Ephesians 4 Walk worthy of your calling The

Ephesians 4 Walk worthy of your calling

The Church of Christ �Our Wealth in Christ, Eph. 1 -3 › One body, the church, 1: 22 -23; 2: 15 -16 › New condition…new relation, Eph. 2 › New revelation…strong faith, Eph. 3 �Our Walk in Christ, Eph. 4 -6 2

The Unity of the Spirit Bond of Peace Attitudes (4: 2 -3) • Lowliness • Gentleness • Longsuffering • Forbearance • Love • Endeavor Worthy Walk “Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (4: 1) Basis (4: 4 -6) One… • Body • Spirit • Hope • Lord • Faith • Baptism • God and Father 3

Ephesians 4: 2 -3 Attitudes of Unity � Lowliness: Humility; “a deep sense of one’s littleness” � Gentleness (meekness): “broken to the harness”; controlled strength � Longsuffering: Slow to anger; does not hastily retaliate � Forbearance: To hold up against, put up with, endure � In love: Good will toward others that acts in their best interest � Endeavor to keep: Diligent exertion to guard, maintain � Bond of peace: Uniting principle 4

GOD’S PLAN FOR UNITY � BODY (Unity of Organization) � SPIRIT (Unity of Revelation) � HOPE (Unity of Desire) � LORD (Unity of Authority) � FAITH (Unity of Doctrine) � BAPTISM (Unity of Practice) Eph. 4: 4 -6 �GOD AND FATHER OF ALL (Unity of Worship) 5

God’s “One-derful” Plan For Unity Ephesians 4: 4 -6 ONE… Body UNITY OF. . . Relationship -Eph. 3: 6; Matt. 16: 18; Col. 1: 18 Spirit Life Hope Destiny Lord Authority -Rom. 8: 2, 10 -11; Eph. 2: 18 -Col. 1: 5 -6; 1 Pet. 1: 3 -5 -Matt. 28: 18; Eph. 1: 20 -23 6

God’s “One-derful” Plan For Unity Ephesians 4: 4 -6 ONE… Faith UNITY OF. . . Revelation -Jude 3; Acts 6: 7; Gal. 1: 11, 23 Baptism Forgiveness God Worship -Acts 2: 38; 8: 35 -39; Mk. 16: 16 -Jno. 4: 24; Matt. 4: 10; 1 Cor. 8: 5 -6 7

Gifts Given to Keep the Unity of the Spirit, Eph. 4: 7 -13 � Grace that saves, 4: 7 -10 › Salvation given to each one, 4: 7 (1: 6 -7; 2: 5, 7 -8) › According to the measure of Christ’s gift (offering): Full extent of His sacrifice (Lk. 6: 38) › Christ “captured” what held us captive: Sin and Death (the cross and the resurrection) › He then ascended and is exalted with all power to save sinners, 4: 8 -10; Psa. 68: 18 › Christ fills “all in all”, 4: 10 (1: 23, 3) 8

Gifts Given to Keep the Unity of the Spirit, Eph. 4: 7 -13 � Gifts (works) that keep unity and peace, 4: 11 -13 › INSPIRED, 4: 11 �Apostles and prophets, Acts 1: 8; 1 Pet. 1: 21 › UNINSPIRED, 4: 11 �Evangelists: Proclaimers of the gospel �Pastors: Shepherds who feed the flock �Teachers: Instructors of the word 9

Gifts Given to Keep the Unity of the Spirit, Eph. 4: 7 -13 � Purpose of these gifts (what they accomplish), 4: 12 › Equipping of the saints (spiritual growth and maturity), 3: 19; 4: 1 �For the work of ministry (to serve God and men, Col. 3: 24; Gal. 5: 13) �For the edifying of the body of Christ (the church), cf. 4: 16 (3: 16 -17) 10

The Theme of the Bible, Ferrell Jenkins, 49 11

Gifts Given to Keep the Unity of the Spirit, Eph. 4: 7 -13 � Unity is accomplished, 4: 13 › THE UNITY OF THE FAITH � It exists and we are to attain it, Jude 3 (Eph. 4: 3) � Complete revelation, leading to a mature body that knows Christ, 3: 3 -4; 4: 20 -21 � The fullness of Christ is attained in the body of Christ by means of “the faith” (the truth, the standard of His fullness) 12

Duration of the Gifts and their Effects on Unity, Eph. 4: 13 � Continue as long as Christians need to attain maturity, 4: 13 (1 -3) › These gifts are not the miraculous spiritual gifts that ended, 1 Cor. 13: 8 -10 � These gifts endure so the church can be united and mature, 4: 12 -13 13

The Results of Christ’s Gifts on the Church, Eph. 4: 14 -16 � No longer children, 4: 14 › Vulnerable to false doctrine and deceit � Fraud, sophistry and plots of the wicked � Speaking the truth in love, 4: 15 ›Grow up in all things into Christ, our head ›Body is formed and fashioned to Him � Each member doing his/her part � Growth of the body…Edifying itself in love 14

The Unity of the Spirit Grace and Gifts (4: 7 -12) Attitudes (4: 2 -3) • Lowliness • Gentleness • Longsuffering • Forbearance • Love • Endeavor Bond of Peace Worthy Walk “Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (4: 1) Growth in Love (4: 13 -16) Basis (4: 4 -6) One… • Body • Spirit • Hope • Lord • Faith • Baptism • God and Father 15