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Thoughts on Ephesians 4:1-16 1 ¶ I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Our vocation? We are ambassadors for Christ. We beseech men in Christ’s stead, “Be reconciled to God.” (II Cor. 5:20). We are a royal priesthood (I Peter 2:9). We are chosen to do the work of an evangelist (II Tim. 4:5). We hold forth the word of life in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (Php. 2:16). 2 ¶ With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; We do not present ourselves to the world as spiritual elitists, but as undeserving recipients of God’s grace. Lowliness and meekness were crowning attributes of our Savior, so how dare we exhibit any contrary trait (Ro. 12:3). The disciple is not above his Master (Mt. 10:24; Lu. 6:40). 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. As He declared to Israel, our God is One (De. 6:4), and one denotes perfect unity, completeness and perfection (Col. 2:10). In Him we find absolute perfection. He is constant and has no variableness nor shadow of turning (Jas. 1:17). He is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow (Heb. 13:8). His message to the sinner is always the same, “repent and believe the gospel (Mk. 1:15).” His message to the saint is to walk worthy of the lofty position to which we have been elevated. What can be more lofty than to be seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus? We strive to have unity in the bond or glue of peace. Jesus is our peace (Eph. 2:14). He purchased our peace by the blood of His cross , so something is drastically wrong if we can’t adhere to each other in peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:4-6 lists seven unities that pertain to God and our relationship with Him. We are His body (Eph. 1:23, 3:6), the church (Mt. 16:18), a collection of believers from all corners of the earth. We have differences in culture and modes of worship and expression, but we have one thing in common: We know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (I Cor. 2:2)! He is our Lord. Our faith is in Him and Him alone. When we were baptized into Him, we took on His name (Acts 2:38) and were adopted into His body (Gal. 3:27). We are now a new creature in Him (Gal. 6:15; II Cor. 5:17) Thus our hope is in Him and Him alone (Tit. 2:13). No political messiah can save us, try as they may. Jesus and Jesus alone has the words to eternal life (Jo. 6:68). He is our God and Savior who condescends from His high and lofty place to make His abode in the hearts of humble and contrite believers (Isa. 57:15). 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. We were not all given the same talents and gifts. Note the parables of the Pounds (Luke 19:13-25) and Talents (Mt. 25:15). These God dispenses individually to each of us, as He wills and according to our abilities. We can aspire to and covet other gifts and talents, but it will be to no avail if we don’t make proper use of what has already been entrusted to us. As the old song says, “Brighten the corner where you are.” 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) The Jews of the New Testament had a theology of different levels of heaven, seven in all. Jesus ascended from the grave and He reigns on the throne of God far above all of these that He might fill all things. As the Psalmist said, “If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there]” (Ps 139:8) . 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: The fivefold ministry was instituted in the church for the perfecting of the saints. Apostles had seen and walked with Jesus for three and a half years. They were somewhat slow to comprehend His message and purpose, but after the resurrection things changed. Jesus spent forty days speaking to them of things pertaining to the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3) and their perspective changed. At the day of Pentecost they received the promise of the Father the Holy Spirit, and they were endued with power (Acts 1;4; Luke 24:49), and took the message of the kingdom to the ends of the known earth (Mr. 16:15; Mt. 28:19). New Testament prophets were known to foretell (Acts 11:28, 21:10)and to forth tell by the power of the Spirit (Acts 19:6). Spirit anointed spontaneous speaking is just as much prophesy as foretelling future events. Evangelists of that day were itinerants who traveled from place to place, quite often preaching the gospel where it had not been preached before. We are quite familiar with the work of pastors and teachers today. These five ministries were placed in the church by Jesus as it pleased Him. Of course anybody can call themselves anything that they wish, but the proof of their ministry is in the fruit that they produce. 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Their work won’t be done until we all are unified in the faith and we have a perfect knowledge and understanding of the Son of God and comprehend His stature and fullness. Obviously, that won’t be accomplished until Jesus comes. Here we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Here we know in part and prophesy in part, but when He who is perfect is come, then we’ll understand fully (I Cor. 13:9-12). Lest anyone thinks they have already arrived at the point where they know anything, Paul said to let that person know that they know nothing yet as they ought to know (I Cor 8:2). That’s a sobering thought for us all! 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; We have no shortage today of deceivers who work with cunning craftiness and trickery. They may be great orators but if their oratory promotes their selves rather than the cross of Christ, flee, flee, flee. We aren’t children any longer. God gives us discernment. If we are easily deceived, perhaps it is because we have etching ears ? (Isa. 30:10) I trust that we don’t. We need not give heed to every new doctrine that appears. We have grown up in Christ, He is our head and we speak His truth in love. We desire to grown even more in Him as we continue to learn of Him. 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. We are all members of His church which is His body and we all have a place and ministry in promoting His gospel. We all, even the least of us, contribute to the body as God works in and through us. As a result, the church, the body of Christ, the congregation of the redeemed, grows and increases as it edifies itself in the love of God. We won’t know just how big the body is, or what we have accomplished for Jesus, until we all gather at the throne of God, and see folk from every kindred and nation singing praises to the Lamb of God (Rev. 4:11, 5:9). Free Ebooks That You Can Download. An Expository Study on the Book of Colossians The I AMs of Jesus Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@About-Him.Com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe to About-Him Devotional Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries The purpose of About-Him.Com is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ whom we preach as the Almighty God manifest in the flesh. It is our desire that everything presented on these pages increases your faith in our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Home About Us About His Word Bible Studies Flash Movies Guest Writers Humor Links Midi Music Songs of the Church Thoughts on the Life of Christ Weekly Devotions Audio Devotionals Topical Studies Contact Last modified: 05-08-2009 Contact us About Him! 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