) if indeed you have heard Him
Heard ηκουσατε (ekousate) ye heard
— you heard of him (NIV 1978, 1979, 1984)
— you heard about Him (2011) - gender neutral
— Point is not that you heard “of” or heard “about” but that you heard Him speak
— How ? You heard him in Scripture
— Paul preached Jesus
(4:21) You were taught by Him
Taught εδιδαχθητε (edidachthete) were taught
— most translations say “in Him” (cf. NIV, ESV, NESV)
— Jesus is the atmosphere in which teaching takes place
— He is the teacher, the subject and the school house (cf. Matt 17:5 )
(4:22) lay aside
Put off, lay aside
3 infinitives given
— Putt off (4:22)
— Be renewed (4:23)
— Put on (4:24)
3 infinitives but not 3 commands
— These are done when we are saved
— These are translated as imperatives (commands) but that is not the meaning (cf. John Stott, D. Martyn-Lloyd Jones, James Boice, John MacArthur).
First Parallel passage is (Col 3:9-10)
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
Second Parallel Passage is (Eph 4:25)
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
Therefore
Indicates that now comes the application
— If these were commands (imperatives) it would read “Put off… Put on… Therefore Put off
— This makes no sense
— Have to read this as if it is already completed as in Colossians
— See that we have laid aside at salvation, not act this way
—( Not an imperative) Not urging us to a higher, moral standard of living
— We cannot on our own be genuinely moral (That is futile)
— Paul is demanding a high form of behaviour precisely because something decisive has already taken place
— We have been made new in Christ
— We should act that way
(4:23) Be renewed in the spirit of your mind Renewal
New spiritual and moral capability
— Apart from Christ, you cannot achieve (cf 1 Cor 2:9-16)
— Renewal continues through out your life as you are obedient to the word (Cf Rom 12:1-2)
— Continual work of the spirit (Titus 3:5)
— We gain the mind of Christ through the Word and prayer (cf. Phil 2:5, Col 3:16, 2 Tim 1:7)
(4:24) Put on the new man
New Mind Relates to the new mind
— Very likeness of God, created in Righteousness holiness and truth
— New - not renovated, remodeled, not “flipped” But entirely new creation
— We are made like God. Staggering! (cf 2 Pet 1:4)
— We are new but not yet all new
— Holy but not perfectly holy (cf Rom 6:13)
Q: if we are new, how should we act?
Ephesians 4:25-29 (tells us how to act)
(4:25-29) Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Q: What is lying?
Lying
Not telling the truth but also embellishing the truth, on your resume
— Telling half truths, exaggerating, cheating in school, taxes
Liars will not inherit
Liars have no part in the kingdom
— They will not inherit eternal life (cf Rev 21:8, 1 Cor 6:9)
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
— You might sometimes lie, fib.
— But if this is a habitual pattern of your life, you should doubt your salvation.
Q: Are we to be angry?
(4:26) “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath
There is a righteous anger
— We should be angry at injustice, immorality, ungodliness
— We should hate evil (cf Ps 69:9, Eph 4:26)
— Psalmist said “Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me” (Ps 69:9)
Bitterness
Even righteous anger can turn to bitterness, fester
— Best to put it to bed
— Settle arguments with your husband/wife before you go to sleep
— That way you will not give any opportunity to the devil
Q: What is stealing?
Stealing Cheating on your income taxes, over billing a client, invoicing a client
(4:28) Put off stealing and work for a living
8th Commandment Ex 20:15
Motivation
— sociologists would say: build self esteem, buy things and have a good life
Stealing to sharing
Paul says that your motivation should be to help the poor, those in needs
— Share with those in need.
— Some people don’t want to work
— Don’t deserve handouts (cf 2 Thess 3:10b)
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
Others Some people cannot work
— No fault of their own
— We should provide for our own household (cf 1 Tim 5:8 ) - one book over from 2 Thess
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
(4:28) What is good
Good ἀγαθός (agathos) Good, God honoring employment, good quality
— Never involved in money making that involves compromise, immorality, harms others
(4:29) Put off unwholesome talk and instead speak to help others
Unwholesome σαπρος (sapros) corrupt, unwholesome
— Really corrupt, means rotting fruit
— Some talk corrupts things
— Instead, it should build people up
— James 3 is devoted to the tongue - Dirty jokes, vulgarities, profanity, swearing, taking the Lord’s name in vain
— Should never characterize us
— When that happens it grieves the HolySpirit (4:30)
Build up others It should be good, edify, impart grace (cf. Col 4:6j
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
(4:30-32) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
(4:30) Do not Grieve the Holy Spirit
(4:31-32) Put off bitterness, rage, and malice and instead show love
A catchall bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, malice
Bitterness πικρια (pikria) bitterness, brewing, smoldering resentment, a grudge, person is always irritable, sour
Rage θυμος (thumos) indignation, wrath, rage
— Passion in the moment
Wrath οργη (orge) wrath, internal, smoldering
Clamor κραυγη (krauge) clamour, shout, loss of control
Evil Speaking βλασφημια (blasphemia) evil-speaking, slander
— Defamation
— Comes from bitterness
Malice κακια (kakia) Malice
— Evil, root of all vices
— All these must be put away
Person to Person All of these are person to person
— Ruins fellowship
— Breaks up fellowship, family, church
Q: What should take their place?
3 Virtues Kind, compassionate, forgiving
— God showed us these virtues, we are to show others the same
Kind Christ was kind (cf Luke 6:35b; Rom 2:4)
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Compassionate Tender hearted
Forgiving We should be eager to forgive others (cf. Matt 18:21-35)
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