Greetings,
The memory passage for Ephesians 4 is;
Ephesians 4:4-6, 22-24 (ESV)
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.
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
The outline theme is Unity and New Life in Him.
While the first 3 chapters of Ephesians deal with mostly doctrine, the last three deal with practical applications to doctrine. The first section is the talk, the last section is the walk. Ephesians chapter 4 is divided into two main themes; Unity in the body of Christ and New Life in Christ. Notice that 'walk' appears in the first verse of each section (1, 17)
Our walk in unity is first of all charged to be 'worthy of the calling' of the Lord. Elements of this worthy walk are humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, love, unity and peace. Continuing on the unity (only from the Spirit), Paul lists seven statements of oneness; one body (of Christ), one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God. Our oneness, with God and men, is completely reliant on Him.
The new few verses deal with the gifts of grace God gives the church. They include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The purpose of these gifts to the church is to equip the saints for ministry and build up the body of Christ. The goal of these gifts is that the body attains to the unity of faith, the knowledge of God, mature manhood, and fullness in Christ. Only by the work of Holy Spirit in sanctification can this be attained. Our growth, along with our unity, are completely reliant on Him.
This growth leads to maturity in Him. As children we are tossed back and forth by temptation and deception, being deceived by false doctrine, human trickery and schemes. Our growth leads us out of this instability. The alternative; speak the truth in love, grow up in Him (our Head), be joined together in the body by Him, and function in the body through Him to build up the body in love.
From our walk in the Unity of Christ, Paul moves to our walk in the New Life that He gives us. As a negative command, the Gentile believers were to no longer walk as they used to; in futility, darkness of understanding, apart from God, in ignorance, and with hardness of heart. The fruit of the old walk were callousness, sensuality, greed, and impurity.
To contrast, Paul states strongly that 'this is not the way you learned Christ!'. In Him we must put off the old way of life that is corrupt with deceitful desires and renew our minds (Rom 12:2) with the new self that is created after the likeness of God; righteous and holy. What a trade! Futility, ignorance, separation from God, hardness of heart, callousness, sensuality, greed and impurity for a renewed spirit and mind, the likeness of God in holiness and righteousness...that is His will for us and His gift to us.
Verses 25-32 consist of 5 exhortations that follow this general pattern; a. negative command, b. positive command, c. reason for the positive command. I'll summarize next.
1. (v25)
a. put away falsehood
b. speak the truth with his neighbor
c. for we are members of one another (in the same body)
2. (26-27)
a. in anger, do not sin
b. do not let the sun go down when you are mad
c. Anger, especially that stews, opens the door for the deceiver to work.
3. (28)
a. do not steal
b. do honest work
c. the result, along with providing for your family, is to have something to offer in charity.
4. (29)
a. do not speak corruption with your mouth
b. speak what is upbuilding and appropriate
c. this gives grace to those who hear you
5 (30-32)
a. do not grieve the Holy Spirit (who has sealed your inheritance)
b. put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice
c. so that kindness, mercy, and forgiveness can flow, as God has enabled us through Christ.
How does this affect my worship?
The whole first part of this chapter deals with the unity of the body of Christ that only comes from God. This unity shows itself in the ministry and upbuilding of the church, but it also has a lot to do with our worship. The worship of a unified chorus lifts an sacrifice of praise that is 'worthy of the calling' we have from God. To Him belongs all glory, and in Him we have the unity that is required to give Him glorious glory. I see it over and over in Scripture; true worship that is acceptable and pleasing to God must come from Him, flow through Him, and be for Him.
How does this affect my discipleship?
While in vv 11-13, Paul is addressing the gift of people to the church for the equipping and edifying of the church, I see a parallel to the work of disciplemaking. The goals are similar in each; to attain unity of faith, knowledge of Christ, maturity, and fullness of Christ. I'm not going to change Paul's words or meaning, but I see here the value in the body of these characteristics; they appear as our character becomes more like Christ's. Teaching all that He commands (in obedience to His command to make disciples) produces in the individual some of the same results that the ministry of these 'gifted people' provide for the church. Somehow they work together.
May you walk in His unity and new life,
Ethan
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Ephesians 3
Greetings,
Chapter 3 of Ephesians is the last chapter of the first section of Ephesians (which is split in half by many commentators). In the midst of a prayer for spiritual strength for the letter's recipients, Paul goes into a deep explanation of the mystery of Christ.
The memory passage is:
Ephesians 3:6,16,19 (ESV)
6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
The outline theme is The Mystery and Strength in Him.
While verse 1 seems to refer back to the new standing of Jews and Gentiles on an equal plane, Paul quickly diverges into an explanation about the mystery of the Gospel. This unlocking of this mystery was made known to Paul through a revelation (Gal 1:11-12) which gave him insight and ability to teach the mystery of Christ.
Verse 6 holds the key to this section (and is thus in the memory passage). Here Paul basically says 'this is the concise definition of the mystery'; the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise. This is possible through the work of Christ that we preach in the Gospel. They (we) are heirs to the same inheritance, are adopted into the same body, and are now recipients of the promised Messiah.
Paul's ministry, however humbly he describes it, is to preach this mystery to the Gentiles. The same grace that was given to him in abundance, from the unsearchable riches of Christ, is to overflow to the Gentiles. Through the church, the wisdom of God will be evident to everyone; human and spiritual. This is the fulfillment of the plan that God realized in Christ.
Verse 12 just caught me. When I did the study, I passed by it quickly because it is self-explanatory. But just now it grabbed my attention. In Christ we have boldness (for the Gospel) and access (to the Father) with confidence (not fear) through our faith in Him. Where would we be without the work of Christ?
After the long parenthetical discourse on the mystery, Paul continues his prayer for the Ephesians. He prays to God, the only 'un-derived' Father (from no one) that He would strengthen them, according to the riches of His glory, with His power and through His Spirit so that it reaches our inner-most being.
How? May Christ dwell in your hearts as you are rooted and grounded in His love that is wider and longer and higher and deeper than we can comprehend. And be filled more and more with the fullness of God; which, in us, is the increase of His character and decrease of our flesh.
While vv 20-21 are used frequently as a benediction, the words ring with truth and poetic beauty. "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen." Amen.
How does this affect my worship?
Going back to verse 12, the key to a true encounter with God in worship is access. Without access to His throne and His ear, we are simply offering up wishes; hoping He might hear us. But the Spirit of Christ is in us, and therefore we can cry out 'Abba, Father' and run to His arms. Our adoption into God's family is more than just a position, it's a relationship. And it is in this relationship that we can truly worship.
How does this affect my discipleship?
Preach, bring to light, make known, minister; these are all words that Paul uses to describe his ministry of the Gospel. As we walk, relationally and intentionally, with others in co-apprenticeship to Christ, all of these ministries come to bear. There are times of teaching and times of learning; times of shedding light and times of receiving light; times to give grace and to receive grace. But, as Christ modeled, this happens in the context of relationships. While Paul's ministry to me is this letter, his ministry to the people around him was his life.
To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus,
Ethan
Chapter 3 of Ephesians is the last chapter of the first section of Ephesians (which is split in half by many commentators). In the midst of a prayer for spiritual strength for the letter's recipients, Paul goes into a deep explanation of the mystery of Christ.
The memory passage is:
Ephesians 3:6,16,19 (ESV)
6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
The outline theme is The Mystery and Strength in Him.
While verse 1 seems to refer back to the new standing of Jews and Gentiles on an equal plane, Paul quickly diverges into an explanation about the mystery of the Gospel. This unlocking of this mystery was made known to Paul through a revelation (Gal 1:11-12) which gave him insight and ability to teach the mystery of Christ.
Verse 6 holds the key to this section (and is thus in the memory passage). Here Paul basically says 'this is the concise definition of the mystery'; the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise. This is possible through the work of Christ that we preach in the Gospel. They (we) are heirs to the same inheritance, are adopted into the same body, and are now recipients of the promised Messiah.
Paul's ministry, however humbly he describes it, is to preach this mystery to the Gentiles. The same grace that was given to him in abundance, from the unsearchable riches of Christ, is to overflow to the Gentiles. Through the church, the wisdom of God will be evident to everyone; human and spiritual. This is the fulfillment of the plan that God realized in Christ.
Verse 12 just caught me. When I did the study, I passed by it quickly because it is self-explanatory. But just now it grabbed my attention. In Christ we have boldness (for the Gospel) and access (to the Father) with confidence (not fear) through our faith in Him. Where would we be without the work of Christ?
After the long parenthetical discourse on the mystery, Paul continues his prayer for the Ephesians. He prays to God, the only 'un-derived' Father (from no one) that He would strengthen them, according to the riches of His glory, with His power and through His Spirit so that it reaches our inner-most being.
How? May Christ dwell in your hearts as you are rooted and grounded in His love that is wider and longer and higher and deeper than we can comprehend. And be filled more and more with the fullness of God; which, in us, is the increase of His character and decrease of our flesh.
While vv 20-21 are used frequently as a benediction, the words ring with truth and poetic beauty. "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen." Amen.
How does this affect my worship?
Going back to verse 12, the key to a true encounter with God in worship is access. Without access to His throne and His ear, we are simply offering up wishes; hoping He might hear us. But the Spirit of Christ is in us, and therefore we can cry out 'Abba, Father' and run to His arms. Our adoption into God's family is more than just a position, it's a relationship. And it is in this relationship that we can truly worship.
How does this affect my discipleship?
Preach, bring to light, make known, minister; these are all words that Paul uses to describe his ministry of the Gospel. As we walk, relationally and intentionally, with others in co-apprenticeship to Christ, all of these ministries come to bear. There are times of teaching and times of learning; times of shedding light and times of receiving light; times to give grace and to receive grace. But, as Christ modeled, this happens in the context of relationships. While Paul's ministry to me is this letter, his ministry to the people around him was his life.
To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus,
Ethan
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