4rth Chapter
of Ephesians
Ephesians 4:1
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
HEAVENLY ETIQUETTE
Paul uses his predicament as a prisoner and as someone who is suffering for the sake of the cross as leverage to encourage others to imitate his faith. He appeals to his authority as one of God’s elect who suffers for the cause. And why does he choose to suffer? Why is his suffering a powerful testimony? Remember what we learned in the beginning of chapter three: because of the predetermination of the church as the saving vehicle of all men; and the church being where all barriers are taken down; the church being the body of Christ, through which God will show the universe His unlimited kindness and mercy and goodness; the church, the centerpiece of the Universe for now, the focus of God’s labor and attention.
Because of this Paul has been made a prisoner, not because of his own will or because he decided to be anti-establishment; not because he is crazy and has to be locked up. No! It is because the world cannot accept the message of truth, and since there is only one authorized message, Paul is willing to suffer the consequences for being a Gospel messenger, for the sake of the message accomplishing its purpose in the Gentiles.
Many people are willing to suffer for their own personal crusades and causes, and covet to be seen by others as liberators or freedom fighters, all the more if they can show that they are bolder than the system or establishment they are fighting; but Paul is not about all that. All those reasons for being a prisoner are fleshly and only amount to worldly principles that perish. Paul’s reason for being in jail is for the cause of true liberation, for the cause of Jesus, for the Lord God.
Each of us has the power to leverage this kind of encouragement on others. How can you call someone to follow Jesus if your followship is lacking? How can you motivate others to “carry the cross” if your own life is surrounded by comfort and pampering? Paul’s motivation is an urgent one: “I urge (parakaleo: to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):--beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray )you…” Why is that?
All who have been called near to God have received a calling directly from God. We've all received an invitation to partake of the supper (Luke 14:7-24; Rev 19:19). It is not a human calling, a calling to belong to some kind of man-made group or to receive man-made adulations, but the highest calling of all -- to belong to God. Not just to be associated with God, which would be an awesome, incredible thing in and of itself, but to actually be adopted, integrated into the bloodline of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, by His will and blood!
This calls for us to make sure we are fitting in the pattern God has called us to follow! So the Holy Spirit now gives us the official propriety for heavenly dwelling:
Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
These are the ingredients for true fellowship with God and with each other; the ingredients for belonging to Heaven:
1- Humble: tapeinophrosune: humiliation of mind, i.e. modesty:--humbleness of mind, humility (of mind, lowliness (of mind).
2- Gentle: praotes: gentleness, by implication, humility:--meekness [power under control].
3- Patient: makrothumia: longanimity, i.e. (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude:--longsuffering, patience.
4- Bearing: anechomai: to hold oneself up against, i.e. (figuratively) put up with:--bear with, endure, forbear, suffer.
Notice each of these has been prefaced by the qualifier: “completely”.
What holds all of these together? Love! Our motive, our reason must be love (2Co 5:14). The goal of our pursuit of humility, gentleness, patience and forbearance must be altruistic (an attitude or way of behaving marked by unselfish concern for the welfare of others), not egocentric (interested only in the needs and wants of the self and not caring about other people), which would be deceitful. God cannot be mocked, you reap what you sow (Gal 6:7-10).
I believe that your true motive is revealed in how you forbear (to not do or say something that you could do or say, especially when this shows self-control or consideration for the feelings of others) at home. Some people can feign some of these qualities for some time, but the truth always comes out in the home. If peace and unity reign at home, then you are practicing these things and it will show in the fellowship you have with each other at home.
When we bear each others burdens in complete love, we promote unity and peace (Gal 6:2-5). Unity, by peacekeeping, is the mark of those who live a life worthy of the calling. The unity of true fellowship is kept by preserving in peace, which is the encouragement of the next verse:
Ephesians 4:3
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Unity must be preserved. You need to make every effort (spoudazo: to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest:--do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.) to maintain the unity of your fellowship through bonds established by peace making. The unity to be preserved is not your own brand of unity; what you think should maintain you united; it is the unity of things spiritual; it is the unity of the Holy Spirit. I will say much more on this in the next couple of verses.
You see, peace is not just the absence of war; peace is active, peace needs to be made, it doesn’t just happen. Peace needs to be established in the mind and in fellowship through bond making. The bond making, which is the result of unity, comes by campaigning relationships with the qualifiers in verse 2 above. We need to be active peace-makers (Mat 5:9)! In the absence of peace there is a war brewing! When you fail to campaign a relationship with humility, gentleness, patience and forbearance, you have not conquered the fellowship and secured it with the bond of peace, therefore, an all out war is always a possibility.
Remember the human heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). It can only be conquered and kept in check by the strong bond of peace that comes from the having the Holy Spirit be conqueror of your heart and mind, making you an active peace-maker and bearing the fruit of humility, gentleness and patience, making you an excellent forbearer (1Pe 3:8).
Unity is the result of all peace-making. Unity is divine; unity is a goal here on earth, for in Heaven unity is the reality expressed in the Godhead. Unity across the board.
The principle of unity is the universality of the church -- its singularity and distinctiveness. The power to make it all inclusive is its design to promote and make all things one in Christ. The world calls us disciples and the church of the Lord exclusive, but in order for true unity to happen we need to understand the inclusiveness of the Gospel. It is not designed to exclude but to include. We are the one called to exclude the world from ourselves in order to be included into God’s family (2Tim 1:8-9; 1Pe 1:14-16; Rev 18:4).
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--
THE ONE SINGULAR, UNIVERSAL, INCLUSIVE AND DISTINCTIVE HOPE
Here is what preserves the unity of the church through peace; the acknowledgement of its singularity, universality, and inclusivity:
There is one church (body) and one Spirit that will get you into that one church through the one baptism (1Co 12:12-13)! This is the one singular hope established for all mankind (Acts 2:38-39)! This one church is the only one approved to worship God, and the one baptism is the only approved way to become part of the one true church. This is the One True Gospel, Hope, Calling (Gal 1:6-9)!
The world cannot accept this message, and calls it exclusive (excluding or intending to exclude many from participation or consideration)! However, through the wisdom God gave us when we believed Him we can see that it is the world who is exclusive and biased against this Gospel message! They will accept anything except that which is truly inclusive (including everything)! That is the deception of the devil. Don’t get caught up in that lie! In order for something to be truly inclusive it must promote complete unity. There can be no unity along divided states of mind, which is why the denominational world is the plan of the devil. “All roads lead to Heaven” is the gospel of Satan. Jesus made it very clear that the True Gospel was never going to be accepted by the world, but only by those who will deny themselves and die to self (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 9:23; John 15:18-19; 1John 3:13).
Remember when I said that the unity we are called to preserve is not our own brand of unity; what you think should maintain you united? It is the unity of things spiritual; it is the unity of the Holy Spirit. What is this unity? It is the bringing together of all things under One Head who is Christ! The theme of the Book of Ephesians. Here is where true unity is accomplished! If you are under Jesus’ Headship, you are at peace with God and with the church, which is His body, where true unity reigns since it is unity established by the bonds of peace through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:22; 2:13-19).
It is not a man-made unity or effort, like many weak
attempts that have been made to try to bring some semblance of unity to our
society by establishing school and community programs under the guise of multiculturalism (advocating or encouraging the
integration of people of different countries, ethnic groups, and religions into
all areas of society) and religious
tolerance or anything else under the title of tolerance (the
acceptance of the differing views of other people, for example, in religious or
political matters, and fairness toward the people who hold these different
views) and family values. Some
in the Lord’s church have sabotaged unity under the guise of ecumenism (a movement in the Christian
Church aiming at unity between different denominations on basic issues) or
“all inclusive” groups that don’t know how to discern the disputable matters from
the life or death ones in the
Scriptures. These are destined to fail since they are based on human effort and
principles (
True unity begins by accepting the fact that there is
Ephesians 4:5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Elements of the singular, distinctive, inclusive and universal plan of God:
One Lord (kurios: supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller; by implication Mr. (as a respectful title): - God, Lord, master, Sir.) or Head.
One faith (pistis: persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.), meaning one system of belief under One Lord. There are no other ways to get to God or to have a relationship with God other than this One Faith through the One Lord!
One baptism (baptisma ;derived from baptizo: to make whelmed (that is, fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) for ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: - baptize, wash, immerse.), meaning that in every major dispensation God has given to man to have a relationship with Him there has been only one approved way to enter into that covenant; one approved baptism or whelming or immersion:
1- The Flood – Only 8 were saved through water (1Peter 3:20)
2-
The
Red Sea – By faith
3-
The
ceremonial washing for priests – if they were not washed they would die (Exodus
30:18-21)
4-
Immersion
for repentance – Preached by John the baptizer (Matthew 3:6, 11)
5-
Immersion
for forgiveness of sins – Established covenant until Jesus comes (Acts
2:38-39; Mathew 28:19-20; Romans 6:3,4; Eph 5:26; Titus 3:5). A
participation in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord.
At any point on
time there has only been one authorized cleansing, by whelming, by faith, into
our Lord.
Ephesians 4:6
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
God, the One Godhead, Head and originator of all, Who is in all. From He this plan originates and in Him it is enduring and in Him it ends.
I believe there is an importance to the order in which the Spirit expresses this Oneness and distinctiveness of the One Plan of God
The distinctiveness of the
1- One body – Baptized believers who follow the Word of God
2- One Spirit – Gives life to the One body
3- One hope – One calling – Heaven
4- One Lord – Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God who is the head of the One body
5- One Faith – The entire body of doctrine which God has given us – revealed by the Holy Spirit
6- One Baptism – The response to the one message of hope. It is what sets you apart from the world
7- One God – One Love
Our One God makes the world from water and through water (2 Peter 3:5). (Water is special to God. It is a triune molecule distinctively different from any other molecules on earth in its properties and interactions with itself and other molecules [universal solvent, cleanser and sustainer of life]). Through the One Baptism we come to Him by One Faith in the One Lord and what He did for us. Our One Lord gave us One Hope through His death. When we accept our One Lord by Faith through immersion we receive the One Spirit guaranteeing our One Hope and are added to the One body. In this One Body we are all One through the One Spirit, holding one to One Hope by the One Lord through our One Faith established by our One Baptism so we can all be One forever with the One God.
All these elements mentioned here are doctrine and are not matters of opinion! These are life and death statements!
Ephesians 4:7
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
JESUS’ GIFTS TO THE CHURCH
By the grace of God we are allowed to serve in the body. Remember Paul said in Ephesians 3:7, 8 that by God’s grace he was a minister, and that preaching the Gospel was the grace given to him? You see, each one of us, not only Paul or the other apostles, was given grace as Jesus apportioned it, that is, according to His riches and according to our ability, just like the Master did to his servants in the Parable of the Talents (Mat 25:14-30). What are you doing with the grace of God? This grace is the opportunity to serve, as we shall see further down in the chapter.
Ephesians 4:8
This is why it {8 Or <God>} says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." {8 Psalm 68:18}
Paul is reasoning from the reference in Psalm 68:18 that the gifts Jesus gave to men come from this grace given to us all through God’s singular and distinctive system. When we live a life worthy of the One calling we received from the One God, that means we are aware of this grace given to us and we are engaging the talents given to us. Jesus frees all of us captives by His resurrection from the dead. And now that we’ve been freed we have gifts given to serve.
Ephesians 4:9
(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? {9 Or <the depths of the earth>}
He who ascended, Paul deduces, is He who first had descended to make His dwelling amongst us, that is, Emmanuel, God with us. The ascension of Jesus depended upon His descension to the earthly regions.
Ephesians 4:10
He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
“That’s the One!”, Paul says. Jesus Himself, who fills the whole universe! He was the One who gave gifts to men as He ascended leading the captives free. He is the One Lord!
Ephesians 4:11
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Who gave? Jesus gave gifts to men, right? Says so in verse 8. What gifts? What did He give? He gave:
1- Apostles: “Apostolos” = One commissioned to continue in a specified work. The primary qualifications are listed in Acts 1:21-22 when they sought a replacement for Judas Iscariot. Notice that only Judas is replaced. When an apostle has died as faithful, he continues to be an apostle in Heaven, not needing replacement on Earth, for their words continue to testify to the commission assigned by Jesus. The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Eph 2:20). Jesus commissioned the apostles to reveal the initial stages of the church and of saving faith in Jesus. Their authority continues as the foundation of the church through the Scriptures, that the church may never rest on anything else but the Word of God and the Rock that Jesus is the Son of God (Mat 16:18).
2- Prophets: “prophetes” = a compound of “pro” and “phemi”, or before and speaker or teller. A foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet. Could also be interpreted as one who has the capacity, in a professional or experienced manner, to speak forth, as we would say today, a pro-fessor; Secularly, someone who is inspired or inspires others; or someone who speaks before an audience, being used as a mouthpiece to speak before the people on behalf of someone else; i.e., like a spokesperson or house speaker or public relations speaker. Prophets as foretellers were used in the early church to establish the practice of Christianity with certainty. The gift of prophecy, by the Spirit, allowed the early Christians to know for sure that they were doing the will of God (1Co 14:1-6, 22-25). These were the early preachers, inspired by God since there was no New Testament to go by (1Co 13:8-13). Prophets as forthtellers (not inspired by God but preaching forth the Word of God) are used in the church today to get the message of the New Testament out there and encourage all to practice it and hold fast to our faith. These are also known as preachers (kērussō: to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel): - preach (-er), proclaim, publish (Romans 10:14-15). Preachers have a message, a proclamation (kerugma), which is the Gospel itself (1Co 1:17, 23; 15:12). These Gospel preachers are also known as Evangelists. This is the more specific term. To evangelize and to preach the Gospel are often used interchangeably throughout the New Testament (Luke 4:43; Acts 10:42; 14:7; Rom 1:15; 10:14-15; 1Co 1:17; 15:11-12).
3- Evangelists: euaggelistes = a preacher of the Gospel (Good News); a bringer of Good News. Technically, certain spirit-filled men who heralded the Good News, spreading the Gospel throughout the region (Acts 14:7; 16:10; 21:8; 2Tim 4:5). The prophets generally told of things to come, whereas the evangelists told of things that were done in the past; namely that Jesus died, was buried and rose again so that all men may be saved if you choose to believe in Him. Evangelists today are those who are in charge of preaching the Gospel (proclaiming the message: kerugma) and keeping the doctrine pure and free of man-made teachings (2Tim 4:1-5). They are in charge of motivating the church to be bringers of Good News to the world (Ephesians 4:11-12).
4- Pastors: poimen = shepherds (literally or figuratively). 1Pe 5:1-3 explains the detail of shepherding in the Lord’s church (poimenoo: feed the flock). Mostly done by elders (prebuteros: elderly, senior, member of ruling council) and/or bishops (episkopos: superintendent, overseer, Officer in general charge) who are appointed by evangelists (1Tim 3:14-15; Titus 1:5). Technically, the office of those identified as elders and/or bishops were older. Age was a mayor factor in determining viability in this office (1 Tim 3:2-7). Titus 1:5-9 uses bishop and elder interchangeably, proving they are talking about the same office or work, and who should qualify for it. So then, the elder or bishop is not only an older experienced man in the faith, but also an overseer, superintendent of the church, responsible for feeding the flock.
5- Teachers: didaskalos = an instructor (generally or specifically): - doctor, master, teacher. Teachers are those appointed by evangelists to teach others in the body (2Tim 2:2). They must be reliable and qualified to teach others to do the same. Teachers will be judged more strictly (James 3:1), so they need to strive to be qualified and mature (Heb 5:11-14). They need to accept instruction in humility, for they ought to teach only what they have heard from the evangelist, therefore they must be faithful to sound doctrine.
It was God who gave us these gifts of leadership and service. No one is to be appointed by men. God shows us who He gives as gifts to the church. Remember that He arranges the body as He wants it to be (1Co 12:18).
These offices in the church are gifts God gives, so the church may grow and work as one body as we will see in the following verses:
Ephesians 4:12
to (pros) prepare God's people for (eis) works of service, so (eis) that the body of Christ may be built up
THE WORK OF THE CHURCH
Our discussion will now revolve around two very important Greek prepositions: pros and eis.
Pros: a preposition of direction; forward to,
that is, toward (with the genitive case the side of, that
is, pertaining to; with the dative case by the side
of, that is, near to; usually with the accusative case the
place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the
relation, that is, whither or for which it is predicated). In
compounds it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards,
accession to, or nearness at.
Eis: A primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-) on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore (-unto), throughout, till, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-) until (-to), . . . ward, [where-] fore, with.
Eis never means “because of”, or “since”, as some have suggested. This interpretation comes from the school of thought that salvation comes by “faith only”, with no commitment or responsibility on the part of man. Lutherans and most protestants believe this view.
The primary task of those in the leadership of the church is of preparation (katartismos: complete furnishing (objectively): - perfecting). Our equipping (perfecting) of the saints is to be done for the purpose of ministry (diakonia: attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher, or technically of the diaconate): - (ad-) minister (-ing, -tration, -try), office, relief, service). The goal is for all in the body to be involved in servicing the populace, in one way or the other. Mostly, the leadership serves the saints in the body, training them for this purpose, while the saints themselves practice their ministry on the rest of the populace. In this way the body of Christ, the church, is built up (oikodomē: architecture, that is, (concretely) a structure; figuratively confirmation: - building, edify).
The building up of the body does not only happen structurally (by numbers and services performed), but emotionally and spiritually as well. The whole body is built up in spiritual maturity as it grows in experience in servicing.
There are many avenues of service (ministry) that a church can engage the members to do. There are 4 main avenues of ministry generally described in Acts 2:42. Within these I have outlined the works we can do into 6 general areas:
1- Singing
a. Singing group – Talented group of brothers and sisters that can serve to teach and encourage the church through song with the leadership of a Song Director
b. Devotionals – The group can use this platform to teach the church new songs and members can encourage and edify each other through song
c. Recording – The most talented brothers can record songs for the individual members to use as encouragement
d. Fellowships – Talented members can encourage and edify each other through song
e. Sunday Service – The Song Director can teach and lead the church in song
2- Teaching
a. Special Groups
i. Deaf Ministry – Composed of deaf or hard of hearing members along with members who are skilled in ASL and Interpreting for the deaf
ii. Spanish Ministry – Members of the church who’s primary language is Spanish
iii. Prison Ministry – Made up of members who are in prison and other members who are skilled and trained in serving the prison population
iv. Military Ministry – members of the church who are in military services or who have been enabled to serve as chaplains to serve the needs at a military base.
v. College Ministry – members of the church who attend or live in the college campus and are involved in serving the college population through Bible studies and Bible Discussion Groups
vi. Youth Ministry – members of the church who are teens or pre-teens and those who serve this population
vii. Children’s Ministry – members of the church who are skilled and trained to serve and teach the youngest members of the Kingdom
viii. Marriage / Pre-marriage Counseling – members of the church who are skilled and trained to work with those who are courting, distressed and troubled marriage and family crises
b. Internet – Venue that can be used by members who are skilled and have been trained to effectively conduct online or e-mail Bible Studies
c. Correspondence Course – Venue that can be used by members who are skilled and have been trained to effectively conduct Bible Studies through the postal system
d. Good News Stand – Brethren who have been trained for effective evangelism using the means of a public kiosk in a mall or marketplace
e. Life Talks – Discussion groups lead by a brother who is skilled and trained to conduct effective Bible discussions
f. Fellowships – Skilled members can use fellowships to present small lessons to encourage and remind the brethren of Jesus’ teachings
g. Small Groups (Mentorship) – Lead by skilled brethren to spur one another on toward love and good deeds and to teach one another to obey all of Jesus’ teachings
h. Bible Class – Venue for teaching the brethren all of Jesus’ commands
i. Evangelism
3- Preaching
a. Special Groups
i. Deaf Ministry
ii. Spanish Ministry
iii. Prison Ministry
iv. Military Ministry
v. College Ministry
vi. Youth Ministry
b. Internet
c. Good News Stand
d. Life Talks
e. Fellowship
f. Sunday Service
g. Evangelism
4- Benevolence
a. Clothes Drive – Members who collect used and new clothes to give away to the needy
b. Food Pantry – Members who collect food items in a pantry to give away to the needy
c. Missionaries – Members who collect monies and other items to support other brethren involved in mission work locally and abroad
d. Special Needs – Members who help any needy person or brother not categorized above
e. Road Help (Good Samaritan) – Members who are skilled and trained to help those who’ve had mechanical mishaps or accidents on the road.
5- Encouragement
a. Hospital Visits
b. Fellowships
c. Order of Services
d. Small Groups (Mentorship)
e. House Visits (Shut-ins)
f. Bulletin
g. E-mail
h. Phone call/Letter
i. Visitor follow-up
i. Calling
ii. Mail/E-mail
6- Prayer
a. All ministries require prayer time together to be focused!
b. Brethren get together in Prayer Groups to pray for special needs and/or ministries
c. You, individually, pray using a Prayer List – Your own requests you bring before the Lord
d. You, or others can pray together for the Prayer Requests – The churches prayers
e. Your family prays together using your Vision List – Your goals as a family or member of the church
f. The church prays together at Church Meetings
g. Prayer heals – James 5:16; Rom 8:26
h. Prayer encourages – Eph 6:18
i. Prayer focuses – Rom 10:1; Col 1:9; 1Th 3:10
j. Prayers should be grateful – Eph 1:16; Phi 4:6
All these are to accomplish a two-fold goal: to preach the Gospel that people may be saved and to build up the body of Christ as we work together for the common goal.
Peace and unity are promoted by building each other up as we serve others. This is how our body is able to work for the common good. When we work together we are one. If we work against each other, not only does it not glorify God, because we are not fulfilling our goal, but we appear divided and worldly, as if we were a worldly organization.
How the building happens is by honoring and loving each other sincerely, recognizing how God has given each of us gifts to build each other up so we can have unity in the faith and in the knowledge of Jesus. Ro 12:3-8
The purpose and mission of biblical instruction is to serve - just like Jesus (Mark 10:45).
Ephesians 4:13
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Unity is an achievable goal if we hold to the specific pattern of the inspired Scriptures. By following this pattern we grow in unity and maturity (teleios: complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); completeness: - of full age, man, perfect) -- reflecting the source of the perfect pattern, Jesus Himself; our Head, as we are His body. What a perfect plan! As we all hold to the pattern laid out, giving ourselves up to serve one another and the world, we accomplish the Great Commission; unity of the Faith, peace, and ultimately we become just like Jesus. Just as if it was Him doing all this, because you see, it is really Him working in His Body, isn’t it?
Unity in the faith is not achieved by debating, arguing who’s right and who’s wrong, or by knowledge, necessarily. The unity that comes from the Holy Spirit working in you is achieved by working together as the body of Christ to serve others. God tests your humility, your desire for Him and your faithfulness to Jesus through your teamwork attitude in the army of goodness called the church. Those who are not able to submit cannot serve, for we are not called to serve alone, but to serve together. If we cannot have unity in the faith by serving together, then you cannot grow in the knowledge of Jesus and become mature!
You see, this is what was happening to the Hebrews (Heb 5:12-14). Maturing comes by training and constant practice. To be able to train and practice adequately you need to be in an environment that will test you so that you may humble yourself and accept direction from your teachers in the Lord. Unity by peace and wisdom is the mark of maturity, the measure (metron: portion, degree) of the stature (hēlikia: maturity in years or size; age) of the fullness (plērōma: filled up to the brim, replete; completely filled) of Christ. This is the fruit of love!
Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
The mark of spiritual infancy is lack of stability in conviction and purpose, which leads to the maverick attitude; one who is always changing sides and changing arguments, always following any wind of teaching, easily deceived by his sinful desires. If a Christian has the mark of a maverick, wanting to do things his own way and by his own merit, as opposed to working together with the body by giving up his own will; he is an infant. Infants are always in great danger of falling prey to Satan’s plan as we will see in the following verses. Those who are mavericks cannot be peacemakers since they are not at peace with themselves, always seeking to argue and fight even those who are over them in the Lord (1Thes 5:12-13). Since they don’t esteem those who work hard in the Lord and don’t consider them as worthy, they don’t esteem themselves nor do they recognize the body of the Lord.
If you persevere to work out as a member of the body, to build up and encourage, you are on the road to maturity, leaving infant ways behind you.
The purpose of God’s gifts to men:
1- Unto works of service
2- Unto building up the body (church)
3- Unto unity in the faith
4- Unto knowledge of the Son of God
5- Unto maturity (perfection)
6- Unto the whole measure of Christ
7- Unto stability
Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
Here is the mark of the beginning of maturity: truth spoken in love, not out of anger or malice. Our motive in speaking the truth is as important as the truth we speak. If we justify our anger or malice by saying we have spoken the truth, disregarding how we have spoken it, we prove our immaturity. We are far from growing up. We are infants. Our growth into Jesus is determined by how we are speaking the truth. Verses 25 and following will give us details and practicals concerning how our speech should be.
Some may say, “Well, I always speak gently and with a caring attitude, that’s how a Christian should always speak! If it is going to hurt somebody then I just bend the truth a little to help them.” Is that really love? You see, truth is a must for those who are saved, that is not what is being debated here, because it is a given that Christians will speak truth. It is how we are speaking it that determines maturity. If someone is not on the side of truth, it doesn’t matter how well or how loving or caring their speech is, since they are not even in Christ! So the devil is crafty in using this against us, by inciting denominationalists to accuse us, the true church, of hurting people by telling them the truth! Truth and love are the formula; truth cannot be compromised for love’s sake. If it is, then it is neither truth nor love!
Ephesians 4:16
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Love is the ingredient that will build us up. If there is no love, the building may fall like a house of cards falls upon the lightest breeze that hits it. If a part of the body doesn't do its job, by speaking and practicing truth in love, then encouragement is not taking place and the process of building up is stagnated for lack of support. This also happens when truth is spoken in an angry, accusatory fashion, or when intimidation is used in place of encouragement.
The joints which join and hold together (sunarmologeō: From G4862 (sun: union; together; completeness) and a derivative of a compound of G719 (harmos: articulation; joint) and G3004 (lego: lay forth; relate; put forth; show): (in its original sense of laying); to render close jointed together, that is, organize compactly: - be fitly framed (joined) together.), along with every supporting ligament [joint] (sumbibazō: From G4862 (sun) and βιβάζω bibazō (to force; causatively [by reduplication] of the base of G939 (basis: to walk, pace); to drive together, that is, unite (in association or affection), (mentally) to infer, show, teach: - compact, assuredly, gather, instruct, knit together, prove) are the works of service that have been given us by God to do in love, as we speak and encourage each other in love.
Mature Christians:
1- Exhibit unity in faith and knowledge
2- Attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ
3- Are able to defend doctrine and not be swayed by schemes
4- Speak the truth in love
5- Take ownership of the body of Christ as they work and build it up in love through the works of service given to us to do
Ephesians 4:17
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
SATAN’S MASTER PLAN OF DESTRUCTION
Now comes a solemn warning to those who stagnate (are idle) in the church. Not only does the Apostle Paul want to tell us this, but he insists (marturomai: Middle voice from G3144 (martus: martyr); to be adduced as a witness, that is, (figuratively) to obtest (in affirmation or exhortation): - take to record, testify) on it in the Lord! Those who are not building up are caught up in Satan's Master Plan of Deception. Why is this Satan's Master Plan? Because it stagnates the growth and building up of the body of Christ, that's why! If a church is not growing it is because someone or some people are caught up in this process, causing a cancerous attitude to be felt throughout the body, causing it to deteriorate and die. The integrity of the church is shown by avoiding the moral standards of the godless (Gentiles). I’ve seen churches destroyed and their doors closed because of some who get caught up in this plan of destruction, which is why God gives license to the church to discipline and deal with these issues of division and false doctrine in a very grave and “no holes barred” way.
1- Warning: Don’t live like the Gentiles (ethnos: a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication pagan): - Gentile, heathen, nation, people: who don’t know God) do
2- The way you think (nous: the intellect, that is, mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication meaning: - mind, understanding) must be changed (Don’t conform to the world! Romans 12:2)
a. It is ineffective and vain (useless); transient (James 1:6-8, 22-25; Heb 10:23; Eph 4:14)
b. It is morally futile (mataiotēs: inutility; figuratively transientness; morally depravity: - vanity)
Spiritually ill and weak members need to renew their worldly minds that are still bound to sinning. This is why the call is to grow up! You cannot stay a baby Christian! How do we grow up? 1Pe 2:2 and Heb 5:12-14 give you a head start!
Ephesians 4:18
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Spiritual warfare is a battle of the mind and of the heart. When you disregard the instruction of the Word and live by the passion of the flesh your heart becomes hardened (calloused) to the truth. This causes ignorance because you refuse to heed the counsel of the Word. In turn, your understanding will darken (unable to tell right from wrong; twisted). End result? Separation from the life of God. At this point, if you continue giving into Satan's temptations you will loose all sensitivity (hardened even more, lack of sympathy, merciless) and indulge even more in the passions of the flesh. This is Satan's Master Plan of Deception. This is the downward spiral he uses to trap you. The result of living in this cycle is a mind filled with shame and guilt--a mind hostile to God's way. A mind full of bitterness and hatred. If something is not done about the shame and guilt the conscience becomes seared as with a hot iron. (1Ti 4:1-2) The temptation process Satan uses to lure you into this vicious cycle is described in detail in Jas 1:13-14.
3- Why shouldn’t we live as the world (Gentiles) does (vs. 17)? Because they refuse to be transformed! (Romans 12:2)
a. Because the heart has been hardened (pōrōsis: stupidity or callousness: - blindness, hardness) by sin
b. This makes them ignorant about God’s will
c. Their understanding becomes darkened (cloudy judgment, weak conviction)
d. They are separated (estranged) from the life of God
Ephesians 4:19
Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
Once caught in this vicious cycle, you will tolerate more and more sin (become desensitized).
Pain urges the sick to seek a
remedy, which, where there is no pain, is little thought of. – Wesley’s Commentary
You will be addicted to it and deny that you are. You will indulge more and more in it, thinking that you're OK and that at any time you can get out of this vicious cycle, when in fact, you can't! You love it! You desire it! You look for ways to do it and it’s all you can think about!
The Plan Outlined:
Ephesians 4:20
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
ATTITUDE OF RENEWAL
Always think of where you came from (Rev 2:5). The way of Jesus is not the way of the flesh. You did not learn to live and think this way in the church. We are a different people now, called to be different and to do holy works. Remember what Jesus said about counting the cost! (Luke 9:23-26; 14:26-35)
Ephesians 4:21
Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
Paul gets a bit sarcastic with the Ephesians here: “Surely you heard about Jesus! And were taught the right things of and about Jesus!” The world might have heard about Jesus, but the world cannot teach you about Jesus and His ways. This is why you need to repent before you are baptized. You need to abandon your old ways so they do not come up to trap you while you are persevering in Christ. You really cannot build true faith in Jesus over a false foundation. In the first century this might not have mattered as much as it matters today. Many people are trying to build on a false foundation. Remember Satan’s Master Plan! Satan is counting on you not truly being born again!
Notice there is a particular way to learn about Jesus and His ways. How you learn about Him matters. You come to know Christ by way of hearing the Word and letting sound teaching convict you of your sin. Some try to preach a Gospel that is mixed with the ways of the world: mixed with politics, or business or some idea people try to sell, like the Gospel of prosperity, or the acceptance of homosexual marriages or abortion. We don't come to know of Christ and His ways by way of indulging in the flesh. The love of the world and the love of Jesus cannot both be practiced in one person. Truth is only in Jesus, not in the world. Therefore, any teaching or way of life that invests in the slightest in temporary things cannot teach you life or truth in Christ.
Also, remember Satan uses feelings instead of objective convictions to trap many in false gospels. 2Thes 2:9-12 teaches how the work of Satan comes by powerful false signs and wonders. Sometimes these signs are not false in the sense that the people who appear to practice them are trying to deceive by false means. Some of these “wonders” do happen, and there is no scientific explanation for them, hence the power of Satan. That is why the people who do not love the truth are so easily deceived by them. These signs are false because they are not from God and they do not promote truth in Christ. Some examples of these false signs and wonders are:
1- Appearances of so-called virgins saying they are Mary, Jesus’ mother.
2- The appearance of angels bringing false messages:
a. Gabriel appearing to Mohammed and telling him to write the Qu’ran
b.
3- Numerous other events unexplained by objective means but associated with the propelling of anti-biblical messages.