Ephesians Bible Study Spring 2009

Chapter 4

Ladies, what a joy it has been looking to the heavenlies for the first three chapters of this letter. By it our eyes have been trained to look up and away from the crazy nonsense of life 'under the sun', to life in the Son, Christ Jesus our Lord. I almost forgot that the Ephesians lived in Sin City! I almost fogot that we do.What love, what mercy, what treasures of grace and wisdom are displayed in Jesus, the risen Victor, and so in us, His Temple forever! The Father of our Lord, the God of all creation, has tenderly saved the dead from Death, and, sealing us with His Holy Spirit, has granted us power for a new life of gracious glory and service. Now, with the residual image of heaven still lingering, we head for the high path of practical ways God has designed for us to love Him and others in Christ.

There's good work to do! In light of all that God has granted believers in Christ, Paul has fresh directives for all. He uses the illustration of a body that walks.

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk

So, as Christ's body, we are to walk. There's debate if it's the best exercise for us, but it's definitely the most common way of getting around. Paul here uses household terms for simplicity, one a child can understand. Put another way in the Word of God, it is our conversation,( KJV), and our manner of life, (RV). Our walk is our life. How we live is how we walk. As Christians, we are urged to walk or live in a distinctive manner.

What manner?

in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

Worthy means appropriately :- as becometh, after a godly sort, —Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

So Paul is urging them, as they consider his manner of life as Christ's prisoner, to live the lives they have been given by God in Christ in a manner consistent with the wealth of wonders bestowed upon them in chapters 1, 2, and 3. It's a becoming life, reflecting in truth a new place at the table of God's eternal grace with the greatest family on earth! As modern believers in Christ, what should our manner of living be? Should we modify it for mass appeal? Not at all. Our calling to live life in complement with His holy character remains unchanged by time or man. It's not a free-form faith of eclectic morals and shifty standards. Yes, moral contrasts and cultural differences can be flies in the ointment of unity, as the Jews and Gentiles knew well, but the high calling in Christ does not sink to new lows with wispy human reasoning or fits of tolerant fancy.

We're walking on the worthy high road. How will we begin?

2 with all humility and gentleness,

We begin one step in front of the next. Our first golden steps forward in following Christ are....lower! Absolute humility and gentleness. Didn't He leave a teensy bit of room for self-promotion? No dice. All means all. Paul loves this word, and so does God. It's living the high life on the down-low in an understated state of mind, possessing a harmless quality of strength and steady joy over be found in Christ at all. It's God's Sunday best, and it's our fashion for life, available in every size! The worldly mind, however, prefers a fresh frock of gritty assertiveness, with loud, flashy colors of self-saturation. What not to wear, anywhere. Philosophically speaking, gentle humility is the tiny port from which all good voyages in Christ set sail. O.K., step by step

with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Love is patient. Waiting long with loving, mental strength, ready to hold up under pain or duress. I'm not so great at this. But sometimes, aren't we stuck in the longest line in life's DMV? We might wrongly conclude with Martha, "Lord, if You had been here" ....not so, Martha. What are your marathon circumstances? These trials involve unique waiting with patient eyes on the Master of love. His people projects require it. These are His very favorite kind. Remember, He's building His house and He is a careful builder. Pray to wait well and with love. The rewards are incredible.

3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Pride divides. We are urged to keep a careful watch for things that sap true Spirit-filled unity, beginning with ourselves. This does not mean being tolerant of unsound doctrine in the name of unity; reject such temptation. It's unity built upon the eternal word of God and bound peaceably together in the Holy Spirit.

Turning for a moment from the idea of our life in Christ being a walk, we shift to the model of anatomy. Using body terms, we are to sincerely desire that the strong sinew of peace should hold together the many joints of unified fellowship and corporate service in Christ. Without it, we would spiritually fall in a sad, sore heap to the ground, paralyzed. So it is necessary to be strapped up by His peace. Remember, He is our peace. So though there's lots of good things happening at all once in a body, yet it is one body. And He wants it happening peacefully.

Let's look at the Seven One-ders of God's design for unity in His body.

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all

Seven 'ones'. The number of the completeness of God's unified work of redemption in Christ! Look no further for the firm qualifiers of the body of believers, they are all safely accounted for here. This work of oneness points to the Triune God, and the uniquely indivisible nature of Him, though complete as God the Father, God the Son , and God the Holy Spirit. Perfect unity. No issues there. Aren't there issues among us, though? Yes, due to our partly-dim knowledge in lst Cor 13:10-12, as well as our selfishness as noted in the book of James 4:1. One issue might be exactly how we continue the model of baptism, yet not with regard to it's meaning, with several other matters too great for this mind to address. Go ask Pastor Andy, but not all at once!

The one, triune God now creating His one eternal body. Ephesians 1:22, with reference to the risen Christ, says

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

followed by a reference to the church(tabernacle) of believers

23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

The Sacred Head of the body of God is Christ Jesus, the Lord. He alone is crowned with its authority, leadership and loving care. Jesus's glorious triumph over sin, death and Hades will forever be displayed in His body. He is our Head, and we are His body. A body with many members, needs, desires, and functions.

O, but what of our bodies? With demands of pampering and propping up, they require water and nourishment, cleansing and clothing, temperate conditions, exercise and rest, healing and repair, maybe a little help from Maybelline....Whew! Can we get anything else done beyond it's grinding 'to do' list? Yes, we can and we do, especially when the body is in firm form and health, and when it doesn't dictate to us what our day will look like. In the same way, God's body is growing and eating and healing and maybe even sleeping in a bit, but He is working over and in and though us, to the glory of Jesus Christ, our Head.

Let's first look at some 'vital organs' of His body.

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Remember, Paul's gift of ministry was one of God's grace. Jesus holds the measuring cup of ministry for every believer. You have specific gifts from the Lord, too! In lst Corinthians 12, we find a wonderful example of the each member of the body of Christ being personally animated and gifted by the Holy Spirit. Practical and even comical observations are made regarding the ways in which God's people struggle with His sovereignty executed in the giving of the gifts. We struggle with it, too. Looking at the seemingly better gifts, we pout in petty comparison, even to the neglect of using the very gifts He has given us. Let's stir up the good gifts of God in each other, dust them off with some sincere gratitude and roll up our spiritual sleeves.

Let's talk about Jesus, the Warrior now. Big scene change, but it takes this gift idea to exciting places!

8 Therefore it says,“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”9 ( In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things).

This most likely depicts a scene of triumph after battle, with the Victor, Christ, returning to his seat of Glory and measuring out the spoils of war upon His subjects with delight. Just as Jonah sank in the belly of the whale, Jesus descended to the belly of the earth, and the gates of Hades did not prevail against Him! It was impossible for death to do so! He rose the third day, and carried off untold treasures of the enemy's defeat, most remarkably, souls, some of which He first gave to the Body, and are named here.

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

He gives the best gifts! The body of Christ begins it's spiritual maturity with God's gift of gifted men, for the building up of one, new humanity. To what end? So we can stare at our beautiful, spiritual muscles in the mirror? No way.

They faithfully are

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

Their gift to us is to prepare us for work. What work? The broad span of good works in Christ mentioned in Chapter 2. A strong body works. It is industrious and fruitful. If it's not, it must buy bigger pants!

The diet of God's Word is so rich and satisfying that we can grow sluggishly chubby if we line up for seconds with no intentions of exercising our faith. To know Him and to sit at His feet is the needful thing. But to sit in front of the proverbial internet of life and surf our favorite spiritual sites is not active service, and it can promote spiritual wasting. Our personal and unified output of service to Him should properly reflect the extensive input of His faithful teachers, His Word at work in us, and His Holy Spirit filling us all with all of God. It is the body of Christ's divine weight management program!

These faithful men have also been given to the church

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love,

Child-like faith~good. Prolonged child-like behavior~bad. There are very evil people and other creature groups with terrible intentions to deceive the unwary in the faith. The spiritually mature body, built up in loving instruction in the Word of God, actively using their gifts in His service, won't succumb to their poison, lies. Lies in word and deed. Children are also cute little liars, telling lies and believing lies naturally. We are to reflect true growth by now telling the truth, and lovingly speaking God's truth, knowing that no lie is of the truth. Deceit of any kind is the first symptom of spiritual malady.Children love to be carried, and carried and carried. The spiritually young do as well. They must to learn to walk! A ten year-old on the hip is a silly sight, not to mention a hip replacement for poor Mom!

We're growing, we're growing....

we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

God connects each member of His body first to Himself in Christ, our Head, and then corporately to each other, in that order. He connects us closely together on purpose to learn to function in working harmony for Him. The result? A vibrant, mature 'specimen' of both grace and works, with love at the core of every precious cell. This brings Him glory as well as joy to our pastors and all those watching over our souls. And the world will see Jesus in His body. They are drawn to Him as they see Him in us, according to the will of God.

Back to our walk!

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Oooo, flashbacks to the wide, nasty path of Chapter 2. There, our footprints were sadly pointed in one hard, horrifying direction. We once bore this family name. De Vil. And we behaved like him.

20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,

Desperate parents say desperate things. At the news or threat of their child veering into the ditch of depravity, one might bellow, 'I didn't raise you', what, 'this way'. Paul's playing that parent role here. The believers in Ephesus were casting glances back a bit at the tempting company they had kept before. But God. Their footprints ended abruptly at the Cross of Jesus, and so do ours. He lifted us up and held us to Himself, and we were nowhere to be found. Enoch's departure repeated. We don't belong there at all, beloved, so live like it. Don't look back with longing. It's very dangerous. Ask Lot's wife.Scene change! Wardrobe change!

22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

Christ has taught us to put off- to toss or throw from yourself your old clothes, the old 'you'. Your old self was doomed and fully terrible. Burn it! The worst mu mu you ever saw!

23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

In the place of our old, terrible selves and minds, renewed minds in Christ are ours as His Word and Holy Spirit work their mighty transforming power in us. What do I wear now since I've tossed out old me? My closet is empty, and I'm in my spiritual birthday suit. That's a good thing . We have a new wardrobe!

24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Our new, holy wardrobe is the new self fit for the name of God. It bears His designer label, and reflects His impeccable taste and style. Gorgeous, upright behavior, giving new loft to the term 'high fashion'.

5 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Past tense. This was the first thing to go in verse 15, but it clearly bears repeating. We're family. Don't lie to your family.

26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

Unchecked anger can invite unwanted company from the Devil. He'll arrive, flop down in your favorite chair(or on your lap, for that matter) and hunker down till the fur flies. Don't let him. Catch him at the door. Anger happens, but let's get right to the repenting of and rectifying of disagreements as quickly as we can. Seven things are hated by God. Discord among His children makes the cut.

28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

This is the stealing of small things of little value. God does watch carefully. Last week, in reference to worry, we quipped, 'don't sweat the small stuff'. That doesn't apply here. Stop taking anything not yours and work so you may have enough and enough to share with others. Don't you love the economy of God! Now onto our mouths, which are directly connected to our hearts. Guard your heart, guard your lips, respectively.

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

'Corrupting' is a word meaning rotten or worthless; bad, corrupt. Opposite of worthy. Don't spin conversations in a rude, rank way. Instead, steer them upward and away from tainting another's image. Listening carefully to others gives us a good idea of what words might fit the occasion, or not. It's always different, per conversation.We need to watch our kidding around, which so easily sinks to sin. Funny is fun till it hurts someone.What people really can use from us are building words seasoned with grace. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." Proverbs 25:11. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverb 18:21. Be slow to speak. Good, good words. Thank you, Lord.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Sometimes, I don't consider God's feelings and that I effect those feelings with my sinful speech, again because it flows from my sinful heart. Grieving the Spirit of God is possible.The worthless things that I say to others truly sadden Him. I think I'm free to state the facts, and say it like it is. Not so. What's the unseen outcome? The distress of the Spirit of God, with Whom I'm sealed. He's stuck with me forever, and I know He desires good company with good conversation. That would be God. The lover of goodness. And here's a spiritual subtraction problem for us. No calculators necessary.

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Me-6 sins listed here =1gentle and quiet spirit. I love God's math.Lastly, what do we do now with our gentle, quiet selves?

32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

What's the cozy blanket big enough for all of us? Kind forgiveness. How far should we go into the shadows to forgive people? Further than you've ever dreamt of going. This is the forgiveness that says, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do". Forgiving them for crucifying Him.That was for you and for me. What wouldn't it cover? Our rendered hearts tear a little again thinking of our own pain. Don't they know how much that....forgive. But you don't live with ....forgive. I can't just let her....forgive. Kindly, too. Jesus help us. He wants to help us. It's a worthy, humble, holy walk. A walk made possible only in Christ our Lord. Let's pray.