Ephesians 4:1-15

Ephesians 4:1-15

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

This is not some pampered false preacher who thinks that steak for dinner, instead of lobster, is suffering for Jesus. Paul is writing this letter from jail. He is literally a prisoner as the result of his faith.  He's not saying, "Fit Jesus into your lifestyle.".  He urging us, in light of the mercy, grace and election that God has "lavished" (1:8) upon us to live worthy of the calling.

  ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

In the past 14 months God has taught me humility and gentleness, but I've not reached "completely humble and gentle".  I've also begun to learn patience as I learn to live with the wonderful people who have taken me in. They do things differently than I.

  ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called ; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

  

This does not mean we lose who we are.  Each of us is a unique part of the whole with a specific function so the body can function properly.  Think of what would happen if the lungs decided they wanted to be the feet.

⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,
    he took many captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”

⁹ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

We discussed these verses in my Adult Bible Fellowship which I the only reason I'm not scratching my head right now.  This is speaking for Christ coming to earth.  I'm thinking the captives are those who are saved.  I believe the gifts are those of the Spirit.  I'd welcome another's input here if you think I have misunderstood these verses.

  ¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Did you know that your pastor is a gift from Christ himself?  We just went through Ephesians in class and this verse did not register.  Pastor Bernie and Steve are gifts to me from Jesus Christ himself.  Blows my mind.  After reading their job description, both men are faithfully executing their assigned tasks.  Thank you Jesus for these gifts.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

I was reading a book recently and there were teachings that just did not pass the "sniff" test.  I kept reading as this book came highly recommended by one of my mentors.  I kept hoping the writer would explain the points that did not sit right with what I know to be truth.  Nothing so far.  God has used Godly men to bring me to a point that I know the truth and recognize false teaching even Christian literature.


God Bless.