3/12/17 Ephesians 4:1-10 “The unity of the Spirit for all Christians”
Ephesians 4:1 – I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you
that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
beseech – to
call for; admonish; exhort; beg; entreat; beseech; comfort; be comforted;
encourage; teach; instruct. See use in Romans 12:1.
walk – live or control your life
vocation – or calling
Matthew 1:25b – and he called
his name JESUS.
The same
word is used in Romans 8:30 – Moreover
whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called,
them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. where “called” refers to a naming, or a
calling to bear a name or title (or office).
This is not the same “called” as used in
Romans 8:28 where the word used is kletos (called; invited [to a banquet];
invited [by God in the proclamation of the Gospel] to obtain eternal salvation
in the kingdom through Christ; called to the discharge of some office.)
“I (Paul)
therefore (as a
result of what I wrote before this),
the prisoner (in
bonds) of (in) the Lord, beseech (exhort) you that you walk (live or control your life) worthy of the vocation (calling) wherewith (whereby) you are called (by name; to ministry; to service [for God]),”
Paul is exhorting the
Ephesians (in particular the Gentiles) to keep in mind that, because they have
been given so much (as per Ch.3), they need to act accordingly. If you have
been given something of great value, then treat it as such! (Note the pearl of
great price in Matthew 13:44-46) Appreciate the blessings that God has bestowed
upon you by His grace (undeserved favours).
If God has given
you so much, then it’s for a good reason: that you would use such blessings in
service to the God who gave them to you. Don’t waste your gifts!
Ephesians 4:2 – With all lowliness and meekness, with
longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
lowliness – have a humble opinion of one’s self;
modesty; humility; lowliness of mind.
meekness – or gentleness
longsuffering – patience; endurance; perseverance;
slowness in avenging wrongs.
forbearing – enduring (as in putting up with
irritations etc)
“With all lowliness
(humility) and meekness (gentleness), with longsuffering (patience; slowness to pay-back
or avenge wrongs), forbearing (enduring; putting up with) one another in love (agape).”
This is leading
into the teaching on how to get along with one another and, in doing so,
develop a unity (one-ness) between all the brethren. Clearly a major aspect of
this plea for unity is to get the Jews and Gentiles to see one another as the
same as themselves, putting up with the ethnic irritations and annoyances that
are common to multi-cultural societies.
Philippians
2:2-4 – 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be
likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind. 3
[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory;
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the
things of others.
Colossians
3:11-12 – 11 Where there is neither Greek
nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free:
but Christ [is] all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore,
as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness
of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
John
13:34-35 – 34 A new commandment I give unto
you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one
another. 35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are
my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Ephesians 4:3 – Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace.
bond – sundesmos (that which binds many
together; a band; bond) from syn + desmos (band; bond)
“Endeavouring (giving diligence) to keep the unity (one-ness) of the Spirit in the bond (that which binds the many
together to make one) of peace.”
They were to work
at (give diligence to) making unity happen; it just wasn’t going to happen
unless they did something about it! It was quite possible to be as one as long
as that which bound them together was a common desire for peace (that is, to
keep the peace). They were to be peace-makers, peace-keepers. As noted
previously, there were different cultures to accommodate here, Jew and Gentile
(which also could include many different nationalities and cultures). A recipe
for all-out war would have to be turned into a unity in the Spirit through the
application of the requirements that would keep the peace (in the bonds of
peace).
Although, note that
the exhortation to live in peace with others wasn’t always only to
fellow-Christians.
Romans
12:18 – If it be possible, as much as
lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Ephesians 4:4 – [There
is] one body,
and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
1
Corinthians 12:12-13 – 12 For as the body is one, and
hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one
body: so also [is] Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we
all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we
be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
“There is one body
(the Church; the body of Christ), and one Spirit (by which we have all been
baptised into that one body),
even as (just as) you are called (by name; to ministry; to
service [for God]) in (or through) one (only one) hope of your calling (called; invited [to a banquet]; invited [by God in the proclamation of
the Gospel] to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom through Christ).”
“unity” comes from
the word “one”, and Vs 4-6 are spelling out in very clear terms just what that
“unity of the Spirit” of Vs 3 means. This is a major theme of Ephesians (and
other epistles, too), that we are one in Christ. Over and over we have Paul
teach that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, that the gospel is
equally applicable to both groups.
Romans
10:12 – For there is no difference
between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that
call upon him.
Also note Romans
1:16; Colossians 3:11; 1 Corinthians 1:24; 1 Corinthians 12:13.
And all have the
same (“only one”) hope of their calling (to salvation).
Titus
2:13 – Looking for that blessed hope,
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 4:5 – One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
This relates to the
“only one” hope of their calling: one Lord, one faith, only one baptism.
Why are two different terms used for “one”? Interesting that the “only one”
term is the 3rd and last “one” in each verse (see Vs 4). (Is there a
reason?)
One commentary
(Expositors) questions why there should be one baptism when communion isn’t
included. However, I think what’s said in the above verse is what was meant to
be said!
1
Corinthians 10:17 – For we [being] many are
one bread, [and] one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
One Lord who is
Christ. There is one God, plural yet singular.
Deuteronomy
6:4 – Hear, O Israel: The Lord (singular) our God (plural) [is] one Lord (singular):
One faith, that is,
one doctrine of belief in God: Christianity.
Acts
6:7 – And the word of God increased;
and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great
company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Jude
3 – Beloved, when I gave all
diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to
write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the
faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Faith (as a belief
in Christ) can also be that which should be common to all Christians.
Philippians
1:17 – Only let your conversation be
as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else
be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with
one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Baptism was clearly
defined, especially with respect to when it was required, but also the purpose
of baptism was defined.
Matthew
28:19 – Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost:
Acts
2:38 – Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Baptism symbolised
the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death and resurrection.
Colossians
2:12 – Buried with him in baptism,
wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation
of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Romans
6:4 – Therefore we are buried with
him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
All these “one”s
represented their unity in the Spirit: one body, one Spirit, one
hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and then, in the
next verse we have one God and Father of all. All these were evidences
of their unity, their one-ness with each other.
Ephesians 4:6 – One God and Father of all, who [is] above all,
and through all, and in you all.
One God meant a
commonality of worship; whereas many gods would lead to much variety of
worship.
One Father meant
that they were all of the same family; whereas many fathers (false gods) would
have emphasised the differences between the worship “families”. just as there
are differences between physical families in our society. Even DNA defines
family connections through common patterns.
above all, and
through all, and in you all
– An all-encompassing presence of God who is all majesty, yet always present with
all His people; for they are His dwelling place.
Ephesians
2:22 – In whom ye also are builded
together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Some commentaries
question the authenticity of “you” (“in you all”), thus emphasising the
presence of God in all His creation, (note Psalm 139:7 – Whither
shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?) but the context in Ephesians 4:6 does
suggest this presence as being one with God’s people. See also
Ezekiel
37:27 – My tabernacle also shall be
with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Ephesians 4:7 – But unto every one of us is given grace according
to the measure of the gift of Christ.
measure – metron (measure; an instrument for
measuring; determined extent; portion measured off; measure or limit; the
required measure) Also used in Ephesians 4:13 – 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:
“But unto every (or each) one of us grace is (was?) given according to the measure (the determined extent) of the gift of Christ.” (Some teach that
this is in the past tense.)
Paul told the
Romans that each had been dealt (divided or distributed) such a measure of
faith, but not faith as in belief, but faith as in the doctrines of
Christianity.
Romans
12:3 – For I say, through the grace
given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more
highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath
dealt to every man the measure of faith.
But grace, on the
other hand, is clearly defined as a gift of God (Ephesians 3:7). In the above
verse grace is given according to the measure determined by how much Christ
would give to each person.
Paul was told that
the grace given to him would be sufficient for his needs; thus, it appears that
grace is given according to the needs of each person for such grace.
2
Corinthians 12:9a – And he said unto me, My grace
is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Paul told the
Corinthians that Christians had been given various gifts, but not the same to
each person. Different callings, different provisions!
1
Corinthians 12:4 – Now there are diversities of
gifts, but the same Spirit.
Note that these
gifts are called charisma, a word derived from grace (charis).
Thus the gifts of the Spirit could be termed the grace(s) of the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:8 – Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he
led captivity captive (or “a
body of captives”?),
and gave gifts unto men.
Psalm
68:18 – Thou hast ascended on high,
thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for (or “of”) men; yea, [for] the rebellious also, that
the Lord God might dwell [among them].
When he ascended
on high – clearly this is the
resurrection after Jesus had firstly descended into hell (hades, usually known
as the abode of the wicked).
Acts
2:30-32 – 30 Therefore being a prophet, and
knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins,
according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his
soul was not left in hell (hades), neither his flesh did see corruption. 32
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
he led captivity
captive – Some hold that
this refers to God’s saved people being led from Paradise into heaven, that is,
those who were captive (under satan’s rule) have now been taken on high with
Christ. This is a possible interpretation.
Others teach that
this actually says that it is Christ’s victory over the wicked ones.
he led captivity – to make captive; take captive; capture.
Thus, it could read that Christ made captives of the captivity.
That is, He led as
captives those who had been captured (or vanquished) by His victory in the
resurrection. The context of the original in Psalm 68:18 does appear to show
that many hostages or captives have been taken, and that tribute seems to have
been paid to the Lord God in Zion. Thus, Christ triumphed over His enemies.
gave gifts unto
men – After Vs 8, Paul puts
in an aside (shown in parentheses) on the ascension of Christ after His descent
into hell; this is followed in Vs 11-12 by what appears to be a list of those
gifts to men.
Ephesians
4:11-12 – 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:
Were those gifts to
men related to the tribute received from men (in Psalm 68:18) and then possibly
given in turn to those who assisted with the victory. It was a custom for the
victors to take from the vanquished any property that they wanted. It was their
right as victors to share in the plunder. And, the king or ruler would give
gifts to those who were instrumental in winning the battle. Note how so many of
Britain’s Lords (dukes, earls, barons etc) were given as rewards after a
victory.
Also note the
following passage:
1
Peter 3:18-22 – 18 For Christ also hath once
suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By
which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which
sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the
days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls
were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto [even] baptism
doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the
answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and
authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Paul tells the
Colossians about the victory over Christ’s enemies on the cross.
Colossians
2:14-15 – 14 Blotting out the handwriting
of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of
the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 [And] having
spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing
over them in it.
Ephesians 4:9 – (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also
descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
That Christ
ascended must assume that he had to have firstly descended into the lower parts
of the earth (the grave, Sheol, hades).
Ephesians 4:10 – He that descended is the same also that ascended up
far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
He that ascended
far above all heavens is the one who firstly descended from the Father.
John
6:38 – For I came down from heaven,
not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
fill all things – pleroo pas
Ephesians
1:22-23 – 22 And hath put all [things] under
his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the
church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth (pleroo) all in all (pas en pas).
These last two
verses are seemingly written out of chronological order. The one who ascended
to heaven was the one who had previously descended into the earth, and the one
who descended from heaven (in order to descend into the earth) was also the one
who ascended far above all heavens, that is, far above all other power and
authority.
Ephesians
1:19-21 – 19 And what [is] the
exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the
working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ,
when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in
the heavenly [places], 21 Far above all principality,
and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in
this world, but also in that which is to come:
Now, that is a
statement of the sovereignty of God. It seems to me that any effort to redefine
God’s sovereignty on the basis of whether man has been allowed some measure of
free will or not is ludicrous! For example, calvinists mainly base their
doctrine of the sovereignty of God upon this very issue: that, in their view, a
sovereign God would not permit any other being to have any measure of freedom
of choice, for that would be an undermining of their God’s will. But the Bible
defines God’s sovereignty as being in authority over all else in the universe.
And, if God desires man to have some freedom of will, and then to judge all mankind
for every free will choice made, then that’s His decision! That is real
authority, and therefore real sovereignty!
Hoppers Crossing Christian Church homepage