Ephesians 4:1-16

Outline

Intro

Bible project summary of Ephesians Chapter 1-3

Three

Three stooges skit of stooges bickering and not working together

Ephesians

Unity ()

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

(ESV)

4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

“a prisoner for the Lord” - Paul imprisoned in Rome for preaching the gospel.

How can one live worthy of the calling? The Greek word for “worthy” (axios) refers to a balance, as on scales. Thus, believers are to live “in balance” with their calling. How they act should match what they believe.

“humility and gentleness” - Both the Greek and Roman cultures considered humility and gentleness to be weak character traits showing a lack of self-respect

Both the Greek and Roman cultures considered humility and gentleness to be weak character traits showing a lack of self-respect

Humility is an attitude

Humility is an attitude, and gentleness is the action derived from it. Gentle people do not attempt to grab for positions of importance or assert authority over others. Gentle people accept God’s dealings with them without arguing or resisting. Gentle people are considerate of others. If everyone in a church had the characteristics of humility and gentleness, conflicts would disappear and members would have strength and power in their service.

Gentleness is the action derived from it

Gentle people do not attempt to grab for positions of importance or assert authority over others.

Gentle people accept God’s dealings with them without arguing or resisting.

Gentle people are considerate of others.

If everyone in a church had the characteristics of humility and gentleness, conflicts would disappear and members would have strength and power in their service.

Patience conveys the quality of being able to handle one another’s faults and failures and refusing to avenge wrongs.

Patience (also translated “long-suffering”) conveys the quality of being able to handle one another’s faults and failures and refusing to avenge wrongs. No one is ever going to be perfect here on earth, so believers must be patient with one another despite their faults

No one is ever going to be perfect here on earth, so believers must be patient with one another despite their faults

Bearing with one another presupposes that, at times, loving others will be a burden. Believers must be willing to carry the load without expecting reward, thanks, or return.

Perhaps no other virtue seems so foreign to our culture as patience.

Perhaps no other virtue seems so foreign to our culture as patience. Be honest: Do you ever stand by the microwave, tapping your foot impatiently as you wait for it to heat something?

Microwave vs “the old days”

Mexico time story

Unity

Movies with friends sticking together. Eg. Scooby Doo and Shaggy

Your friends (Reggie)

Marriage

Families

Country

Church

CRBC

Woodlands

Mexico

All of these areas would have unity if they practiced what Paul is saying

Jesus disciples

There is remarkable diversity among the 12 apostles, including fishermen, a tax collector (Matthew), and a zealous revolutionary (Simon the Cananaean).

Judas Iscariot is always listed last

There is remarkable diversity among the 12 apostles, including fishermen, a tax collector (Matthew), and a zealous revolutionary (Simon the Cananaean). Judas Iscariot is always listed last

Simon … the Zealot. The Zealots were political activists who were radically opposed to Roman rule.

Simon … the Zealot. “Zealot” comes from the Greek word zēlōtēs. The Zealots were political activists who were radically opposed to Roman rule. Apart from Jesus’ call and influence on their lives, Matthew and Simon would have had deep animosity toward each other, with Matthew (as a tax collector) working in the service of Rome, and Simon (as a Zealot) seeking to overthrow Rome.

Matthew and Simon would have had deep animosity toward each other, with Matthew (as a tax collector) working in the service of Rome, and Simon (as a Zealot) seeking to overthrow Rome.

See if anyone has solved the riddle.

in each case the oneness expresses both the uniqueness of the item and its foundational value for unity. All seven express the reality that there is only one gospel and that to believe that gospel is to enter into the unity it creates.

(ESV)

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.

Ephesians 4:4–6 ESV

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

The NIV Application Commentary: Ephesians Unity is Motivated by Theological Oneness (4:4–6)

in each case the oneness expresses both the uniqueness of the item and its foundational value for unity. All seven express the reality that there is only one gospel and that to believe that gospel is to enter into the unity it creates.

What’s the pattern? (answer: One)

in each case the oneness expresses both the uniqueness of the item and its foundational value for unity. All seven express the reality that there is only one gospel and that to believe that gospel is to enter into the unity it creates.

This represented two things:

Uniqueness of each item listed

One = unity

All seven express the reality that there is only one gospel and that to believe that gospel is to enter into the unity it creates.

(ESV)

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Qualifications for being an “Apostles”

Qualifications

to have seen the risen Christ,

to have been sent out by him to preach the gospel,

to be working on behalf of the kingdom, building its foundation (as noted in 2:20).

Paul also notes “signs, wonders, and miracles” as marks of a true apostle ().

“Apostles” included the eleven men Jesus called (without Judas), plus others who are called apostles—such as Paul himself (), Matthias (), Barnabas (), Jesus’ brother James (), Silas (), Andronicus and Junias (). It seems that the qualifications for being an apostle were to have seen the risen Christ, to have been sent out by him to preach the gospel, and to be working on behalf of the kingdom, building its foundation (as noted in 2:20). Paul also notes “signs, wonders, and miracles” as marks of a true apostle ().

Who were they

included the eleven men Jesus called (without Judas), (eg Peter, Andrew, Matthew, Mark, etc.)

Paul himself (),

Matthias (),

Barnabas (),

Jesus’ brother James (),

Silas (),

Andronicus and Junias ().

Prophets

had special gifts in ministering God’s messages to his people.

had special gifts in ministering God’s messages to his people. At times they would foretell the future (; , ), but more often their job was to exhort, encourage, and strengthen God’s people

At times they would foretell the future (; , ),

often their job was to:

strongly encourage someone to do something,

encouragement and support

strengthen God’s people

evangelists

were the traveling ministers, similar to the missionaries of today.

evangelists were the traveling ministers, similar to the missionaries of today. They went to non-Christian people and proclaimed the gospel to them, often being the first to start a church in a particular area (; ).

They went to non-Christian people and proclaimed the gospel to them, often being the first to start a church in a particular area (; ).

shepherds (pastors) and teachers.

pastors and teachers. These two gifts are likely the same. While the apostles, prophets, and evangelists had a universal sphere of function (the church as a whole), the pastors and teachers probably served in the local churches. Like shepherds, they tended God’s “flock,” handling the day-to-day affairs of their congregation—administering, counseling, guiding, feeding.

These two gifts are likely the same.

While the apostles, prophets, and evangelists served the church as a whole,

the pastors and teachers probably served in the local churches.

Like shepherds, they tended God’s “flock,” handling the day-to-day affairs of their congregation—administering, counseling, guiding, feeding.

Pop Quiz: How many ministers does our church have? (5,10,15,20+?)

Paul shows that God gives pastors and teachers to his church not to be the ministers of the church but to equip the ministers.

Who then are the ministers?

Paul shows that God gives pastors and teachers to his church not to be the ministers of the church but to equip the ministers. Who then are the ministers? All Christians are to be ministers, so you are one of them. The role of pastors and teachers is to train and equip the “saints” (all believers) to be able to serve in whatever ways that God has called them.

All Christians are to be ministers, so you are one of them.

The role of pastors and teachers is to train and equip the “saints” (all believers) to be able to serve in whatever ways that God has called them.

Example of saints being equipped, Chuck Norris

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

(ESV)

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

(ESV)

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,

“unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” -

If we stay focused on Christ, we can succeed in Unity

unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God

Think of a catching a football

This does not speak of perfection (impossible in this life) but of growth—such as children growing into adults, which ties into the following advice regarding this growth.

“to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” -

“to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” - This does not speak of perfection (impossible in this life) but of growth—such as children growing into adults, which ties into the following advice regarding this growth.

This does not speak of perfection (impossible in this life) but of growth—

Think of children growing into adults

This ties into the next set of verses

(ESV)

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, 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.

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, 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.

“no longer be children”

no longer be children”

You don’t want to be 40 years old still living in your parents house (eg Sean)

“tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes”

tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes”

The early church had a lot of problems with this. Remember, the NT had not been cannonized until late 300 AD. Even then, copies were limited

Do we have this problem today? Yes! Ex. JW

Own translation

Don’t believe in the Trinity. Think Jesus was the archangel Michael

“speaking the truth in love”

Some people are good at speaking truth (engaged couple living together)

Some people prefer to speak in love

Speak the truth, but do it in a loving manner

“ 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.”

Speak the truth, but do it in a loving manner.

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.”

Ephesians 4:1-16

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