A United Body: A Walk Through Ephesians Chapter Four

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is basically the culmination of all of his deepest insights to both the love of God shown through Jesus Christ and how to apply that love practically to the church body. The first three chapters focus on the love of God while the last three focus on the unity of the church body and how to apply the love of God to our lives. Chapter four of Ephesians acts as a transition from the meaning of God’s love as shown through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus to more practical instructions as to what the church body should be.

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Verse 1 serves as the perfect transition from the feel of Chapters 1-3 to what the tone will be for the remaining three chapters. Because of the love of God as shown through Jesus, it is the duty of the body of the church to act in such a way as to glorify God through our lives. Paul instructs the church in verses 2-3 to be humble, gentle, patient, loving, united, and peaceful. In the time of the early church, humility was not a virtue as it is today. The Greek language did not even have a reputable definition for humility before Christianity. The word was used in the context of a slave or something ignoble. After Christianity began using the word, however, it was seen as putting yourself in place before God. Along with humility, Paul instructs the early church to be gentle and patient in the handling of others because of the deep love you should have for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul then speaks of the unity of the church, a theme that is recurring throughout the book, especially in chapter two. The church must be peaceful in order to sustain that unity in Christ.

Verses 4-6 give seven reasons for unity of the church. The number seven here is important just as in many other parts of scripture. In the Bible, the number seven is the perfect number. (For a study of the importance of the number seven in scripture, as well as the other numbers prevalent in the scriptures, visit the following sites: http://www.biblewheel.com/Topics/Seven.asp, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_(number), http://www.teachinghearts.org/dre17httnumber.html, http://www.spiritcommunity.com/dreams/bible_numbers.php) The church is united by one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God. The last part of verse 6, “who is over all and in all and living through all,” shows the prevalence of God who rules over all facets of our life and the world we live in.

7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say,
“When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Verses 7-16 are one long sentence in the original Greek as are many other parts of Ephesians. Verse seven addresses the gifts God has given each person through Jesus in order to bring glory to Him. Paul quotes Psalm 69:18 in verse seven. When Jesus descended into our world he came to be tempted in every way, to live as we live, and to die so that we could live. After Jesus was resurrected from the dead, he ascended back into heaven to live and rule over the earth at the right hand of God the father. Through all of this, God has endowed each man with special gifts to attribute to the church in order to bring the glory of God to earth in this life.

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Paul uses the word gifts here in reference to the work of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors. These vocations or roles are gifts from God and cannot be considered human accomplishments. Only through the grace of God can anyone lead other people to Him. These people have the duty to serve the Lord and bring the word of God to all of those seeking to find Him. Through their hard work, everyone can achieve maturity in Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Each new Christian acts like a child in a way. They are still uncertain of what they know and are still learning so many new things. If they are taught false doctrines, they can very well be tossed and blown about by every wind. Therefore, those people must be protected. It is the responsibility of those whom God has gifted with leadership to direct the young people in the church. Paul once again refers to the unity that Jesus brings in verses 15-16.

17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Verses 17-32 are Paul’s instructions to the church as to how to live apart from the old ways of the world and instead live in the glory of God. Paul instructs the church not to act as the Gentiles act. The Gentiles are lost in the world and refuse to submit to and obey God. Christians have to take off their old ways of sin and instead clothe themselves with their new nature.

Paul instructs the church to not let disputes linger, for this can cause divisions among them. To allow anger to dwell in the mind and heart, Satan has a chance to enter and cause further dissention. It is particularly interesting when Paul says to quit stealing and instead do good work not so that you can sustain yourself but rather so that you would have enough to give to others less fortunate. It is ways such as this that separate Christian and non-Christian. Along with that, the mouth should be watched so that you don’t only sound nicer to people but that you are more encouraging to them. The point is that you do not bring glory to yourself but that you bring glory to God in the things you do. Living a Christian life extends beyond creating a good life for yourself but also helping to create a better life for those in need.

Since those who are in Christ represent God, it is necessary to live in such a way that glorifies him. It is much like a child who is representing a parent in the way they act or an Olympic athlete representing their country. Christians should seek to glorify God in all things so that through them others may see glimpses of the righteous way of living. To live as Jesus means to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior and instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.