The Wonderful Walk With Christ

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In Unity

 ["Click here for Ephesians 4:1-3"]

Chapter 4 describes the "Wonderful Walk with Christ". We will se that the "key" to this walk is "unity". Paul explains it and describes how it is achieved. In verses 1 thru 3, Paul exhorts the Ephesians to walk in unity. Paul was now a prisoner in Rome. He says that even though he is a prisoner, even though he had many needs, he did not want them to consume their energies and time on his behalf, rather, he wanted them to concentrate on being good Christians. "Walk worthy of your calling." Paul believed that unity was a product of the Christian walk. He also believed that it reflected the candor of the church. Unity is not universal agreement, it is love. Love, Paul says, is the Law of Christ's Kingdom. Out of love will come 5 Christian attitudes:

  1. Lowliness. Humility as opposed to pride.
  2. Meekness. Unwilling to provoke others and not easily provoked.
  3. Long suffering. That which we appreciate in the car behind us but not in the car in front of us. Bearing injuries without seeking revenge.
  4. Forbearing one another in love. Seeking out the best in one another. Concentrate on the good points. Provoke affection not anger.
  5. Eager to maintain unity. Unity does not just happen. Indifference is just as much an enemy to unity as disagreement.

Notice where the "seat" of unity is. The seat of unity is the Spirit. We must first seek unity of Spirit before we can become unified in anything else. Unity brings a bond of peace. When someone gives their bond they as sworn to keep it. Remember, anything divided will fall, united we grow and prosper. So Paul exhorted the Ephesians to walk in unity.

In Oneness of Spirit

["Click here for Ephesians 4:4-17"]

n these verses, Paul further explains unity. He calls it "The Oneness of Christianity." Unity was part of God's plan of Salvation. The saved are part of one body with one spirit. On earth, we will only have one body. We can, with modern technology, transplant some of the parts, but basically we will only have one body. Likewise, we will only have one spirit. It will be the outgrowth of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, being loving, caring and sharing.

Part of that "Oneness", is our "one hope" and our "one calling". Our one hope is in Christ, our one calling is the Christian witness.

Another part of our "Oneness", is having "One Lord", Jesus Christ. "Thou shall have no other god's before ." Also "One faith", "One Baptism", "One God and Father of us all." Not many gods as the Greeks thought, but one God in heaven, on earth that dwells within us. This is the ultimate in unity. There is no room for "two" in Christianity.

Gifts of the Spirit

["Click here for Ephesians 4:7-16"]

Now Paul says clearly, that gifts are given to all of us, verse 7, "To each one of us, Grace is given." Now if all were given the same amount of Grace, unity would not be a problem. But, this is not the way it is. God does not give to all Christians alike. (Re: the parable of the talents) But this should not breed differences among us. "To each according to the measure of Christ's gift."

Then Paul explains something about Christ and he uses the 68th. Psalm to explain the "worthiness" of Christ. In the 68th. Psalm, David tells of the armies of Israel coming down from Mt. Sinai to Jerusalem, bringing captives which they later released, and receiving gifts from the people along the way, even from some who had been rebellious. The armies of Israel were worthy of these gifts. Christ is worthy of our worship in that He is God Incarnate. He descended to earth in the form of man. His life, His death, His resurrection gave victory over sin and Satan, thus releasing us from the captivity of sin. Then He ascended to Heaven where He sits on the right hand of God the Father and intercedes for us.

Chapter 4 continues with Paul listing the "gifts of the Spirit". Some He called to be Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Pastors and some Teachers. These callings were very prominent at the time of Paul. They all are gifts of ministry.

  1. Apostles. They were those who had seen Christ while He was here on earth. These he sent forth to spread the Gospel. Paul came face to face with Christ on the Road to Damascus, thus he was called an Apostle.
  2. Prophets. In the New Testament Church, they expounded on the prophecies of the Old Testament showing how Christ fulfilled them. Matthew, in his Gospel, was a good example of this.
  3. Evangelists. They were ordained persons whom the Apostles took with them to preach the Gospel of repentance and salvation.
  4. Ministers. Councilors and teachers sometimes called Bishops and Elders.
  5. Pastors. Those who "fed the sheep", married their young and buried their old.
  6. Teachers. Those who were instructors, exhorting and applying the teachings of Christ.

Each of these had a job in the early ministry of Christ, Today we expect the Minister to be all of these.

Now, what is the purpose of these gifts? Chapter 4 verses 12 thru 16. There appears to be three purposes given for these gifts but in reality, they all three denote one purpose. That purpose is to "equip the Saints for the work of the ministry", that which builds up the body of Christ, the Church. So these gifts become tools, each having a part in the body of Christ. Matthew Henry describes it this way: "These gifts are to bring into an orderly state those who have been dislocated and disjointed by sin and then to advance them so that each might contribute to the good of the whole Church."

So these gifts of Ministry and Teaching are to be used for the maturing of Christians. What should be the evidence that Christians are maturing?

  1. Unity of the faith.
  2. Knowledge of the Son of God.
  3. Obtaining a measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ.
  4. Speaking the truth in love.

This spiritual maturity will lead to "doctrinal stability". This was a problem at Ephesus. Paul describes them as being children tossed to and fro. Suggesting that they were taken in by whatever doctrine was being spread at the time, therefore being caught up in false doctrines. Few Christians really know the doctrines of the Church to which they belong and most could care less.

The problem in Ephesus were the Gnostics. These were Jews who were called Judizers. who had a minimum of Christian Truth and had coupled it with Jewish ritualism and oriental mysticism. They caused havoc and disunity in three basic doctrines of the Christian faith:

  1. The doctrine of Salvation by Grace.
  2. The doctrine of Christian Life.
  3. The doctrine of the Divinity of Christ.

Paul calls this a philosophy of vain deceit after the tradition of men and the specifications of the world. Certainly not after the teachings of Christ. Until we become mature Christians in Christ we are easy prey for the peddlers of religious fads and heresies. These people are clever. Paul. describes them as "cunning", people who will not stop at anything in their efforts to ensnare you.

Besides maturity, these gifts will lead to a "loving personality". Love breads truth. But even truth can be said in a deceitful spirit, but spiritual maturity will create a loving spirit and this will show in all you do and say.

Then Paul says that if you are a mature loving person, you will fulfill your function within the body of Christ. He draws a picture of each member receiving from Christ and passing it along for the up building of the whole Church. Each contributing something. It had been said that the growth of the church is in proportion to the growth of its members. Each of us is a channel to receive from Christ and pass it along to the Church. The "growth" is not always numerically but it is always spiritually.

The Two Natures

["Click here for Ephesians 4:17-32"]

Now Paul talks about two natures. The "old nature" and the "new nature". We are to put off the old and put on the new. He describes this "old nature" in verses 17 thru 22. "You must no longer live as the Gentiles do". The word "Gentiles" has been watered down in the King James to read, "other Gentiles", but in truth, the word Gentile always denoted pagan or unbeliever. To Paul, when Gentiles became Christians, they no longer were pagans. Once you were pagans and you lived like pagans but now you are supposed to live like Christians (after the manner of Christ). One of the hardest obstacles to Christian witnessing is Christians that live like pagans. Paul lists nine pagan traits that still are a part of many Christians:

  1. Vanity. Self-centered, self-satisfied.
  2. Darkness. Lacking knowledge and desiring to stay that way.
  3. Alienated. Back sliden.
  4. Ignorant. Not knowing right from wrong.
  5. Hard hearted. Un loving, unreceptive to the Holy Spirit.
  6. Loss of feeling. Indifferent.
  7. Lasciviousness. Lustful, having unclean thoughts.
  8. Unclean. Desiring worldly affections.
  9. Greediness. Stingy, not given to generosity.

It is a known fact that many lost souls are far better in their deeds and conduct than many Christians. Here Paul says that you certainly were not taught to act that way, at least not by him. When we become Christians, we are "born anew", this infers change. We are no longer to walk, talk or desire the former way in which we lived. Paul says we are to put off that old nature and put on the new, be a new creature in Christ.

Verses 22 thru 32 look briefly at the characteristics of the "new nature" or the "new creature". Paul lists nine characteristics of this new nature. Check yourself, see how you measure up:

  1. Be renewed in the spirit of your minds. the natural carnal spirit must be changed if we are to be new creatures in Christ. This changed nature is created similar or after the likeness of Christ.
  2. Put away falsehood. Do not lie but rather speak the truth.
  3. When you become angry, do not let the sun go down on your anger.
  4. Give no opportunity for the Devil. The opportunities are limitless.
  5. Do not steal. Paul encouraged honest work with our hands this will overcome the need to steal and give you the opportunity to help someone else.
  6. Do not let evil talk come out of your mouth. Paul suggests 3 scales to weigh what you say:
    1. Does it edify.
    2. Does it fit the occasion
    3. Does it impart Grace.
  7. The new nature will not grieve the Holy Spirit. Notice the function of the Holy Spirit, "In whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Perseverance of the Saints)
  8. We will have a "changed" nature. No bitterness, no wrath, no anger, no clamor, no slander and no malice.
  9. We will be "kind" and "forgiving". Be kind to one another. Be tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as Christ forgives you.

Well Paul. in this chapter, has described the "Wonderful Walk in Christ". How did you make out? What was your grade?


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