Pages

We now look at Paul’s writing in Ephesians 4:7-16. He has already spoken of walking worthy of our calling as reflected in our character (4:1-2); and of making every effort to be united in the Holy Spirit as reflected in our fundamental doctrine (4:3-6).

Now his next words are, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (4:7) This section, then, is going to be about the gifts that Christ Jesus has richly given His church and the purposes for which those gifts are given.

In order for us as the church to continually bring glory to God generation after generation, we must be united. Remember that His purpose was that all be one in Christ. In God’s Great Plan, we are not only reconciled to God, but are reconciled to each other! To not live that unity out in our “faith communities” is to be demonstrating the opposite of what we are to be. According to Paul, this unity is accomplished in two ways: (1) by the way we live together in community, and (2) by being united in the doctrine provided by the Holy Spirit. In this article we will look at how the fruit of the Spirit in believers makes and maintains unity.

God’s purpose and plan from before the beginning of time is that the church, both as individuals and as a body, be to His glory (honor and praise) and to display His glory through out all generations. That can only happen if every one of us lives worthy of the calling we have received. As we begin Chapter 4 of Ephesians, Paul’s emphasis changes; he moves from presenting God’s Great Plan to discussing how believers live out that Plan.

“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…” (Ephesians 4:1, ESV)

The immeasurable riches which we have already experienced in Christ are not the limit of what God will do for us. He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think!” And it is His desire that He is praised, honored, worshiped and glorified through the church and Christ for ever and ever!

“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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21

Ephesians 2:11-22 now reveals the great mystery that God had kept hidden even from the Jewish people as He foretold the coming of their Savior. In Greek thinking and language, a “mystery” was a “divine secret,” something that only a divine being could reveal. And this secret of God was that the riches of His salvation through Christ was not only the forgiveness of sins, but the making of two completely different peoples – Jews and Gentiles – one new people shaped into a holy temple where God is worshiped.

“In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.” – Isaiah 2:2

Having presented God’s purpose and plan to bless us beyond measure, Paul now prays (1:15-23) that our eyes be opened to see what God has and is doing on our behalf! Otherwise, we have riches beyond measure, but will continue think and live like paupers. Today we will also learn just how great Jesus is, and our vital connection to Him as His “body” on earth.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” – Ephesians 1:18-19

Today we finally begin our study of the actual text of Ephesians. The first section, covering 1:3-14, presents Paul’s premise for the entire book. Here we discover that our salvation is the culmination of the purpose and plan of God from before the Creation. Nothing was by chance with Him; all had been been foreseen and provided for. And it was all for our us!

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:11-12

Paul uses some wonderful words in our text that really illuminate and emphasize his point about God’s eternal plan. Here’s a list of some of those words: predestined, purpose, will, riches, grace, lavished, praise, seal, and pledge.

We have already observed that Paul emphasizes God’s glory in his letter to the Ephesians. I believe this was an intentional contrast/comparison to the praise often lavished on Artemis and her temple by her worshipers. Her temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The riches stored within her chambers were probably unmatched anywhere else in their world. And the legend of her ancient visitation to Ephesus in the form of a powerful meteor led many to seek her help and favor even into the 1st Century.

But Paul had taught the believers in Ephesus that Artemis was not a real god, and in fact was not real at all (Acts 19:23-27)! Likely he is now also reminding them of what he had previous taught them in person: that at the power, riches and glory really resided in the One True God in which they now believed.