Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1

The word “therefore” is such a pivotal word in Scripture that whenever you come across it in the Word, it’s good to stop and ask what it is there for. In this case, as Paul begins the second half of his letter, launching into the practical aspects of our life in Christ, he refers to the doctrinal foundation he laid in chapters 1-3. In other words, before telling us how we are to walk, he reminds us we must first understand where we sit. In chapters 1-3, Paul told us we were adopted into God’s family, elected before the foundation of the world, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and sealed with the Holy Spiritall while we were dead in our sin. This is where so many Christians stumble. They try to walk before they sit. Sermons are preached; seminars are given; books are published on how husbands should love their wives and the way wives should submit to their husbands; or the way we should live in purity; or what we should do as a church bodyall without acknowledging what God has already done for us, all without factoring in the fact that there’s nothing we can do to make God love us any more than He loves us right now. I have found that most Christians believe they are the initiators in spiritual life, feeling that if they can just pray enough, do enough, and be enough, God will love them and bless them. So they try to walk worthybut sooner or later, they fail and throw in the towel. Our Christian walk is not something we do to try to earn God’s favor or merit His love. Rather, it is a response to how He loves us, what He’s done for us, and how good He’s already been to us. We love Him, the apostle John said, because He first loved us (1Jn_4:19). He is the Initiator, we the responders. We don’t love Him so He’ll love us. We love Him because He first loved us. Any parent who would try to teach his child to walk before the child learned to sit would be headed for frustration. So, too, if you try to get your kids to walk spiritually before they understand where they are seated in Christ, they’ll rebel. But if you remind your kids over and over again what the Lord has done for them and how He loves themthat they are seated with Him in heavenly places, and that there’s nothing they can do to make Him love them lesswatch and see how they will begin to walk with Him. Without chapters 1-3, chapters 4-6 lead only to frustration, legalism, and rebellion. That’s why Paul uses the word therefore. “In light of all you have, in light of all that’s been done, in light of all you are in Christ Jesus,” he says, “Walk worthy.” How? Read on. In the second half of the letter to the Ephesians, the emphasis is on walking. In addition to its appearance here, the apostle Paul uses the word “walk” four times… First, he tells us to walk in unity (Eph_4:1-16). Next, he tells us to walk in purity (Eph. 4:17-5:18). Third, he tells us to walk in harmony (Eph. 5:19-6:9). And finally, he tells us to walk in victory (Eph_6:10-24).

Ephesians 4:2

He who is finally free from a works-oriented Christianity will walk with lowliness and meekness. No longer will he think God blesses him because of his dedication, diligence, and devotion; his piety, purity, or prayer. Instead, he’ll realize everything he has is because of God’s lovingkindness, because of His generosity, His mercy, His goodness. “Longsuffering” means “exceeding patience.” How much more patient we would be if we really understood how incredibly patient God has been with us. After all, would you have put up with yourself if you were God? I, for one, wouldn’t be here right now because I would have blasted myself a long time ago! Therefore, in light of what He’s done for us, in light of how long He continues to put up with us, we must be those who are patient with others. We must be those who extend mercy lavishly and bestow grace freely. Because we’re all in this together and are all recipients of our Father’s grace and kindness, there’s no room to say, “We’re better than they are,” or, “I’m more holy than he is.” Rather, there’s one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. There’s no room for dividing, for splintering, for saying, “We’re more spiritual than you.” No, we’re to walk in unity.

Ephesians 4:7

Although there is unity within the body of Christ, there is also diversity. We are all united in Christ and because of Christ, but there are differences among us due to the different gifts we’ve been given. In our physical bodies, our hands function differently than our eyes, which function differently than our toes. So, too, in the body of Christ, each part functions in a unique way according to the gift each has been given.

Ephesians 4:8

When were these gifts given? Quoting Psa_68:18, Paul gives the answer. After Christ was crucified, before He ascended into heaven, He first descended to the lower parts of the earth, into Hades, or “the place of the dead.” In this, He fulfilled the prophecy of Matthew (Mat_16:4), wherein He said, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks a sign, but one sign I will give you. Even as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the center of the earth.” In other words, during the three days His body lay in the tomb, before He ascended to heaven, Jesus descended into hell. According to Jesus’ parable in Luke 16, “Abraham’s bosom,” or “paradise,” was where the Old Testament believersthose who were believers in God and who looked forward to the coming Messiahwent after they died. Unable to go directly to heaven because Jesus had not yet died for their sins, they went to Abraham’s bosom, paradise, the “good” side of hell (Luk_16:22-31). After Jesus died, He went to Abraham’s bosom and led the Old Testament believers into heaven, where they are today. Not only that, but, according to our text, He gave gifts to men. This is amazing. Three days after He was crucified by usfor we all turned our backs on Him, we all like sheep have gone astrayour Lord is so magnanimous, so generous, merciful, and kind that He heaped us not with grief nor with guilt, but with gifts. What gifts? Read on.

Ephesians 4:11

The apostolic ministry is a governing ministry and refers to those who are sent out as spiritual statesmen to establish ministries. There are three kinds of apostles: God the Father appointed one ApostleHis Sent One, Jesus Christ. Jesus, in turn, appointed twelve apostles. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit appointed apostlesAndronicus and Junia, Timothy and Titus, Barnabas and Paul, and a host of others. This third type is the type of apostles who are still being appointed to this day. The prophetic ministry is a guiding ministry and refers to those who speak the Word of the Lord in the Spirit. The evangelistic ministry is a gathering ministry and refers to those who bring people to the kingdom. The pastoral ministry is a guarding ministry and refers to those who protect the flock from the wolves who seek to destroy them. The teaching ministry is a grounding ministry and refers to those who ground God’s people in the truths of His Word.

Ephesians 4:12

The church of Jesus Christ exists for three reasons: To exalt Godwhich is why we sing praises and offer prayer To edify His peoplewhich is why we study the Word To evangelize the unsavedwhich is why we preach salvation Contrary to what many think, the church does not exist primarily to evangelize. It exists to build the saints so that they, in turn, will do the work of the ministry. If you come from a church background, the tendency is to think that Christian service happens primarily at church. In reality, however, the most effective ministry happens when you’re on the job site, at school, with your buddies, working out, or eating a burger. In the Book of Acts, we see the early church hearing the apostles teach, breaking bread togetherand then going out to turn the world upside down.

Ephesians 4:13

Our goal is to be like Jesusand Jesus did not spend His life hanging out in the temple. He was out among people, impacting the world.

Ephesians 4:14

The goal of the church is one of maturityto conform to the Person of Jesus Christ. To this end, I challenge anyone talking about any new doctrine or experience to find it in the gospels, the Book of Acts, and the Epistles. Otherwise, it’s just a passing breeze that will toss you to and fro in your walk.

Ephesians 4:15

We are drawn to a crackling fire in a fireplace on a cold winter night because it provides both light and warmth. And such is the perfect combination of truth and love. Truth without love is like the light of a fire without warmth. Love without truth is like the heat of a fire without light. Truth without love makes people cold in the light. Love without truth makes people stumble in the dark. Thus, we need both.

Ephesians 4:16

Each of us has a role to playfor just as the joints of our physical bodies are fashioned in such a way that if we didn’t have ligaments and tendons, our movement would be spastic and painful at bestthe same is true spiritually. We need one another, gang. The Lord has brought us all together in order that together we may conform to Him.

Ephesians 4:17

Not only are we to walk in unity, but Paul goes on to say we are to put away vanity, or “empty-headedness,” and walk in purity. “Create in me a clean heart,” David prayed because he couldn’t create a clean heart in himself. We don’t have the power to change our hearts. But we do have the power to change our minds. If I stop justifying that activity or that habitif I change my mind, God will change my heart. But He won’t change my heart until I change my mind.

Ephesians 4:18

Why are people around us so blind? Romans 1 says it’s because, instead of worshiping God, they profess to be wise in themselves (Rom_1:22).

Ephesians 4:19

After Dr. Donald Barnhouse, the classic preacher from a generation ago, shared a message about the repercussions of sin, a young man approached him and said, “I sin, but it doesn’t seem to matter at all. I’m not haunted by it. I don’t get depressed about it. It doesn’t bother me a bit.” Dr. Barnhouse looked at him and said, “Tell me, son, what would happen if I dropped an eight-hundred-pound weight on the body of a dead man? Would he feel it? Would he be in pain? Would it bother him?” “Of course not,” said the young man. “That’s the point,” said Dr. Barnhouse. “If you don’t feel the weight of sin, if it’s not heavy upon you, if it’s not having an impact on you, it’s because you’re spiritually dead.”

Ephesians 4:20

The world embraces greediness, uncleanness, and empty-headedness. “But you,” said Paul, “have not learned Christ that way.” Notice Paul doesn’t say, “You haven’t learned about Christ that way.” He says, “You haven’t learned Christ that way.” I can learn about Abraham Lincoln. I can read books about him. I can go to Disneyland and “Meet Mr. Lincoln” fifteen times in a row. That’s the way some people learn about Jesus. They read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John fifteen times in a row and think they know Him. But in reality, they only know about Him. To learn Christ implies communion and intimacy with Him. How does this happen practically? As you spend time studying John’s Gospel, for example, read a verse or two, then say to the Lord, “That convicts me,” or, “That confuses me,” or, “That reminds me,” or, “That blesses me.” In so doing, you will be communing with Him personally rather than merely learning about Him academically. So whether you go for a walk, lock yourself in your bathroom, or drive to a secluded spotfind a place you can talk to the Lord as you read about Him. It will make all the difference in the world, for then you will truly learn Christ.

Ephesians 4:22

As you learn Christ, you’ll find yourself changing your mind about everything. You will be “transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may know what is the good, and perfect, and acceptable will of God” (see Rom_12:2). I like the phrase “deceitful lusts” because there is no greater deceit than lust. There is no greater deceit than the desire of the flesh to have something or someone. “If I could just indulge myself, I would be so happy,” lust says. “If I could just indulge myself, I would be so satisfied.” Wrong. You’ll be destroyed. “Oh, but I just want to pray with her and have fellowship in the Lord with her,” he says. “I just want to help her through her problems, or be with her in her time of difficulty.” But he knows there’s another agenda lurking inside of him. He prays with her, and then finds himself involved with her. It’s a deceitful lust, even though it’s couched in spirituality, or clothed in ministry. The old adage is so true. Lust is like a fire. The more you feed it, the more it demands. The hotter it gets, the hotter it burns. “Put it off,” Paul says. “Instead, be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”

Ephesians 4:24

Notice the order here. First you put off the old. Then you’re renewed in your mind. In other words, you decide you’re no longer going to walk like those who are involved in sin. And as you begin to put on a whole new way of talking, living, and behaving, your new lifestyle eventually becomes who you are. It’s not deception. It’s a decision. People who are like Christ have made a conscious decision to put on the new man, to put on Christ. As a result, they become what they have chosen to put on. If I merely sit here and wait for something to happenfor my personality to change, for my heart to feel loving, for my soul to feel kindI’ll wait forever. I’ve got to make a choice. I must choose to be compassionate. I must choose to love. And as I do, I become compassionate; I become loving.

Ephesians 4:25

“Put on righteousness and put away lying,” says Paul. He doesn’t say to go to counseling to overcome the dysfunctional tendency of exaggeration or miscommunication. He simply says, “Stop lying. Now.” If I place my hand on a hot burner, but my nerves lie to my brain, saying, “It’s not hot,” I will get burned. So, too, if one part of the body of Christ lies to another, everyone gets hurt.

Ephesians 4:26

How does one be angry without sinning? As always, Jesus shows the way. When He overturned tables in the temple, He was not angry because His feelings were hurt, or because He felt ignored. He was angry because people were being hindered from worshiping the Father freely. If you go to bed angry, you’re in danger. Why? Read on.

Ephesians 4:27

Satan can work even while you sleep. If you’re angry with your husband or your neighbor when you go to sleep, you give the Enemy the opportunity to plant a root of bitterness within you, and you’ll wake up the next day feeling angry (Heb_12:15). While there’s a place for righteous indignation that leads us to pray about an unfair situation or an injustice, and to seek the Lord for its resolutionthere is simply no place for the devil in our lives.

Ephesians 4:28

Stealing from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the first Adam was a thief and was kicked out of paradise. To a thief on a cross, the Last AdamJesus Christsaid, “Today you will be with Me in paradise” (see Luk_23:43). Jesus makes everything different. Thus, the Lord would say to those who have a tendency to stealbe it time from their employers or money from the government as they pay their taxes"Start working. Start giving."

Ephesians 4:29

Warming himself by the fire outside the house of Caiaphas, Peter denied ever knowing Jesus. But a servant girl knew otherwise because his accent gave him away (Mar_14:70). You can always tell which kingdom a person is from by his speech. The language of the kingdom of darkness and death is that of complaining and murmuring, fault-finding and cynicism, cursing and corrupt communication. A person living in the kingdom of light and life, on the other hand, speaks graciously and kindly, using words of hope and thanksgiving.

Ephesians 4:30

My bitterness, my anger, my speaking evil of someone or losing my temper with someone grieves the Spirit. Why? It’s not that God says, “Anger and evil speaking cause My ears to burn,” or, “Bitterness and wrath are offensive to Me.” That’s not the idea. There’s not a curse word God hasn’t heard. There is nothing that shocks Him. God is not grieved by how our speech, anger, or malice affects Him, but by how it affects us. He’s grieved not because He can’t handle our sin, but because it hinders Him from doing His work in, through, and for us.

Ephesians 4:32

In sharp contrast to bitterness and malice, kindness and forgiveness delight the heart of our heavenly Father. Kindness and forgiveness delight the hearts of earthly fathers as well. That’s why this is one of the first verses I taught my kids! Forgiveness is not a burden God places upon us, but rather a safeguard for our mental health and emotional stability. After teaching His disciples to pray, Jesus went on to underscore only one point: Forgiveness (Mat_6:14-15). Why? Was He trying to make it rough on them? On the contrary, He was saying, “I want you to be free from the burden of holding a grudge. If you don’t choose to forgive, you won’t enjoy the intimacy and closeness with the Father you would have otherwise. It’s all based on forgiveness.” If there’s someone toward whom you’re bitter, do yourself a huge favor and forgive himeven as God has forgiven you.