From Ephesians 4-6
Paul gives an overview of the gifts Jesus has given to his church. The gifts are four kinds of leaders and they have a specific job. They are to equip the church and build them up in love. The overall goal is that we be unified in the faith and grow in knowledge of the Son of God.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
In the previous chapter Paul has explained how the God has included the Gentiles in his saving purposes and how his gospel ministry fits into this. The gospel has created a new people through Christ. In today’s post Paul gives an overview of how God wants the church to operate.
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.
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. (Eph 4.1-6)
‘Worthy of the calling’. Paul highly values God’s call which is issued through the gospel. He asks his audience to live up to the gospels high standard. The way put forward by Jesus himself. Jesus lived in humility, gentleness and patience. Paul expects believers to walk in a manner worthy of him.
‘Unity of the Spirit’. The Holy Spirit has drawn all Gods people together. They are meant to be unified.
The key word which is meant to sum up Christianity is ‘one’.
The body of Christ (the people of God) has come together through the one Spirit. All believers share one hope for a bright future in God’s kingdom proclaimed in the gospel. One Lord Jesus. One faith in Him. One baptism and one God our Father.
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”[Ps 68.18]
9 In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. (Eph 4.7-10)
‘He gave gifts to men’. Paul alludes to the story of the Exodus and Moses going up on Mt Sinai. Using a christocentric interpretation of Ps 68.18 he changes who gives gifts to who. The Psalm says Moses and Israel gave gifts to God.
Paul recasts the story around Jesus and this time it is he who gives gifts to his people.
‘He descended’, ‘He ascended’. Jesus in the form of God, came down being born in the likeness of men. He humbled himself to the point of death of a cross. God highly exalted (raised) him and he ascended into heaven. The gift’s Jesus gives are the people he leaves to carry on his mission.
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherd-teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
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, (Eph 4.11-13)
Paul lists four kinds of gifted individuals Christ gives to the church. Apostles and Prophets represent the people who founded the church and exercise leadership. Evangelists and Shepherd-teachers describe various ministries in the church. Notice they are all speaking gifts. Some however are intended to work outside the church, others inside the church.
‘Equip the Saints’, ‘unity in the faith’, ‘knowledge of the Son of God’. Their broad function is to equip the saints. To build up the body of Christ, his church of which all believers are members. These leaders do this with the guiding purpose of;
- attaining unity in the faith, and
- giving knowledge of the Son of God.
The maturity of the body of Christ is a reflection of their Christ likeness, unity in the faith and knowledge of Jesus, the Son of God.
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. (Eph 4.14-16)
‘No longer be children’. Paul describes the infancy of believers. Willing to listen to and believe anything. But this is not Christianity.
‘Rather’, ‘we are to grow up into him’. Infants and Children grow up into adults. Mature manhood. The church does this primarily through the ministry of the five fold office, the equipping of the body which works together and of course love. Love for God and love for one another.
Words for Believers
As an advocate of the NPP, perhaps more than others I am conscious of the very real disunity in the church. I fear that unity is the first thing to go in doctrinal disputes.
We value differences more than unity or people. Disunity originates in pride and arrogance. Denominations and churches are just as guilty as individuals.
The key word which is meant to sum up the body of Christ is ‘one’, not ‘alone’.
We do not have unity between groups, within groups, or in local churches. Most groups have insiders and outsiders. We talk about unity and community, but sometimes it just that – talk.
Unity already exists. God has already drawn us together. We just need to realise this. Our unity needs to be cherished and guarded. Christ is our unity. The church only exists in him and because of him.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2016. All Rights Reserved.
