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THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS |
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J. Deering, AncientPath.net
REVIEW
Our Condensed Outline to date:
GOD’S SPECIAL SECRET
First came the Promise in belief in Christ and it comes now
through the Good News concerning that the Church is made up of Jews and all the
rest of the nations on earth. Believers are now fellow heirs, fellow members of
one body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. Paul reminds the
Ephesians that he was directly made an administrator, through God’s grace, in
beginning this new body of Christ’s believers.
Paul states that it will be through this new assembly of
believers that the world will become aware of the Gospel and that the
authorities in heaven will now become aware of the manifold wisdom of God
through the Church.
Paul goes on to remind us that God the Father is fully
in-control of the world affairs and His plan for redemption, and that Paul
embeds himself in intercessory prayer and encourages every believer to do the
same for their fellow believers. Every believer needs to be in prayer so that
God the Father can “grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be
strengthened with [His] power… so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through
faith and beginning to comprehend the breadth, length width, and depth of God’s
love and grace.”
He also tells the Church members to not lose heart due
to his sufferings because, like Christ’s, his sufferings are for their glory.
“To Him be the Glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus into all the generations of eternity. Amen!” [Ephesians 3:21]
THE
STUDY, 4:01-6, The Introduction
IV. CHAPTER 4 – The Church As The New Mankind
“So also it is written,
“The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving
spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the
spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from
heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the
heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of
the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly”
(1 Corinthians 15:45-47).
MacCorkle reminds us that Nothing like the Church was ever created among humankind from the first Adam of Eden until the second and last Adam of Bethlehem. [i]
He also gives us a list:
The Church is an organism, not an organization.
Its head is in Heaven.
It is a heavenly body and not an earthly body such as Israel.
The Church is a created body composed of redeemed human beings.
The Church is not an afterthought, but it was God’s best kept secret until the
Death of His Son, Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and 50 days later
Pentecost.
Ephesians chapter 4 leads us to consider our heavenly qualifications in terms of physical and spiritual coordination.
THE STUDY, Ephesians 4:1
"The Problem of a Godly Walk"
Picking up our outline:
GOD’S SPECIAL SECRET
4:1 [Mac]
I
therefore,
the prisoner in the Lord,
urge you
to live your life
in a manner worthy of the
calling
with which you were called,
4:1 [NASB]
I,
therefore,
the prisoner of the
Lord,
entreat you
to
walk
in
a manner worthy of the calling
with which you have been called,
COMMENTARY
Our outline is introduced by a title: “The Problem of a Godly
Walk.” So often Christians consider themselves unworthy of their calling of
God to belief. This is often brought on by a misunderstanding of their
relationship to Jesus Christ. Our lives have been so programed by bad
church (small letters) theology. All around is a general teaching that
bases itself upon the Old Testament covenantal laws – laws that God
established with the physical generations of Abraham through Moses and the
then newly formed nation of Israel. Over the centuries those laws
mistakenly became political in nature and, evntually, taught to early (post Jesus)
Christianity as binding upon believers wrongly.
Years ago, my wife and I pastored a small bible church in New
Jersey. While we were new there, we made it our mission to get to know each
family of the church. There was one husband and wife, Bob and Marge, who
were being distanced by most of the congregation. We asked around but could
not find a decent answer to just why these two were so unpopular. We
eventually began to get to know them and they invited us to dinner one
evening. Bob dragged out an old and big bible as we sat down to our meal
and opened it up to somewhere in the middle and read out loud for several
minutes. I had been led to believe that they were not saved by just about
everyone I met at the church. I thought he was reading his bible to make
fun of us as the pastoral family, but I made no comment. At the end of the
meal I asked them directly if they were “saved.” They looked at one another
and said “no.” I asked, “why not?” She looked at him and he said, “we don’t
consider ourselves worthy of His calling.” I spent the next hour or so
telling them of God the Father’s love for them, and what Jesus had done at
the cross… forgiving each believer of all sin and sins, so we all could be
one family under the Love of God. In the next few weeks Bob and Marge
became completely different people and embedded themselves into every
aspect of our church and worship. They have both gone home to be with Jesus
His Father (Our Father) and they now serve Him in eternity for
eternity as members of “The Body of Christ,” the Church Universal.
Jesus clearly taught that those covenantal laws, that were so
problematical for the Hebrew people (Jews), were no longer in effect for
righteousness, justification, or forgiveness, upon His death and
resurrection. The “dividing wall” between Jew and Gentile has been done
away with. That means that the Law
no longer determines your relationship to Almighty God. The Law now stands
as reminders of who God is and what He is like as a holy God. The Law now
no longer divides mankind from Almighty God. If you are without a saving
relationship to Jesus, you are condemned. But you still have the
opportunity to become “saved,” but until one does so… they are still
condemned.
With faith in Jesus comes absolute forgiveness of all sin and sins,
along with adoption into the very family of Almighty God and the hope of
life ever after in that family relationship with God, His Son, and His Holy
Spirit.
So now with this new relationship to God, we have no need to feel
unworthy. Instead, we need to consider:
In Chapters 1-3 we have learned the "What You Have In Christ" and
the "Why You Have It In-Christ" parts of the book of Ephesians. Now in
Chapters 4-6 we enter into the "How You Respond In-Christ."
We learned in Chapter 3 that Paul considered himself to be a
“Prisoner of Jesus Christ.” This was due to his personal encounter with the
risen Christ and His calling Paul into Christian service.
Right away Paul begins with a plea that, as a result of the gift of
every spiritual blessing and the revelation of the Mystery of The Body of
Christ, our walk In-Christ should
reflect the Glory of God in Christ – as a
response to what He has done for
us – not as rules and regulations to follow.
12 giving
thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of
the saints in Light (Colossians 1:12).
Once saved we have been made worthy, and the above verse is addressed to us and we are addressed as those who can walk worthily. We have been called as worthy… thus we are worthy. Now it is up to us to walk worthy. Not to attain points! But to demonstrate our love for what the Father, Son, and Spirit have done for us through their love for us.
THE STUDY
– Ephesians 4:2
GOD’S SPECIAL SECRET
4:2 [Mac]
with all possible
humility of
mind and
gentleness,
with stretched out spirit,
putting
up
with another
in godly love.
(4:2) [NASB]
And in what manner shall
we walk?
With
All Humility - One to Another In
Love (agape)
With
All Gentleness - One to Another
In Love
With
All Patience - One to Another In
Love
With All
Forbearance - One to Another In Love
Paul’s list of
“The Fruit of the Spirit,” (Galatians 5:22-23):
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
Again, in simple terms: We are to: Walk worthy of our calling. You see, we are called by God to win others to Christ Jesus, building up His church (the temple image) and to treat each other like Godly Children, and be inviting in nature to win others into belief through faith. That is your calling.
THE STUDY
– Ephesians 4:3
GOD’S SPECIAL SECRET
And why should
we walk in
this manner?
4:3 [Mac]
Be diligent
to preserve
the oneness of the Spirit
in the bond that consists of peace.
4:3 [NASB]
being diligent
to preserve
the unity
of the Spirit
in the
bond of peace.
Because…
We need to be Diligent, zealous, eager, and take pains to make every
effort to PRESERVE the UNITY of THE SPIRIT, Inside the BOND(S) OF PEACE
(The Peace of God which surpasses all understanding).
Within the God-Head there is
ABSOLUTE UNITY and ABSOLUTE LOVE.
We are to REFLECT that Unity and Love - as we are His Ambassadors,
those who represent Almighty God
in this broken world (and to the Heavenlies).
Whether we WANT TO, FEEL LIKE IT, DESIRE IT, or not. The FACT is that we represent Him and what the world and heavenlies see in us - is what they see as a reflection of Him.
THE STUDY – Ephesians 4:4, P-1
GOD’S SPECIAL SECRET
4:4 [Mac]
There is
one Body and
one Spirit,
just as
you were all called with the
one hope that belongs to
your calling;
4:4 [NASB]
There is
one
body and
one
Spirit,
just as also you
were called in
one
hope of your calling;
Paul goes on to
emphasize the importance of the reflection in us of His ONENESS.
There is ONE BODY
- "THE BODY OF CHRIST" The
"Called-Out Ones."
There is ONE SPIRIT
- The HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD Who
Provides Daily Living Power to each and every one of His Children.
There is ONE HOPE - If you were not CALLED OF GOD What Hope would there be?
THE STUIDY, 4:5
The Provisions for Coordination, P-2
GOD’S SPECIAL SECRET
4:5 [Mac]
one Lord,
one
faith,
one baptism,
4:5 [NASB]
one Lord,
one
faith,
one baptism,
(4:5)
There is ONE LORD
- ONLY ONE GOD who is
Lord of His Called-Out People:
Jesus Christ
There is ONE FAITH - The Only Faith is the one that was
given as a gift to those who have been Called-Out. Faith cannot be
found anywhere else.
There is ONE BAPTISM - There is only ONE GOD who Indwells and SEALS every one of His Children with His Complete Spiritual Baptism (no water here!).
THE STUDY, 4:6
The Provisions for Coordination, P-3
GOD’S SPECIAL SECRET
4:6 [Mac]
one God and
Father of all,
Who is
over all and
through all and
in all.
4:6 [NASB]
There is ONE God and FATHER
of ALL
And He is Over All
And He is Through ALL
And He is IN ALL.
He is the Center of Oneness, and WE are His Ambassadors (His reflections). It then behooves us to be with, act with, work with, fellowship with, worship with… each other in the bonds of love, under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit, the Love and Grace of God the Father, and the great sacrifice and reward of God the Son Jesus.
| HOMEWORK: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - 4:1-6 |
4:1-6
Look at the question and ignore the answer. Then study the answer!
4:1 [Mac]
I
therefore,
the prisoner in the Lord,
urge you
to live your life
in a manner worthy of the
calling
with which you were called,
4:2 [Mac]
with all
possible humility of
mind and
gentleness,
with stretched out spirit,
putting
up
with another
in godly love.
What are the FIVE Godly traits that are required
of the believer according to Jesus' revelation to Paul?
First on the list is to live a life centered on
other believers IN ALL POSSIBLE HUMILITY OF YOUR MIND.
Second,is to live a life centered on other believers IN
ALL POSSIBLE HUMILITY OF GENTLENESS.
Third, is to live a life centered on other believers IS TO DO 1 & 2 WITH A STRETCHED OUT SPIRIT... DEFINED AS:
Fourth, PUTTING UP WITH EACH OTHER, and
Fifth, DOING 1, 2, 3, 4, IN GODLY LOVE (FOR EACH OTHER).
There is no place for NOT PUTTING UP WITH EACH OTHER, in all these situations, and doing so IN GODLY LOVE FOR EACH OTHER!
4:3 [Mac]
Be diligent
to preserve
the oneness of the Spirit
in the bond that
consists of peace.
As Paul continues to define living your life in a manner worthy of
the calling with which you were called (4:1), what is Paul's focus in this
verse?
He continues to put much stress upon how we act toward each other. He is stressing the importance of living according to the revealed love of God that has been shed upon you. With the enormous honor that has been placed upon you, through the substitutionary sacrifice (your substitute) of God's own son, that YOU RETURN THAT HONOR TO GOD THE FATHER THROUGH LIVING ACCORDING TO HIS REQUIREMENTS. Living a life that is DILIGENT TO PRESERVE THE ONENESS OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND THAT CONSISTS OF PEACE.
4:4 [Mac]
There is
one Body and
one Spirit,
just as
you were all called with the
one hope that belongs to your calling;
What is Paul's focus in these verses?
As he wraps up this set of verses, here in verse 4 he begins to pull together the essential element - THE ONE HOPE that belongs to YOUR CALLING. God called you - from before the foundation of the world. In that calling, because you believed in Him and His revelation concerning His Son and His Holy Spirit, you were given... the ONE HOPE. You were told in His Word that you were now adopted into His heavenly family, and that you would join with Him for all of eternity. That is a HOPE WORTH HOPING. Every Christian, whether you like them, like how they act, or like what they say... has that same hope because God has called them to the same HOPE. Therefore, we are to remember that WE All, are ONE BODY, ONE SPIRIT, with ONE HOPE, TOGETHER IN HIM. But it doesn't stop there...
4:5 [Mac]
one Lord,
one
faith,
one baptism,
4:6 [Mac]
one God and
Father of all,
Who is
over all and
through all and
in all.
That is why we must all focus on our UNITY OF FAITH and CALLING - IN GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
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