A. INTRODUCTION, v. 1
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1, NKJV).
1. PRISONER, (v. 1). Not seeking sympathy, but accepts circumstances.
2. WALK WORTHY.
a. Arrange your life to be worthy to the Lord.
b. Walking involves direction, planning, advancement, and step by step.
3. VOCATION, (Gk. kleiss your life’s work). Walk “Even as he walked” (1 John 2:6).
B. HIGH POSITION DEMANDS LOW ESTIMATION, vv. 2-3
“…with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3, NKJV).
1. LOWLINESS, v. 2.
a. No pride or self-exaltations.
b. Sense of unworthiness.
2. MEEKNESS WITH LONGSUFFERING, submission to God’s will, “opposite of short tempered.”
3. FORBEARING, restraint under pressure.
4. LOVE, “Love beareth all things, endureth all things” (1 Cor. 13:7).
5. THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT, not ecclesiastical union, but spiritual unity, v. 3.
6. BOND OF PEACE, Peace with God – salvation. Peace of God – victory.
C. SEVEN UNITIES, vv. 4-6
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all”
(Ephesians 4:4-6, NKJV).
1. ONE BODY, a living organism composed of born-again believers.
2. ONE SPIRIT, the person of the Holy Spirit who regenerated each believer.
3. ONE HOPE, the rapture and heaven.
4. ONE LORD, Jesus Christ who must be Lord of all, or He will not be Lord at all, i.e., only one way of salvation,
v. 5.
5. ONE FAITH, not a creed, but saving experience.
6. ONE BAPTISM, spiritual baptism when the Holy Spirit places us in the body, whereas it is reflected by water baptism.
7. ONE GOD AND FATHER, not a separate god for each nation, but the God of the nations, v. 6.
8. ABOVE ALL, through all . . . in you all.
a. God is transcendent above the universe.
b. Imminent, near to all.
c. Indwelling in the believers.
D. SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE GIVEN, vv. 7-11
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says:
‘When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.’
(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:7-11, NKJV).
1. GIVEN GRACE, each believer is given value, opportunity, and responsibility.
2. MEASURE OF THE GIFTS OF CHRIST, wide variety of spiritual gifts, i.e., ability for spiritual service.
3. HE ASCENDED UP ON HIGH, Jesus’ ascension back into heaven.
4. CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, v. 8.
a. Triumphant return from battle.
b. Victory.
c. Gives gifts to all.
5. DESCENDED, probably into hell to bring Old Testament saints into heaven, v. 9.
6. GAVE APOSTLES, v. 11.
a. Official title of twelve.
b. No apostolic succession.
c. To follow physical Jesus and see resurrected Jesus (Acts 1:21-22).
d. Any who claim this title are deceivers (Rev. 2:2).
7. PROPHETS preached the word (forth tellers) and predicted the future (foretellers).
8. EVANGELIST, those who preach the gospel to non-evangelized areas.
9. PASTORS AND TEACHERS, the spiritual gift of caring for sheep, and the spiritual gift of studying and sharing. This is one office with two functions.
E. OUR ULTIMATE PURPOSE ON EARTH, v. 12-16
“…for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 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; 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, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 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” (Ephesians 4:12-16, NKJV).
1. PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS not making them perfect, but equipping them for serving.
2. WORK OF MINISTRY, not doing their work for them, but preparing them for spiritual service.
3. EDIFYING OF THE BODY, strengthening whole church, i.e., quality and quantity.
4. UNITY OF THE FAITH, unity not uniformity, v. 13.
5. KNOWLEDGE OF SON OF God, head, and heart intimacy.
6. FULLNESS OF CHRIST, we all become Christlike.
7. NO MORE CHILDREN, not know, not do, and can’t protect self, v. 14.
8. TOSSED TO AND FRO, instability and helplessness.
9. EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE, shifting false doctrine.
10. SLEIGHT OF MEN, i.e., deceit and dishonesty.
11. LIE IN WAIT TO DECEIVE, intentionally pervert the scripture.
12. TRUTH IN LOVE, speak without any tricks, v. 15.
13. THE HEAD, EVEN CHRIST, the source of everything.
14. THE BODY, the church becomes harmonious, v. 16.
15. INCREASE OF THE BODY, every member is helped or helps, gives strength, or receives strength.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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