Ephesians 4

Friday, 16 September 2016

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,  Ephesians 4:17

In verses 4:1-3, Paul began a practical application for our Christian walk. That was then laid aside for the next 13 verses as he moved into a doctrinal analysis of the unity of the various parts which make up the church. With that complete, he now reverts back to his practical application of what our spiritual walk should entail.

“This I say, therefore” is stated as a summary thought concerning that doctrinal analysis of the previous 13 verses. The structure is:

• Walk this way (verses 1-3)
• Message of unity of the various parts (verses 4-16)
• Based upon verses 4-16, you now know the reason that you should walk this way.

To bolster his proclamation, he next says, “and testify in the Lord.” He is speaking as the Apostle to the Gentiles with the authority of the Lord Jesus. He is “in the Lord” in a unique position which allows him to speak with authority concerning these now-saved Gentile believers. All of this is for the practical application of their life-walk based upon the inserted comments in verses 4-16. Those words were given to show them that they were not aliens to the covenant, but they are included in it; they were not outside the house of God, but they are a part of it; they are not servants within the family of God, but are rather sons through adoption.

Paul notes to them that because of this unity, “you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk.” They had been accepted into the family of God; they were now a part of the living temple of God; and they were members of the covenant community with full rights and benefits to be derived from this standing. Their Christian life was to be a pilgrimage and a journey in this world. Thus, they should not be like the other Gentiles who were outside of what God is doing in the church. The others walk “in the futility of their mind.”

This “futility” will be explained in the next two verses. It is also what Paul wrote in the first chapter of his letter to the Romans, starting with Romans 1:18. He also writes about it elsewhere in his epistles. The Greek word which is translated as “futility” indicates a type of aimlessness because there is no final purpose or meaningful end. The walk of the Gentiles is a walk of nonsense because it is that of a transitory existence which ends without any hope. Paul is saying to them that in Christ, this is no longer the case.

Life application: What is a vain existence? Choose any Hollywood idol. They are handsome or beautiful; they are rich and famous; they have everything that could be desired from a worldly standpoint; and yet they have no end purpose and thus no hope. They marry and divorce with alacrity. They drink heavily and often turn to homosexuality or some other perversion, trying to fill a void which can never be filled apart from Christ. In Christ, we have our void filled. The things of this world no longer seem pleasing, and our walk is directed anew to the eternal. How marvelous it is to know that there is more than just a temporary walk of futility, ending in oblivion..

Marvelous, majestic, wonderful God – thank You for the hope we possess in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thursday, 15 September 2016

…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 4:16

The words “from whom” are speaking of Christ from the previous verse –

“…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…”

It is from Christ that “the whole body” finds its source, its growth, its strength, and its direction. This whole body is said to be “joined and knit together by what every joint supplies.” However, this is not a really great translation of these words. The Greek says, “every joint of supply.” The sustenance is not from the joints (what every joint supplies), but is from Christ through each joint of supply.

Each person who fulfills a role within the church does so based on what Christ has given them, not based on what they have as independent of Christ. This is the idea which is later given in Colossians 2:19 –

“…and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.”

As Christ supplies, so that nutrient is passed on through the joints “according to the effective working by which every part does its share.” What the Lord provides is given in order to be effectively worked out through the various parts of the body. Those who are evangelists should evangelize; those who are preachers should preach; those who are teachers should teach; and etc.

Two things should be noted concerning this. First, there are those who have abilities, but who use them in inappropriate ways. Women teaching men is prohibited in Scripture. If a man comes to Christ through the teaching of a woman preacher in a church, it cannot be said that the end justifies the means. The disobedience of this “preacher” cannot be regarded as “effective working.”

Secondly, many have been given the abilities to work effectively within the body. However, if they do not employ what they have been given in an effective manner, it cannot be said that they are working effectively. In other words, free will and proper adherence to God’s word are considerations of what is being said here. Only when the two are correctly aligned can it be said that the work is truly effective. Only then can it be said that each is doing their share.

When those things are properly on display and effectively being worked out, it “causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” It is true that the body may have grown through the preaching of a female from the pulpit, but it cannot be said that it was “for the edifying of itself in love.”

Adherence to God’s word is a demonstration of love. Failure to adhere to it is a demonstration of selfish intent. That selfish intent is more harmful than one might at first realize. As an example, should a man comes to the Lord through the preaching of a woman, and later he realizes that his conversion was based on another’s disobedience, true harm actually results in several ways which can be easily thought through. Thus, rather than edification, there is confusion; rather than love, there is bitterness.

There can be no true “holding fast to the Head” in disobedience. It is also lacking when someone neglects to exercise the gifts which they have been given.

Life application: There can be no true love in an action which is willfully disobedient to God’s word because God’s word is an extension of who God is. Jesus explained this in John 14:15 – “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” Keeping the commands of the Lord, in proper context, demonstrates love for the Lord. Let us put aside both laziness and pride and strive to be obedient to the word. This is showing love for Him.

Lord God Almighty, You have given us Your word as the rule and guide for the conduct of our lives. In obedience to Your word, we demonstrate love for You. When we are disobedient to it, the opposite is true – we demonstrate contempt for who You are. Help us to express our love for You by honoring You through the word You have given us. Let us not have pride or laziness step in and sever our loving connection to You. Give us this so that we will always be honoring of Your glory. Amen.

Wednesday, 14 September 2016

…but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— Ephesians 4:15

Paul begins the verse with a word here translated as “but.” It is given to contrast the equipping of the saints in order to keep them from being children who are tossed to and fro by all kinds of false, cunning, and deceitful teachings. Instead of such things, sound instructors of the word are always to be “speaking the truth in love.” This thought comes from a single Greek word which is used only here and in Galatians 4:16.

It is used in classical Greek with a full meaning of “to be true, to arrive at truth, and to speak truth” (Vincent’s Word Studies). HELPS Word Studies tells the Christian that it “includes Spirit-led confrontation where it is vital to tell the truth so others can live in God’s reality rather than personal illusion.” All teachers of the word are to speak only in truth. They are never to waffle in their proclamation or their convictions concerning what God’s word states.

However, Paul gives an extra precept for them to follow. They are to speak “the truth in love.” One can speak the truth bluntly and with force. The tone can be disgusted or crabby. In this, the truth is spoken, but it can actually produce a harmful reaction in the hearer. It is true that people who do not receive Jesus are going to hell, but to stand on a street corner as an evangelist and to condemn all those who don’t believe to this sad fate in a demeaning and arrogant way will only lead them further from Christ. It is unfortunate that so many teachers follow this abrupt and demeaning path. The very thing they should be doing, which is leading people to Christ, is the very thing they fail to do.

Paul never waffled in his doctrine, and yet when he confronted another who was not following the truth, he did it in a firm yet loving way. A good example of this is found in Galatians 2:11-21. Peter was failing in sound doctrine, and Paul corrected him without demeaning him in any way. He spoke in love. Such an approach is proper so that those who hear “may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.”

This idea is contrasted to that of the previous verse. There he spoke of the state of believers as “children;” a term used in a negative way. Here he speaks of believers who are given the truth in love as those who “grow up.” There is to be a process where believers mature in order to become sound, effective members of the body. In doing so, they will be sound “in all things into Him who is the head.”

This is to be the goal of our Christian life, and so it is sad to see how few actually avail themselves of it. Such a large percentage of believers are content to live their lives in spiritual immaturity. Paul tells us that in order to be sound in Christ, we are to mature in Christ. It is an exhortation which we ignore at our own peril. Without growth, we will be unprepared for what transpires when trials, doctrinal issues, and false teachers come our way.

Life application: Have you called on Christ? There is a lot you need to know. Don’t get stuck on one subject and spend your whole Christian life stuck in that box. Rather, take in the whole counsel of God and pursue Him and His word all your days. Be an effective member of His body.

Lord God, heavenly Father, Your word asks us to speak the truth in love. We can’t speak the truth if we don’t know it. And we won’t speak the truth if we are not grounded in it. It is so easy to waffle in our convictions when faced with difficult issues. Is Jesus the only way to be reconciled to You? “Ummm, errrr, I…. I don’t want to offend.” How ridiculous we are to care about offense! Your word is truth. Now help us to not be shy in proclaiming it, but give us the right reason to speak it in love. With this, You will surely be pleased. Amen.

Tuesday, 13 September 2016

…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, Ephesians 4:14

Paul is still speaking of the appointment of the five offices mentioned in verse 11. These were given for the purpose of equipping the saints, edifying the body, and so forth. This then would lead to the point where “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” (verse 13).

Now, in contrast to the “perfect man” just mentioned, he reverts to the thought of what so many in the church are, children. This word is often translated as “babes” or “infants.” It is almost exclusively used in a negative sense. It refers to those who are impulsive, rash, unthinking, and so on. Such people are easily manipulated and their doctrine is as changing as those of the garments of a woman in a fashion show.

The reason for this is because they are not grounded in Scripture by those who have been mentioned in verse 11. This is what they need, but it is also what they often stubbornly refuse to receive. People who spend all their time in prophecy circles are a classic example of this type of believer. They are often shallow in biblical knowledge, and their focus is myopic and twisted. Such people are ripe for being turned with very little effort at all. Their attention span is only as long as the next crazy video about another “prophecy” issue.

Thus they are “tossed to and fro.” This is the only use of the word kludónizomai in the Bible. It refers to the waves which rise and fall, billowing high and then turning into deep caverns. People without proper doctrine are carried along in just this manner, ever pulling at their faces and saying, “Oh my!” as they are pulled from strange doctrine to strange doctrine. Such crazy teachings are described by the words, “with every wind of doctrine.”

In a raging storm at sea, the winds turn from one direction to another, blowing the spray of the waves right in the face of the sailors at one moment, and then knocking them off their feet from behind in the next. This is the idea that Paul gives here. Instead of picking up the Bible, checking it carefully, and taking all verses in context as they should, they pull verses out of context, or they receive verses already torn out of context. They establish doctrines which have nothing to do with God’s intent for His people.

This is done “by the trickery of men.” The Greek word is kubeia, and it is another word unique to the Bible. It is the source of our word “cube,” and hence it gives the idea of dice. The sleight of hand by the player of dice fools those who are in the game. So it is with the sleight of hand of those who misuse Scripture in order to pervert its true, pure, intended meaning. Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Hebrews Roots Movement teachers are great examples of this type of sleight of hand. With a few verses, cunningly presented without all of the relevant information, the shallow and unprepared person is led completely astray.

And this “trickery of men” is from “the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.” This refers also to the skillful abilities of gamblers. It gives the sense of shrewdness of behavior which is reflected in “unscrupulous cunning that stops at nothing to achieve a selfish goal” (HELPS Word Studies). The ultimate goal of such manipulation is power and greed. When one is spiritually bound up in this way, they are easily manipulated to do the desires of the false teachers, and are more than willing to expend themselves and their fortunes in order to appease their cruel taskmasters.

For the term “deceitful,” Paul uses the term methodeia. It is “a predictable (pre-set) method used in organized evil-doing (well-crafted trickery)” (HELPS Word Studies).  None of this is arbitrary or unplanned, but is methodically prepared in order to bind up and imprison the uneducated person.

Life application: By running ahead and following teachers without first reading and contemplating the word of God, people are so quickly and easily turned astray. One must be exceedingly careful what teachers and preachers they will follow. And no matter who they are instructed by, every person has the responsibility to then go out and check what they have been taught. Paul wrote these words 2000 years ago. False teachers have thus had a long time to prepare their false teachings and to employ their wicked schemes against the body of Christ. Beware!

Lord God, Your word provides ample warning that we are to be cautious in who we listen to and believe concerning right doctrine. The manipulation of the uneducated is a simple thing to do. How sad it is that we are so unwilling to simply pick up Your word and study for ourselves so that when we are presented with the cunning wiles of false teachers, we will see their error and head for the door. In the end, we only have ourselves to blame for the sad spiritual state we are in. What a mess! Clean us up, Lord. Grant us the wisdom to simply pick up the word and read it. Help us in this. Amen.

Monday, 12 September 2016

…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; Ephesians 4:13

The intent of the several offices previously noted was that they were given to accomplish specific tasks until “we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God.” The words, “unity of the faith,” are given not concerning unity of doctrine, but of the act of belief. It is “the faith” which is referred to. The work of those mentioned in verse 11 is given for bringing people into the faith. It is also to bring them to “the knowledge of the Son of God.”

It is of special note that the term “Son of God” is used rather than “Son of Man.” Christ accomplished the work in His humanity, but it is in the knowledge that He is the Son of God upon which our faith is dependent. If Christ were only a man, he would have inherited Adam’s sin through his father. But He is fully God and no sin was transferred from His Father. The resurrection proved this. Thus He was “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).

In our understanding of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, we will then develop “to a perfect man.” The idea here is that of growth and maturity. A child may have knowledge, but it is imperfect. As he grows into a man, his knowledge of things grows and he becomes grounded in what he does.

For example, if he sets out to become a doctor, he would have limited knowledge of his desired profession. But through schooling, observance, and practical application, he would develop into a knowledge-filled practitioner. This is to be the goal of each Christian who has first obtained the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. We are not to get saved and then feel we have satisfactorily met all we are to do. Instead, we are to be like the youth who desires to be a sound and effective doctor. We are to grow into maturity in Christ “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

Our knowledge of Him is to lead us to be like Him. We are to be morally mature, grounded in understanding, and to be Christ-like in all we do. To be in “the stature of the fullness of Christ” is to walk in this world as He did, to pursue righteousness in full measure, to be able to expound upon the truths of Scripture accurately and completely. In all ways, we should endeavor to be fitting examples of the One who went before us, Christ the Lord.

As a notable point, it cannot be argued that all five offices of verse 11 must therefore remain until this is fully realized. Rather, each remains as long as it is needed for its specific purpose. The offices of apostle and prophet actually do continue on to this day in the sense that we still have the writings of those who gave us the New Testament, even if they do not continue on as necessary offices.

Life application: To be Christ-like does not mean that we are to pursue works of the law as Christ did in His earthly ministry. It is to trust in the work that He has accomplished and to go forward in that knowledge. We cannot impose on ourselves the burden of the law and say, “I am being Christ-like.” We will fail at the law; He prevailed over the law. It is important to understand this and to rest in His work and to emulate Him as the Fulfiller of the law. This cannot be stressed enough.

Lord God, Your word asks us to mature in Christ so that we will be like Christ. Help us then to understand this correctly. We are to trust in what He has done in fulfillment of the law, and so we are to trust that the law is, in fact, fulfilled. Our growth in Him is not to failingly do what He has already done, but to pursue His righteousness as an accomplished deed. Thank You for the freedom we have been given by what He has done for us. We can be pleasing to You by faith, and we will mature in that state by our continued faith. Help each thing that we do to be a work of faith in the Gift already granted. Amen!