Paul's Challenge to the Church

Ephesians 4:1

Introduction

The fourth chapter of Ephesians introduces a change of direction for the book. The word “therefore” in verse 1, signals this change. Paul is saying, “because of what I have said, this is what I want you to do.”

To me, the first there chapters of this book are among the most thrilling and most profound in the Bible. Over the course of just 66 chapters, Paul lays out a wonderful catalogue of divine truth. I do not want to re-preach the verses we have a already studied, but I do want to refresh your minds briefly about the glorious truths we have already studied.

In the first three chapters of this book, Paul's focus has been on doctrine. He has been telling us about the doctrinal truths we believe. He has also been teaching us about our positional standing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Allow me to run through a brief overview of the great truths we have already encountered in this book.

God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world - Eph. 1:4.

God has given us all spiritual blessings through Jesus - Eph. 1:3.

God has determined that we will be like Jesus, and with Jesus, one day - Eph. 1:5, 11-12.

God has made us accepted in Jesus - Eph. 1:6.

God proved the blood of Christ that washed us from our sins - Eph. 1:7.

God reached out to us when we were dead in our sins and headed to Hell - Eph. 2:1-4.

God loved us - Eph. 2:4.

God gave us life - Eph. 2:5.

God has secured our future - Eph. 2:6-7.

God has secured our salvation - Eph. 2:8-9.

God has given us a new life in Jesus - Eph. 2:10.

God has brought Jews and Gentiles together in Jesus - Eph. 2:11-18.

God has made a new race of people from those who believe the Gospel - Eph. 2:19-22.

God desires to use us, bless us and teach about the divine mystery of His everlasting grace and love - Eph. 3:1-21.

Everything I just mentioned, and more, makes up the contend of the first three chapters of this book.

When Paul uses the word “therefore,” he is reminding us about everything he has already written, and he is telling us that everything he has already written calls for a certain response. Paul's shift is from doctrine to duty. His shift is from positional truth to practical truth. His shift is from what we believe to how we are to behave. Paul moves from exposition to exhortation. He moves from principle to practice. Having told us about who we are and what we are supposed to believe, Paul now tells us how we are supposed to act.

By the way, this is a pattern Paul uses several times in the New Testament. The first eleven chapters of Romans are doctrinal in nature. Then, in Romans 12:1, he says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” The same pattern presents itself in Gal. 5:1; Phil. 2:1-2; Col. 3:5; and 1 Thess. 4:1.

Paul knows what many people have forgotten: duty arises out of doctrine! How we behave in life will always be determined by what we believe to be true. Our practice will always be dictated by the precepts we hold to be true. In others words, if we are going to behave right, we must believe right.

Right doctrine is essential for proper living! Until we come to a place where we correctly understand the doctrines taught in the Bible, we will not live lives that are pleasing to the Lord. As long as there are holes in our doctrine, we will be derelict in our duty to serve the Lord.

So, Paul turns from teaching us doctrine to teaching us about our duty as believers. He wants us to know that who we are should have an impact on what we are. He wants us to know that what we believe about God should determine how we behave before God.

As we begin our study of the second part of Ephesians, I want to draw your attention to Paul's Challenge To The Church. There are a few aspects of this challenge that speak to us about our daily walk. Notice with me Paul's Challenge To The Church.

I. This Challenge Is Personal

Paul says, “I…beseech you…” When Paul uses the word “you,” it reminds us that he is speaking tot he individual. While this book was written to the church in Ephesus nearly 2,000 years ago, it might as well have been delivered to each person in this room today. So, keep in mind that all the things we will study today, and all the way to the end of the book, were not written just to saints living two millennia ago, they are written to us! They are written to us to challenge us to reach our fullest potential in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The word “beseech” is filled with meaning. It means, “to call to one's side, to summon; to exhort, to entreat, to comfort; to encourage and strengthen by consolation; to instruct, to teach.” Paul is saying, “I come alongside you to strengthen you through instruction; to encourage you to walk in the right path; to comfort you, to lead you, to be your friend.”

The word “beseech” is from the same word that is translated “Comforter” in four times in John's Gospel. John 14:16-18 says, “16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

Part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is that of being our “Comforter.” He comes alongside the saints of God like a trusted Friend to offer encouragement, guidance, consolation, instruction, teaching, comfort, exhortation, among others things. He performs this ministry in an effort to help us to grow in the Lord. He does it to make us more like Jesus Christ. He does it to challenge us to reach our fullest potential in the Lord. If you are saved, you have experienced and benefited from this personal and powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit. By the ay, this ought to encourage us! Like Jesus said in John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.”

We are not in this world alone! We have the Holy Spirit to help us become all the Lord saved us to be. He is in us, John 14:17, and He will never leave us, John 14:16. That is one way the Lord Jesus keeps His promise to His people in Heb. 13:5, “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” and Matt. 28:20, “… lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”

But, this isn't the Spirit of God who offers comfort, consolation, encouragement and strength, it is Paul, one of the saints. This highlights an important truth. While we have the Spirit of God Who fulfills the role of Comforter in our lives, we have an obligation to one another to come alongside one another to help one another reach our fullest potential in Christ. A true friend will reach out in love:

To encourage - “22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord,” Acts 11:22-24.

To restore - “1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ,” Gal. 6:1-2.