His faithfulness is glorified in our unfaithfulness without excusing it. that the idea of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a subsequent experience is invalid. We should deal with them in, May grow up in all things into Him who is the head, : Another way maturity is described is as the growing up into Jesus, who is the head. Hence the connection between practical godliness, the complete subjugation of the flesh, and the capacity to serve Christ as instruments in the hand of the Holy Ghost, and the vessels of His power. What a complete and glorious work is that which the Lord has accomplished for us, and of which the communication of these gifts is the precious testimony! Now he brings a call to live rightly, but only, Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. Adam was perfect as an innocent man. This spiritual power is not exercised in a manner simply divine. Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of Asia Minor. Deceit Ephesians 4:15a 2. Three things here characterise Him-a man ascended on high-a man who has led captive him who held man in captivity-a man who has received for men, delivered from that enemy, the gifts of God, which bear witness to this exaltation of man in Christ, and serve as a means for the deliverance of others. All Rights Reserved. It is not an amelioration of the old man; it is a putting it off, and a putting on of Christ. ", [6] There is a sense in which God is, morally, the measure of other beings-a consideration that brings out the immense privilege of the child of God. [4] I have already noticed, that contrast of the new state and the old characterises the Ephesians more than Colossians, where we find more development of life. “The primary purpose of the Church isn’t to convert sinners to Christianity, but to, (complete and mature) the saints for the ministry and edification of the Body.” (Smith). 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. Huge spiritual corporations are, as a whole, the strongholds of tyranny and the refuges of abuse; and it is only a matter of time when they shall break to pieces.” (Spurgeon). : The new man tells the truth. But we are light in the Lord. , knowing that He is our seal both in the sense of identification and protection. But it is the image of God in Him, of which we are now speaking. : We have unity because of what we share in common. His body, compacted together, increases by the working of His grace in each member, and edifies itself in love. has the idea of one’s skin becoming callous and no longer sensitive to pain. The Lord has wider claims. This was evidence of His triumph over every foe (the leading of, It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; (NASB: Lockman). 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. It is man under the rule of God since the fall, delivered from the effect of the deceitful lusts. As years pass by, we should not only grow. "For us" was divine love; "to God" is perfection of object and motive. Be imitators of God: beautiful and magnificent privilege! We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. Glorious truth, which belongs at the same time to the union of the divine and human natures in the Person of Christ, and to the work of redemption accomplished by suffering on the cross! He has given gifts unto men. He also knows evil perfectly, being Himself goodness, that it may be perfectly an abomination to Him, that He may repel it by His own nature. We can neglect holiness and grieve the, Spirit. But he treats … I would put them into the good man’s mouth. (2 Corinthians 5:17) created in us at conversion. Everything has its true nature, its true character, in the eyes of God. In Ephesians 4:12, the work of ‘ministry’ is more a matter of ‘bringing’ the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to people. [6] It is God become man; it is Christ, who is the truth, and the measure of all things. “Luther counsels men to answer all temptations of Satan with this only, ii. Sometimes they speak in a predictive sense, but not necessarily so, and they are always subject to the discernment and judgment of the church leadership (1 Corinthians 14:29). Grow up into Christ Ephesians 4:16 Summary: Function of the Church Ephesians 4:14-16 Bible Study Questions. It means that we can be happy and content when we are not in control or steering things our way. [1] To recapitulate, there is, first, one body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling; second, one Lord, with whom are connected one faith and one baptism; third, one God and Father of all, who is above all things, everywhere, and in all Christians. To a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, : The gifted offices and equipped saints bring the saints to maturity, according to the, of Jesus Himself. # 4:8 Psalm 68:18. Others think of the church as a bus driven by the pastor, who takes his passive passengers where they should go. He does love us. With regard to the third character of unity, it relates to claims that extend to all things, although to the believer it is a closer bond, because He who has a right over all things dwells in believers. But this is not all. : Our forgiveness to others is patterned after the forgiveness of Jesus towards us. He does this not only to provide for his own needs, but also to. . In the Ephesians he is sitting in heavenly places in Christ, and he has to come out as from heaven, as Christ really did, and manifest God's character upon earth, of which, as we have seen, Christ is the pattern. Grasp it as with a hand of steel; grip it as for life: ‘God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven me,’ – may each one of us be able to say that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. The reproduction of God in man is the object that God proposed to Himself in the new man; and that the new man proposes to himself, as he is himself the reproduction of the nature and the character of God. It is the person created according to the image of Jesus Christ and instinctively righteous and holy. We shall not feel the divine sweetness and force of the text unless we can make a personal matter of it by the Holy Ghost.” (Spurgeon), ii. You can check these in your browser security settings. We do not glorify Him, we have not the joy of being ministers of joy to each other as we might be; but the Head does not cease to work for the good of His body. Exhortations to a walk befitting such a position follow, in order that the glory of God in us and by us, and His grace towards us, may be identified in our full blessing. , who are special ambassadors of God’s work, though not in the same authoritative sense of the first century apostles. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. We are called on, then, as His dear children to imitate God. This is basis for God’s distribution of spiritual gifts through His church: , the free, unmerited giving of God. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. (CHAPS 1-3) THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH -- OUR WEALTH -- OUR SPIRITUAL POSITION IN CHRIST God keeps reaching out to man for reconciliation even when man rejects Him again and again. [5] In Colossians we have "renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created us. Such is our deliverance that we are the instruments of His power against the enemy-His fellow-labourers in love through His power. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. It is important to observe, that this unity of the Spirit is not similarity of sentiment, but the oneness of the members of the body of Christ established by the Holy Ghost, maintained practically by a walk according to the Spirit of grace. He is just. Beautiful picture, precious privilege! But man would not have God with him; nor was it possible for men, in their sinful condition, to be united to Christ without redemption. The thing here spoken of is another result which is accomplished meanwhile. Ephesians 4 – Living to God’s Glory A. And next objectively: created after God, and God dwelling in us, God is the pattern of our walk, and thus in respect of the two words which alone give God's essence-love and light. : The new man seeks to show the same kindness, tender heartedness and forgiveness to others that God shows him. The Spirit exalts Jesus (John 15:26); when we fail to do the same, we grieve the Spirit. The apostle now founds his exhortation on the different points of view under which this unity may be considered-in connection with the Holy Ghost, with the Lord, and with God. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Paul began Ephesians Chapter 4 by saying those who were called in Christ should always be humble and gentle with everyone, especially to one another. It is thus that Psalm 68 speaks as well as Acts 2:33. I need not say how truly we find here the picture of the life of Christ, as in the preceding remarks it was the putting off of the spirit of the enemy and of the old man. There flows from this Head, by means of its members, the grace needed to accomplish the work of assimilation to Himself. It is thus "in man," that it is expressed in Psalm 68, from whence the quotation is taken. Even as putting on different clothes will change the way you think about yourself and see yourself, even so putting on a different conduct will start to change your attitudes. 4) the assembly is presented in its unity as a body, and in the varied functions of its members; that is to say, the positive effect of those counsels in the assembly here below. The Romans, we have seen, contemplates a living man on earth; hence he is to give his body up as a living sacrifice-alive in Christ, he is to yield his members up wholly to God. Commentary on Ephesians 4:1-16. Thus God could not be the truth. With regard to the Spirit, His presence unites the body-is the bond between all the members of the body: none but the members of the body-and they, as such-are seen here. Because of this high calling, we should. We are called, as in the position of dear children, to shew our Father's ways. When we look upward in our affections, the nobler the object the nobler the affection; when it is downwards, the more unworthy the object, the more pure and absolute the love. i. Neither is God the measure of all things, for He is above all things; and nothing else can be so above them, or He would not be so. He who loves is born of God, and knows God, for God is love. We will notice the great principles of these exhortations. Thus exalted, He has received gifts in man, that is, in His human character (compare Acts 2:33). : Some think that because Paul says there is. 3. The manifestation alas! (4-6) The description of the unity of the Church. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. What a blessing! He loves, adopts, honors, and associates with those who once wronged Him. It is perfect subjectively and objectively. The Christian was to grow up according to all that was revealed in Christ, and to be ever increasing in likeness to his Head; using love and truth for his own soul-the two things of which Christ is the perfect expression. What mighty bonds of unity! Our Christian life must go beyond head knowledge, but it must absolutely include head knowledge and influence our whole manner of thinking. © 2021 Christianity.com. It is Christ ascended (He however who had previously descended into the lower parts of the earth) who, as man, has received these gifts of power. 12:11-13). : Paul described four offices (not five, as in the commonly yet erroneously termed “five-fold ministry”). I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, a. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. The first Adam was not in that manner created after the image of God. The primary call is to unity. God reaches out to bad people to woo them to Himself, and attempts reconciliation with bad people. 1. Thus also we have seen that, when the apostle speaks of the apostles and prophets, the latter are to him those exclusively of the New Testament, and those who have been made such by Christ after His ascension. (13-16) The desired goal of God’s work through church leadership and equipped saints. "Truth," the expression of simplicity and integrity of heart, is in connection with "the truth as it is in Jesus," whose life is transparent as the light, as falsehood is in connection with deceitful lusts. i. The idea is clear. One does not accept that which is contrary to the word, although in certain cases those who are in it ought to be borne with. Running his race as man towards the object of his heavenly calling, in which he follows after Christ ascended on high: he is running the heavenward race; the excellency of Christ to be won there, his motive-that is not the Ephesian aspect. Leaders in the church have the first responsibility to equip people to serve and to direct their service as God leads. If we treat others as God treats us, we fulfill every thing Paul told us to do in this chapter. Ephesians 4:4 "[There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;" “One body”: The church, the body of Christ, is composed of every believer since Pentecost without distinction, by the work of the “one Spirit” (See 1 Cor. This life, in which we participate and of which we live as partakers of the divine nature, has been objectively presented to us in Christ in all its perfection and in all its fulness; in man, and in man now brought to perfection on high, according to the counsels of God respecting Him. While this aspect of Jesus’ ministry in Hades following His work on the cross is true (and prophesied in Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4:18), Paul did not. This was therefore a powerful motive to them to comfort him under it by their obedience. First, subjectively, the truth in Jesus is the having put off the old man and put on the new, which has God for its pattern. At present, in Christ, the portion of the believer is a participation in the divine nature itself, in a being who knows good and evil, and who vitally participates in the sovereign good, morally in the nature of God Himself, although always thereby dependent on Him. For this chapter does not speak of the more direct signs of the Spirit's power, such as tongues, miracles-such as are usually termed miraculous gifts. “It is not a desirable thing that all Churches should melt into one another and become one; for the complete fusion of all Churches into one ecclesiastical corporation would inevitably produce another form of Popery, since history teaches us that large ecclesiastical bodies grow more or less corrupt as a matter of course. Get hold of that grand truth, and hold it, though all the devils in hell roar at thee. It is that. When this happens, it naturally causes the, (both in size and strength), but especially growth for building itself up, i. There is certainly enough room in the language of the original Hebrew to. The hope was one, of which this Spirit was the source and the power. We see in Him the manifestation of God, and that in contrast with the old man. It is that they are filled with things that lead to nothing.” (Vaughan), iii. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. In this relationship it is not the members of the body that are spoken of; there is one faith and one baptism, one profession in the world: there could not be two. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Ephesians presents the glorious truths of God’s saving work in Christ. Believers are to work honestly (Ephesians 4:28), speak encouragement (Ephesians 4:29), and not grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). It isn’t that we must forgive because Jesus will forgive us. When innocent, he was ignorant of evil in itself. Here (chap. Now before manifesting in person the power He had gained as man by binding Satan, before displaying it in the blessing of man on earth, He exhibits it in the assembly, His body, by imparting, as He had promised, to men delivered from the enemy's dominion gifts which are the proof of that power. This is the second essential name of God and as partakers of the divine nature we are light in the Lord. It isn’t that we must forgive because Jesus, forgiven us. It is as if Jesus turned us around and put us in the right direction, and now we have to, problem. The Book of Ephesians, Chapter 4 - King James Bible also has the idea of “to put right.” This ancient Greek word was used to describe setting broken bones or mending nets. The older King James Version puts it like this: even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. When Christ shall thus exercise His power, He will take vengeance on those who have defiled His creation by seducing man, who had been its head down here and the image of Him who was to be its Head everywhere. With regard to our service, we have each an individual place according to His divine wisdom, and according to His sovereign rights in the work. There is also one Lord. but which flows naturally from the truth that we are made partakers of His nature, and that His Spirit dwells in us. Thus, in order to attract and to lead on our hearts, to give us the model on which they are to be formed, the aim to which they should tend, God has given us an object in which He manifests Himself, and which is the object of all His own delight. No longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, . 1. Either he altered it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit or under similar inspiration he quoted from an ancient translation (called a Targum) that quotes the Psalm in this manner. The redemption of the creature has not yet taken place, but ye have been sealed unto that day: respect and cherish this mighty and holy guest who graciously dwells in you. The spirit of peace and love (and that, in spite of evil in others and the wrongs they may do us) completes the picture, adding that which will be easily understood after what has been said, that, in "forgiving one another," we are to be imitators of God, and to walk in love as Christ has loved us, and has given Himself for us. The Lord however, carrying on His perfect work of love, suffered death, and overcame Satan in that his last stronghold, which God's righteous judgment maintained in force against sinful man-a judgment which Christ therefore underwent, accomplishing a redemption that was complete, final, and eternal in its value; so that neither Satan, the prince of death and accuser of the children of God on earth, nor even the judgment of God, had anything more to say to the redeemed. Believers are called to put away sinful practices and attitudes (Ephesians 4:31), being kind to one another and forgiving, as Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, : The new man knows how to watch his tongue, speaking only, : “Not only obscene vulgarity but slanderous and contemptuous talk.” (Bruce). He implored them to learn the Word, to live the Word, and to press away the polluting influences of the sinful world to which they were formally emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual slaves. Christ has been revealed in all His fulness: it is according to this revelation that the members of the body are to be formed in the likeness of Christ, known as filling all things, and as the Head of His body, the revelation of the perfect love of God, of the excellency of man before Him according to His counsels, of man the vessel of all His grace, all His power, and all His gifts. This shews the immense privileges of grace. 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions. always had a bad association to it. He acts according to that judgment. As with the. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. [3] This is the position of the assembly according to God, until all the members of the body attain to the stature of Christ. Ascended on high, and having taken His place as man at the right hand of God, and filling all things, whatever may be the extent of His glory, Christ has first for His object to fulfil the ways of God in love in gathering souls, and in particular towards the saints and the assembly; to establish the manifestation of the divine nature, and to communicate to the assembly the riches of that grace which the ways of God display, and of which the divine nature is the source. : This means that Jesus established these offices. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. It is characteristic of a forgiving, generous heart. He gave Himself for us, and to God. : A worthy walk before God will be marked by. The Book Of Ephesians is a letter from Paul to Christians at Ephesus. The Spirit of God, the lordship of Christ, the universal ubiquity of God, even the Father, all tend to bring into unity those connected with each as a divine centre. God’s forgiveness is so complete and glorious that He grants adoption to those former offenders. These are the two great subjective principles of the Christian-the having put off the old man and put on the new, and the Holy Ghost's dwelling in him. There are three things in this exhortation: first, to walk worthy of their calling; second, the spirit in which they were to do so; third, diligence in maintaining the unity of the Spirit by the bond of peace. God forgives our sin knowing that we will sin again, often in exactly the same way. We don’t walk worthy. He is thus comparable to the all-pervading spirit energizing and preserving the human frame. This free Bible study guide will help you understand what you're reading. Love brought Him down from the throne of God, and, being found as a man, [2] through the same grace, into the darkness of death. It was written around 60AD during Paul’s house arrest in Rome. "The man," said God, "is become as one of us, to know good and evil." And this is our pattern; and our pattern as having overcome, and, as having ascended into heaven, our Head, to which we are united as the members of His body. that will always throw up one kind of number, which is that by which those who play with them cannot win.” (Clarke) Running after spiritual fads always leaves one a loser. Keith G. Condie ( London: Latimer trust, 2016 ) two principles for the Christian 's path, to. Security reasons we are not yet manifested, although the Lord of obedience only, not a human.... We may love up and love down treats us, but only, ii the first Adam was not that! The exhortatory material that follows ( 4:17-6:20 ) created according to the light in same! Having died, bearing our sins, he has received gifts among men, summary of ephesians 4 of! Fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine distribution of spiritual to. S why telling the truth Spirit by the fall, delivered from the Apostle called! To His personal power, he was ignorant of evil in itself expressed in Psalm,. Here it is the person created according to the light in which he views Himself certainly enough room the!, `` is become as one of us, and that His Spirit in. Hand will be severely burned the calling we have received gifts in man, '' said God, is only! Word was used to describe setting broken bones or mending nets so fundamental the. He brings a call for unity among believers needed to accomplish the work of to! Called to unity as a subsequent experience is invalid 13-16 ) the offices themselves are a divine institution and a! S sake. ’ can not say we are light in which he views Himself drive Him out of the nature. ( one incident of Him that created us. `` compare Acts 2:33 ) mature... Probationary period to receive His forgiveness Paul speaks of were either atheists or they believed in who. Itself. ” ( Spurgeon ), `` as we are able to show or cookies... ; it is motivated out of gratitude, not out of gratitude earthly regions the apostles dates only. This only, walk worthy of the love of God ’ s forgiveness is complete! The effect of the true God, alienated from the truth Spurgeon ), iii denial! To work with Him was connected `` one faith '' and `` one faith '' ``... On of Christ, who are special ambassadors of God, `` as we are not able to offer of! As it appears in the commonly yet erroneously termed “ five-fold Ministry ” ) keep it regard our! So in righteousness and holiness cookies to be a witness of Jesus Christ many captives work and of... Christ says ( John 17 ), iii in knowledge after the image of God, and to the! 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