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THE WORTHY WALK
OF THE BELIEVER (1)

Ephesians 4:1-16

Introduction

In chapters 1-3, the first division of the Epistle, we saw the christians as the "spiritual body" of Christ, already seated in him "in heavenly places," according to God's mercy in this dispensation of the "mystery of Christ," which was given to Paul.

Now, in chapters 4 to 6, the second division of the Epistle, we will see what should be the "walk" (behaviour) of the believer in this world, in accordance with such high and glorious position he enjoys in Christ.

The Worthy Walk – verses 1 to 3

Here Paul, "the prisoner of the Lord" (spiritual aspect), entreats believers that their character and way of life be worthy of their high vocation. We should show humility, patience, meekness - the characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ strengthening each other in love (see Matthew 5:1-12, John 15:12). All this takes effort and diligence, so we can keep the dignity of our vocation.

The Unity of the Spirit – verses 4 to 6

This unity, maintained through peace among brothers, consists of seven links or aspects:

1. A body - the Church;
2. A Spirit (Ghost);
3. A hope - Christ's Kingdom;
4. One Lord - Jesus Christ;
5. A faith - the Gospel;
6. A baptism - in water, the confession of Christ;
7. One God and Father - the Creator, only Master "in all and through all and over all.”

The Descent and Ascent of Christ – verses 7 to 10

See also John 3:13 and Psalm 68:18.

Psalm 68:18 says that the Lord Jesus Christ "ascended on high, He led captivity captive, received gifts among men," but Paul quotes the last sentence as "gave gifts to men."

There are several explanations for this apparent contradiction, the best of which seems to be the following:

When Christ arrived in heaven, leading captivity captive, God gave Him men (the Church). To the Church of Christ, in turn, He gave the apostles, evangelists and teachers as "gifts" (v. 11). Thus, the phrase "gave gifts unto men "(v. 8) is not part of the quotation from the Psalm – it is the word of Paul himself. Therefore, there is no real or apparent contradiction.

The truth is that Christ "descended and ascended" and what an amazing descent for the Son of God (see Philippians 2:5-8) – truly "to the lower regions ": earth, Calvary, death! However, He rose gloriously “above all the heavens" and "every name" (Philippians 2:9-11) to "fill all things”, taking captive what was "captivity" for men - the power of sin! . . . He who died on the cross, despised and rejected by men, is the same that now "fills the universe with His glory!"  (v. 10).

The gifts given to the Church – verses 11 to 16

These "gifts" are men who have certain skills in the church. In Romans 13:3-8 and in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, we see the "spiritual gifts" given to individual believers; but here in Ephesians 4 the very possessors of the basic gifts are called "gifts".

a) Apostles. These were the first preachers of the Gospel and the founders of the Church (see Acts 1:13, 21, 26; Romans 1:1); there were no more apostles after these.

b) Prophets. Special messengers to the churches in apostolic times (see Acts 21:10). Some of the apostles were also prophets.

c) Evangelists. Proclaim the Gospel, especially to the unconverted. Philip was an evangelist (Acts 6:5, 40; 21:8). There are many today, worldwide.

d) Pastors and Masters (or Doctors). These are the guides and instructors, often "elders" or "presbyters" in the churches. See Acts 13:1, 20:17-21.

e) Spiritual growth. All these people, with their respective gifts", were given to the Church to "build up the saints" as members of the "Body of Christ," until all mature in christian knowledge and character, Christ being the model (v. 13). So we will show firmness in the faith, and, “speaking the truth in love" (v. 15), will become adults in the Christian faith.

f) The perfect body (v. 16). The Church, by the mutual and interdependent operations of all its members, will edify itself to be a true spiritual body, founded and built on love.

 

Richard Dawson Jones (1895 - 1987)

 

 

 

 

 

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

 

 

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
8 Therefore He says: "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS TO MEN."
9 (Now this, "HE ASCENDED"—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

 

Ephesians chapter 4 verses 1 to 16