Ephesians - ONE

ONE

Question of the day:  When thinking about your abilities, what is one of your God given gifts? 

Before we dive into this weeks lesson it is imperative that we review what Paul has written so far in Ephesians.

Chapter 1:  You were planned for and He lavishes His grace and blessings on you. Chapter 1 ends with a prayer that the Ephesians will know and understand this great love that God has for them. 

Chapter 2: We were dead in sin, now we are alive in Christ.  The Good News! Jews and Gentiles reconciled through Christ.

Chapter 3: Paul was uniquely qualified to evangelize the Gentiles and he is so thankful for this opportunity.

* Chapter 3 ends in a beautiful prayer where the emphasis is "Within us," highlighting that God is wanting to do a beautiful thing within us. 

THEN.....

THEREFORE.....

These words usher us into the next chapter and this weeks lesson. 

Because of His grace, because of what he has done for ALL of us and because of what he is doing and will do within us.... THEREFORE.... or THEN....


We are going to break up the reading for today into several sections. 

READ Ephesians 4: 1-6

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

This passage starts off with sentence that sets up the second half of this book...  "then.... I urge you to life a life worthy of the calling you have received."   I think it is important to note the motive for living this way.  

Why does he write we need to be living this way?

What does it not say?

Why is this an important distinction?

Let's look at the list.

BE...

• Completely humble
• Gentle
• Patient
• Bearing with one another in love
• Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Take a moment and digest this list.

What does "bearing with one another in love" mean?

Spend a moment unpacking the last point.

Reread verses 4-6 (This is the why for the above list.)

Why are these ONE verses so important?  Why does this impact us as Christians?

Continue reading.....

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
    he took many captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”[b]

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

This passage clearly establishes that God gave us what?

These positions/gifts were given for what reason?

Is he talking about increasing numbers?

Don't stop reading at the word, "up".  Finish the sentence.

"until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attending to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." 

With this in mind how important is this "UNITY?"

Where did we read before about the "whole measure of the fullness of Christ?"

Chapter 3: 17-19  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Why bring these two passages together?  

It is important to note that these gifts, or these positions are to bring us together in unity ultimately still taking us to a place where we may each be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  So I think we can say that if we don't have this unity, it should be something we work hard at.  This passage affirms the work within the church.  The great work of growing and working on the health of the church, which ends up going back to each person  experiencing and having the "whole measure of the fullness of Christ."  

I am not saying that we shouldn't be evangelistic, we should!!!!!  I am saying that everything all these gifts are so that ALL, those who don't know yet, and those who do, to grow together in UNITY so that they will be filled within with Christ.  

How does this change or solidify your thoughts about our calling as a church is? 

CONTINUE READING:  Ephesians 3:14-16

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Why is verse 14 a result of the previous verses? 

How does having unity and "fullness of Christ" protect us from being tossed back and forth?

Is this something relevant for us right now?

Why or why not?

Verse 15:  I want you to read this verse carefully.  In context what is this verse saying and what is it NOT saying! 

How have we miss used this verse?

Verse 16 beautifully brings this whole passage together.  

We as a body of believers are here gifted by God to bring all into the body of Christ.  This coming together, this Oneness is so that we all experience the fullness of Christ.   Joined and held together by God.  Are you using your gifts to bring UNITY to the body of Christ?