LESSON 5-Ephesians
Chapter 4
BEING THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
Ephesians 4:1-32
Continued Eph. 4:11-16
Continued from last week:
Ephesians 4:14 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,
The most dangerous life you can live is an ignorant one. You’re left like an infant on a ship out of control in the waves and winds of the storms of life. The fall of the dice dictates while the deceptive teachings of men and their distracting tricks entertain. Mirror Translation
Eph. 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ
4:15 Love (the revealed value that God sees in every man) gives truth its voice. In this atmosphere spontaneous growth is inevitable. The whole person is addressed in Christ who is the head of the body, (pictured as a conductor of music, epichoregeo.) Mirror Translation
Eph. 4:16 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.
4:16 From Him flows the original composition and detail of our design like words intertwined in poetry, they connect layer upon layer to complete the harmony, following the rhythm of His thoughts like footprints. Meanwhile the body thrives and pulsates with the energy of love. Each individual part (portion) finds its full measure there. Mirror
Translation
4:14 The most dangerous life you can live is an ignorant one. You’re left like an infant on a ship out of control in the waves and winds of the storms of life. The fall of the dice dictates while the deceptive teachings of men and their distracting tricks entertain.
4:15 Love (the revealed value that God sees in every man) gives truth its voice. In this atmosphere spontaneous growth is inevitable. The whole person is addressed in Christ who is the head of the body, (pictured as a conductor of music, epichoregeo.)
4:16 From Him flows the original composition and detail of our design like words intertwined in poetry, they connect layer upon layer to complete the harmony, following the rhythm of His thoughts like footprints. Meanwhile the body thrives and pulsates with the energy of love. Each individual part (portion) finds its full measure there. Mirror
Translation
V14 No longer children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting:
When the church does not have the revelation of the Son of God it grows into doctrines of men which are promoted by things instead than the truth which is promoted through the revelation of God’s son. The church is deficient because it is growing lopsided and being blown around by ever wind of doctrine.
“That we may be no longer children” A transformation must take place. Nepios, literally infants, and other minors that are immature and untaught tossed to and fro dashing or surging waves. In changefulness and agitation the nepio is carried about by every wind of or degree or doctrine. The sleight of men is the element of an evil atmosphere. Instead of growing up into the revelatory knowledge of Christ, we make philosophies, or things the main focus. Doctrines become divine truth. Christian philosophies lead into a false way of Christian life that diverts the nepio fatally from the truth. If we concentrate on things, we shall always be immature. These philosophies pertaining to Christian “things” will not bring the revelation of Christ. The church will not grow up into all things by Christ who is our all and in all. The church becomes messed up. Believers are hurting; the teachers of the doctrines of men become exalted.
V15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ
(seizing the head and through an efficient revelation of Him can the church grow up into Him in all things; the more revelation of the Christ, the more that we can grow up into Him.) That’s why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the [a]testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of [b]human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
V16 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.
5- fold ministry is comparable to the joints of the Body. Ministers, themselves, (given by God) supply the whole Body for their work, coordinating each part harmoniously with the whole.
SUMMARY of Eph. 4:11-16
1. When the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, He gave spiritual gifts to Christians. The Holy Spirit became the Comforter and Teacher of all believers. “And when the Spirit is come, He shall teach you all things.”
2. Some of the gifts are : apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
3. One objective of the ministry gifts is to bring Christian saints to maturity so that they can do useful work in the ministry of edifying the Body of Christ.
4. Another objective of ministers is to bring believers together in unity, so that every Christian has a working knowledge of the Word of God, can become mature, and become more like the Lord Jesus Christ every day.
5. The purpose is to produce Christians who are no long as gullible and naive as children who can be pushed around by anyone with a smooth line of talk.
6. But the Christian is to learn the truth accompanied by the inner working of the Holy Spirit so that he can grow up into Jesus Christ in all things.
7. When this happens, the whole Body, the Church, is accurately framed together by the additional help supplied by every believer (joint) in the Body.
8. And every part of the body contributes active energy and operating efficiency to the work of causing growth in the Body. That is, the body edifies itself under the care and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
When God said, “Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26), the Last Adam- Christ- was the PURPOSE, but the first Adam was the PROCESS.
Consider Paul’s words in Galatians 4:19, “My little children for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed within you!” (Amplified Bible). Here he is speaking of PROCESS with the PURPOSE of Christ being completely formed within. The word he uses that is translated as children, teknion in the Greek, is different than the Greek word nepois used in Ephesians 4:14, “children tossed to and fro” referring to infants. The Greek word huios used in Romans 8:19 which speaks of the “manifestation of the sons of God”, refers to mature sons.
1 John 2:13-14 I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children,(some translations say infants) Because you have known the Father.14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
There seems to be a progression in maturity:
Nepois = infants/little children
Teknion = young men
Huios = mature sons
Patéres=fathers
Phil 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, fas you have always gobeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Some questions to ask as you read and study Philippians 2:12 – 13:
1. If we are saved by faith alone, do we need to work out our salvation to be saved?
2. What does Paul mean by “work out your own salvation” (Philippians 2:12)? How are you doing it?
3. What daily habits do you practice to maintain your relationship with God? (prayer, praise, worship, meditation and communion, renewing our mind to the word of God etc.)
I believe that this is the PROCESS of “working out your salvation” (Philippians 2:12-13), in other words bringing that which is already perfected within your spirit to manifest in your soul. (sanctification, growing in grace and faith in the soulish area)
We will continue with Lesson 5 next week.