Eph. 4 Part 2

Paul’s tone = very excited and joyful … no problem to correct!

Outline:

1) Greetings (1:1&2)

2) Divine Purpose Teach the Glory and Headship of Christ (1:3-14)

3) Prayers that Christians would realize God’s purpose (1:15-23)

4) Steps towards the fulfillment of God’s purpose (Chpt 2 -3)

a) Salvation by grace through faith (2:1-10) ***

b) Reconciliation of Jew & Gentiles through the Cross (2:11-18)

Ephesians 2: 8 - 10

• For it is by grace you are saved, through faith – and this is not

from yourselves, it is a gift of God

• Not by works, so that no one can boast.

• For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do

good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Reconciled Through Christ – 2: 11…

• Gentiles – uncircumcised Jews – circumcised

• Separated and excluded Carriers of the Covenant

• Without hope With the promise of God

• BUT Now! Christ Jesus The Messiah has come

• He is our peace, Who has made the two groups one and has

destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility… His purpose was

to create in Himself one new humanity out of two, this making peace,

and in one body reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by

which He put to death their hostility… and in Him, you too are being

built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.

4) c) Unity of Jew & Gentile in One Household (2:19 – 22)

d) Revelation of God’s wisdom through the Church (3:1-13)

e) Prayer for deeper experience of God’s fullness (3:14-21)

5) Practical Ways to Fulfill God’s Purpose (Chpt 4:1-6:20)

a) Unity (4:1-6)

b) Maturity (4:7-16)

c) Renewal of personal life (4:17-5:20)

d) Deference (Others before self) in personal relationships (5:21- 6:9)

Ø Principle (5:21)

Ø Husbands and wives (5:22-33)

Ø Children and parents (6:1-4)

Ø Slaves and masters (6:5-9)

e) Strengthen for Spiritual Conflicts (6:10-20)

6) Conclusion, final greetings and benediction (6:21-24)

Unity – Eph. 4: 1 - 6

• I (Paul) am a prisoner of the Lord – I urge (beg) you to live a life

worthy of the calling you have received.

• Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one

another in love.

• Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through peace

• There is one body and one Spirit; one Lord; one faith; one baptism;

one God and Father of all, Who is over all…

• …To each of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Christianity (big picture)

• Preaches: One God; Jesus the only Son of God; born of a virgin; died

for the forgiveness of sin; rose again and returned to the Father; Jesus

is returning to reign forever (new heaven and new earth); sent the

Holy Spirit to live in those who have accepted Jesus as Savior.

• catholics (universal) became Catholic (300’s) Protestants (1400’s)

• If the Church/Denomination preaches the above…they are considered

“Christian”. If not, they are called another religion or cult.

Maturity – Ephesians 4: 7 - 16

“So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the

prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and

teachers to equip His people for works of service,

so that the body of Christ may be built up until we

all reach unity in faith and in the knowledge of

the Son of God and become mature, attaining to

the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Purpose: Eph 4: 12 - 14

• To equip His people for works of service – so the body of Christ may

be built up

• Built up until we all reach unity in faith and in the knowledge of the

Son of God and become mature

• Attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ…no longer

infants, tossed back and forth by … every wind of teaching and by …

people in their deceitful scheming.

• He gave…

Apostles

• Two ways to use the word “apostles”

• Apostles = the original 12 as seen in Mark 6;

• after Judas killed himself – 11 as seen in Acts 1;

• then elected Mattathias in Acts 1;

• Paul, later in I Corinthians 15, calls himself an Apostle

• Position of authority to set-up churches, an ambassador, a convoy.

Apostolos (grk) = messenger and sent one

Apostles -

• Same today as a Missionary – sent one, ambassador

• Romans 1 – set apart to establish new churches

• I Corinthians 15 – Paul explains that no one earns the title of an

apostle – it is given by Jesus. He identifies the possibility of having

“false apostles” in II Corinthians 11:13

• Changing use of the word ”apostle” – Acts 6 : Apostles and deacons

and disciples

• Acts 15 – Council of Jerusalem: Apostles and Elders approves has the

power to accept or reject; set-up church policy; decisions made by

the apostles, disciples, deacons and whole church…Apostles declare

final determination. Church is NOT a democracy. It is a Theocracy.

• Matthew 10, Jesus calls the 12; these are later called Apostles to

distinguish them as appointed leaders sent to establish churches

• Philippians 2:25, we see Paul using this title “apostle” as one who is

sent out to set-up churches – not as one of the original 12.

Epaphroditus is called an apostle…a messenger to the Church.

• Apostle is used two ways:

1. The original 12 Disciples – later 11 plus Paul

2. Person sent by God to set-up Churches – same as missionaries today