EPHESIANS 5vv18-21

Walk circumspectly                Chapter 5v18-21

2.       A new corporate life, sharing with others the joy of the Lord.

For this we need the Holy Spirit, the supernatural power within us, and Paul now introduces a recurrent theme in his letter, the secret of Christian living, the reality of the Spirit operating within us.   It is noteworthy that in Ephesians there are 12 references to the Spirit, whereas in Colossians there are none.   In the Colossian epistle he is exalting the glories of Christ, and the Spirit remains in the background;   in Ephesians his subject matter is the Church and the Spirit is very prominent.   Paul uses the imagery of intoxication to illustrate his teaching...."Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess(riot or profligacy)..."   He is talking of the extremity of drunkenness.   Scripture does not suggest teetotalism but warns against excess because it begets unseemly fleshly behaviour.   "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise"   Proverbs 20v1.   It is possible Paul had this in mind in the exposition of wise behaviour.   However his point is not about strong drink, but of how it illustrates what we should be, that is Spirit-filled Christians.   Just as wine will take over a person to the point of ungodly behaviour, so the believer should be under the control of the Spirit to the extent that there will be reproduced in the life godly features.   What then is the meaning of the filling of the Spirit?   Clearly believers have the Spirit indwelling in totality, He is a person, and we cannot have part of a person.   We have all of Him but He does not have all of us while we are still in the body, there are competing spiritual issues within.   We are all sealed with the Holy Spirit, but the filling of the Spirit is conditional, and often to fulfil special tasks.   Examples are given in the new testament of those who were said to be filled with the Spirit;

•  LUKE 1v15    John the Baptist filled with the Spirit from birth.
• LUKE 1v41-42    Elizabeth, his mother in the prophecy of the birth of Christ.
• LUKE 1v67      Zacharias, his father, prophesying the birth of John.
• Acts 2v4 all filled with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost;   ACTS 4v8 Peter;   ACTS 4v31  all the attendants at the time of prayer;   ACTS 9v17  Saul at his conversion;   ACTS 13v9  Paul when confronted with Elymas the sorcerer.

All the above were special occasions when individuals were under the control of the Spirit;   however here the apostle wishes this to be a common experience for all Christians.   The verb is passive, and means yielding ourselves entirely to the control of the Spirit, to listen to His word, to obey His promptings, to allow Him sway in our lives.   There are four ways in which this will be evident;

• Speaking to yourselves       Paul has in mind the tremendous educational value of corporate singing, which express in a musical way the precious truths of God.   A comparison with Colossians 3v16 agrees and there we see the importance of singing as a means to edification.   "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another;   in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."   Many today are not persuaded of the value of music and singing as a tool of Divine education, yet the great men of the past were, as were the apostles of Christ.   A comparison of this verse with the Colossian one, suggests that the filling of the Spirit in Ephesians equates with the word of Christ dwelling in us richly;   in both singing is a means to spiritual education, and the way this is expressed is in psalms hymns and spiritual songs.   No one can deny the value to the church of Divine truth expressed in music.   Paul tabulates three different aspects of singing...psalms, hymns and spiritual songs... in this way he viewed the progress of the church.   Psalms are Divinely inspired poems set to music.   The word psalmos literally means to pluck, as in a stringed musical instrument.   In the last Psalm it is spelled out the extent to which musical accompaniments were used in worship;  "Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet(cornet), praise Him with the psaltery and harp, praise Him with the timbrel and dance, praise Him with stringed instruments and organs, praise Him on the loud cymbals, praise Him on the high sounding cymbals...."   Now says the apostle, we are to bring the culture of the old form of worship into the church....not once, but twice he says it.   Hymns were songs to promote legends, commemorate achievements, celebrate victories, they were not Divinely inspired, but can be used to express the wondrous truth of the accomplishments of Christ.   Next he adds spiritual songs, anticipating that due to the infinite depth of the gospel, many and varied would be the songs that would be written under the inspiration of the Spirit.   We are in possession of a vast legacy of songs, and many more will be written and these are to be used for the Lord.   It was God who created music as a tool of worship as an unfallen Cherub orchestrated the choirs of heaven (Ezekiel 28v13..."the workmanship of thy tabrets-(stringed instruments)- and of thy pipes-(wind instruments)-was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created."   music and song can be used for worship and those who think and practice differently are out of step with the mind of God, and of the scriptures both old and new testaments.   Clearly there are musical accompaniments in heaven, the notion that in the church age there should be none is just plain wrong and out of step with what the apostle is teaching here.   There are some today who think it is spiritual and wise to drop music in the churches, because music is used in the world to promote evil.   This is neither spiritual or wise, and bows to the commandments of a few small minded men.   Music can, and is, used for good and for God and we should embrace it when it is so.
• Singing and making melody in your heart      What has evident corporate value for the body the church, also has great personal value for the individual.   Sometimes we can forget the great stories of the bible and the lovely singing and music in our hearts will bring it to remembrance.   I recall many an occasion when drifting spiritually that the strains of a song would bring me back, this on a daily and periodic basis.   Singing has permeated the culture of faith from early days.   The wise king Solomon wrote 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs(1 Kings4v32).   Singing has been used to great effect through the ages, to soothe heavy hearts, to proclaim great victories, to restore the soul to God.   It's value in keeping us in touch with the Lord, and spurring us on to greater efforts is incalculable.   The repetition of corporate singing creates melody in the heart.   Note, it is not so much the melody of the song but the melody it creates in the heart and the pleasure to the Lord.   Readers should make a note of the many references to singing in the prophecy of Isaiah.  This in a prophecy which is all about God's salvation, those who are saved should be singing a lot.
• Giving thanks always for all things      Another feature of the Spirit filled believer will be that of thankfulness in every situation.  One of the marks of the unregenerate is thanklessness as per the following scriptures.   Romans 1v21 "...when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God neither were thankful..."   2 Timothy 3v2, referring to the perilous times of the last days "..men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy."   Thankfulness is just courtesy to anyone who does us good, how much more to God who gives us all things.   The standard of this is high... giving thanks always...that is at all times;  giving thanks for all things...in every circumstance.   In general the world takes material and spiritual blessings for granted.   The spirit controlled believer is to mirror the attitude of Job, who, when he lost everything, he thanked the Lord for giving to him at all
• Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God      Here is the very heart of the matter,,,submission, the ability to take a secondary place.   Divine beings are  the supreme example of this; Jesus Christ when He humbled Himself to servitude, the Spirit when He stays in the background when  Jesus is to the fore, God the Father when He commits all judgment to the Son... each in His own sphere, each in His own time.   There is no thought of superiority, just different roles and the mark of spirituality is to practice it.   There is necessarily a structure in the universe, as there must be in the church and the home and the workplace and we should be wise to it.  Being filled with the Spirit is not a funny feeling or an ecstatic utterance that panders to our conceits, instead it is a submission to God and to those He has appointed to be our spiritual carers. 

EPHESIANS 5vv15-17

Walk circumspectly                 Chapter 5v15-17

1. How a change of worldview should result in a change of lifestyle individually.

The issue here is the wise use of our time..."redeeming the time because the days are evil."   Time is a precious commodity, the world at large knows it, coining the phrase "time is money."   There are endless courses on how to manage time for the best outcome.   Every mother knows it, every businessman, every student, every sportsman, everyone is conscious of the importance of time management.   The bible has much to say about it and advises the proper use of it.   Moses, who wrote Psalm 90, spoke of the brevity of time in the context of a God who is eternal, and therefore outside of time.   His point is that, we creatures, who are bound by time should make the best use of it.   He spoke of "the days of our years" being 70 years, and perhaps by reason of strength, 80 years.   He says "So teach us to number our days and apply our hearts unto wisdom."   Job, who was said by God to be the most upright man of his day, who was also successful in business and a good family man, yet who lost everything, and everyone precious to him wrote about the realities of life, when he said "Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.   He cometh forth as a flower and is cut down, he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not"  Job 14vv1-2.   The apostle James wrote these now famous words..."For what is your life? It is even as a vapour that appeareth for a little time then vanisheth away"  James 4v14.   We all have 24 hours in each day, but for all of us time will end, and so the precious, fleeting, gift must be used to the maximum while here.

The point of the text is TIME STEWARDSHIP.   Jesus spoke to His disciples of "12 hours in a day"(John 11v9).   He was surely speaking of the hours of opportunity in an average day to accomplish anything.   The fact is all of us have an allotted timespan on this earth, some more, some less, and all of us will give account of our stewardship to God.   As believers in Christ we should be keenly aware of good time management, Paul says "...redeeming the time because the days are evil...";   there are some very interesting observations to be made here.

• Redeeming      Exagorazo    to buy up, to rescue from loss.   The imagery is of the merchantman who knows the value of his product, and who seizes every opportunity to maximise benefit to himself.   We are to have a business-like approach to our use of time.   Responsibility and proper management is in view.
• the time         Kairos            literally the opportunity;   there are two words for time in the Greek, chronos and Kairos.   Chronos refers to seconds minutes and hours, the onward passage of time.   The word used here refers to the windows of opportunity that present themselves in life.   Farmers are keenly aware of this, as are all business people.   There are only certain times in a lifespan when these come, and if missed, are often disastrous.   Timing is everything, when we do something can be important.   We may lose health and with it opportunity;   we may lose wealth and therefore ability to help others;   we may lose sanity and therefore ability to communicate.   Scripture says "there is a time for everything under the sun."   The Wisdom book of proverbs says in chapter 21v5 "THE THOUGHTS OF THE DILIGENT TENDETH ONLY TO PLENTEOUSNESS."   We are expected to be diligent in the things of the Lord and acquire the riches that can benefit others.   The same book points us to the busy and wise ant of which  is said "Consider her ways and be wise;   which having no guide, overseer or ruler, provideth her meat IN THE SUMMER, and gathereth her food  IN THE HARVEST."  Proverbs 6v6-8.
• because the days are evil        The need of the world is vast;   by the wise use of our time we can shine as lights in the darkness and bring God's blessing to many and in a variety of ways.  We have given the ability to show goodness in a world of evil. to shine as lights in a world of darkness, to demonstrate truth in a world of lies, to display righteousness in a world of injustice.   The days are always evil, this age, particularly, is described as an evil age, because it commenced with the high treason murder of the Son of God.   Best use of our time in that context is vital. 

This will involve a thorough understanding of the things of God, which involves reading of the bible;   it also involves prayerful consideration of the will of the Lord for my life, which means much time spent with Him... in Paul's words "understanding what the will of the Lord is."   Only thus will we be useful to Him to meet the needs of an evil world.   The scriptures contain historical narrative writings, prophetic writings, and also wisdom literature.   The wisdom writings contain instructions for wise living.   In our unconverted state we were foolish(God's words not mine), now we are saved we are to develop true wisdom in all we are, and in all our associations, and this is at the very heart of walking circumspectly.

EPHESIANS 5v15-6v9 overview

Walk circumspectly                 Chapter 5v15-chapter 6v9 overview

The construction of this first phrase is likely "See then how ye walk circumspectly...", thus a summary of the Christian walk;   Paul is teaching it as a worthy walk;   a distinctive walk;   a walk motivated by love;   a walk in Divine light.   Now he says that is true Christianity, and this is how we live.   The word "circumspectly" is used in Matthew 2v8 as diligently;   in Luke 1v3 as perfect understanding;   and in 1 Thessalonians 5v2 as perfectly.   It suggests therefore a thorough adherence to the Christian way, and this is confirmed in the usage in Acts 26v5, there translated as strictest or straitest.     All of us have a worldview, usually from our culture, and so in this new culture into which we have been brought in Christ, our way of life is changed, because our worldview is radically altered, and Paul now enumerates the different spheres in which this will be true.   He describes our former condition as being unwise, even though the world would proclaim otherwise.   The wisdom that we now have, is, of course, the understanding of the will of the Lord.   Scripture states that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom", so that those who know Him not have not even begun on the road to true wisdom.

• Ephesians 5vv15-17     A change of culture in relation to ourselves.
• Ephesians 5vv18-21     A recognition of a common bond with other Christians.
• Ephesians 5vv22-33   A higher view of marriage.
• Ephesians 6vv1-4       A behavioural pattern for the home.
• Ephesians 6vv5-9       A guideline for the workplace. 

Christianity is nothing, if not practical, and notable changes will take place affecting every aspect of life.   Each of these aspects deserve consideration if we are to truly respond to the awesome grace of God.   Thus changes will be seen in our individual, church, marital, home and business lives, in other words a total change of behaviour. 

EPHESIANS 5vv8-14

Walk as children of light             Chapter 5v8-14

Paul uses the repeated ploy of comparing what they were to what they now are in Christ..."ye were once..but now..."   once dead in trespasses and sins;   once dominated by the world, the flesh and the devil;   once doomed under the wrath of God;   once distanced from God because of the providence of birth.....all these in chapter 2v1-chapter2v11.   Now he says you were once darkness but now are ye light in the Lord.   Salvation by the grace of God means that your sins have been removed, that you have been freed from the powerful and damaging influences that dominated you, that you have been delivered from Divine wrath, that you have been brought near to God...all of these;   but it also means your life is changed, you are to live differently, you are to walk in light rather than darkness.

The former condition described by Paul is ominous;   he says "ye were darkness...", not only that you were in darkness, but that you were darkness.   Paul is revealing that true nature of sin, that it not only takes us away from God, but we become the very thing that is dominating us.   The sin of man turns us into the man of sin, we become darkness because it dominates our thinking and our actions.   Everything outside of the knowledge of God is darkness, and the world needs the light of heaven more and more.   God has brought us into the light that His light, His truth, may be displayed in us.   In other scriptures, darkness is said to be evil deeds, and so light will be good deeds, but such as are acceptable in the sight of God.   Light here is defined as the fruit of the Spirit, that is the character of the Spirit shining through us supernaturally.   This is demonstrated in three ways;

• All goodness    agathos  good constitution, good nature, useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, excellent, distinguished, honourable.    It is to display every form of goodness in all situations.... all that would reflect the goodness of our God.
• All righteousness      dikaiosune   equity, fairness, unbiased, treating all with equal disposition, doing what is right in all situations, displaying the character of our righteous God.
• All truth    aletheia      truth in things pertaining to God, the duties of man, and religious doctrinal truth, as expounded by the Spirit Himself, and which reflects the God of truth, in contradistinction to which everything else is a lie.  

All of this is to be of the standard which is acceptable to the Lord, and is to be put to the test in real life situations.

This will involve a separation from "the works of darkness" which are said to be unfruitful...not so much separation from people but from the works involving ungodly practices.   "Have no fellowship" means not partaking of their deeds which are motivated by other than Divine influence.   We are to restrain the works of darkness by reproving them, rather than acquiescing in them.   Light works by dispelling darkness, not by merging with it.   This goes as far as the small talk in which we indulge because it is a shame even to speak of practices which are done in secret, let alone what is now public banter.   Light and darkness do not mix, and even the gossip of it, that would tend to give assent to it, is a denial of our new position.   Light exposes darkness of the world, and, and reproof illuminates evil for what it is.   Jesus said His disciples were the light of the world, and this is true only as we reflect Him.   As the moon has no light in itself, but reflects the glory of the sun, so we should walk as children of light.

Paul completes the section in verse 14 by quoting a fragment of a well known hymn.   This is not a direct quotation from scripture but it contains truth from scripture, as many hymns and spiritual songs do.   The link here in the apostle's mind seems to be that reproof , rebuke of the works of darkness, and lives lived displaying light, should lead to others repenting and turning to the light.   The saying contains the basic gospel truth....life from the dead, and illumination of the mind only to be found in Christ.

EPHESIANS 5 vv3-7

Love not lust                 Chapter 5v3-7

"Walk in love", says Paul, the kind of love so vividly demonstrated by Christ in verses 1-2;   he now turns his attention to the alternative worldview of love, which is essentially lust, love of self.   In these verses 3-7 the ideas of fornication....uncleanness...covetousness are prominent.   Elsewhere Paul predicts human behaviour will become progressively acted out as "lovers of their own selves....and lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God..."    This can lead to all kinds of evil and he wants us to understand love in God's terms.   Scripture anticipates such a perversion of the greatest grace of God given to us, by placing side by side true love, and the worldly version of it.

• Romans 12v9   "Let love be without dissimulation, abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good."
• Ephesians 5 v1-3   "Walk in love... but fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becometh saints."

As the saints of God, those who have been brought into fellowship with Him, there are certain things to be avoided;

• Fornication      The word is "porneia" and where it does not appear alongside of adultery, it refers to all forms of illicit sexual behaviour, including sex outside of marriage, adultery, homosexuality, incest, abuse of minors, bestiality.   This sin is particularly hateful to God, and it appears at the head of almost every list of evils in scripture.   Examples are Romans 1v29;   1 Corinthians 6v9-11;   Galatians 5v19;   Ephesians 5v2;   Colossians 3v5;   Revelation 21v8 and 22v15.   The God who created sex for the pleasure of man and the procreation of children, has spelled out the limits in which it will be enjoyed.
• Uncleanness      If fornication is the act, uncleanness is the thought, and this is just as hateful to God.   Jesus taught in Matthew chapter 5 that lust in the heart is tantamount to the act.   God defines such thoughts as uncleanness in His sight.   We cannot avoid evil thoughts, but we can avoid them becoming public, which is Paul's concern here.
• Covetousness       "pleonexia"   the desire to have what belongs to others.   We are to be content with such things as we have;   the biblical perspective is that we have what God has given to us, and that should be enough.   At the root of covetousness is dissatisfaction with what we have been given, knowing that what we have is by the gift of God.   This could refer to possessions, talents, family connections etc.   The warnings are clear... Psalm 10v3 "The Lord abhors the covetous..."   Jeremiah 22v17-19 "...Thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness....they shall not lament for him....he shall be buried with the burial of an ass..."   Luke 12v15 "Take heed and beware covetousness."   Paul was an example of the opposite...Acts 20v33 "I have coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel."   1 Timothy 6v10 warns "The love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."    Hebrews 13v5 says it all "Let your conversation(behaviour) be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have; for He hath said I will never leave you nor forsake you."
• Filthiness, foolish talking, jesting      These things says Paul are "not convenient", or not proper for the Christian.   Paul uses this same word in Romans 1v28 and Philemon 1v8.  Obscenity, suggestive language; silly talk, idle banter; joking, witticism in a vulgar sense, glorifying folly, leading to an acceptance of the vulgar commonplace.   Instead of light, insincere, banter to engage in giving of thanks to a faithful Creator.

Those who engage in such a lifestyle, have no future inheritance in the kingdom of God.   Sexual immorality, filthiness of thoughts, covetous practices, if indulged as a lifestyle, will debar a person from the kingdom because no truly saved person will continue to live in that way.   Paul sounds the final warning that because of these things the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.   Those who are saints just do not live like this.   Salvation is not of works, but it is "unto good works".   There are many deceivers who will say otherwise, says Paul, do not be deceived!   Those of us who are saved are to live lives commensurate with our calling, it will not do to be partakers with the children of wrath.

..

EPHESIANS 5vv 1-2

Become imitators of God            (Chapter5 v1-2_

This remarkable possibility, that, redeemed human beings, formerly described as godless and alienated from the life of God, are now within reach of imitating God;   such is the conversion of a soul that what was inconceivable is now within reach.   Paul presents this as a natural outcome to Divine forgiveness in chapter 4v32.   He says "Be ye therefore followers(imitators) of God...."    Due to the awesome benefit of forgiveness received, we can do no less than to follow His example.   Indeed this is exactly why we are saved, to display the characteristics of our Father....he says "...as beloved children...."    Paul, in other places invites the saints to follow him inasmuch he followed the Lord, so he is the living example of his words;   1 Corinthian29s 4v16 "Wherefore I beseech you, become followers of me";   again, same epistle chapter 11 v1 "Be ye followers of me even as I am also of Christ."   He said to the Thessalonians(chapter 1v6) "...ye became followers of us and of the Lord."   Of Caleb it was said "He wholly followed the Lord".   Peter wrote in his epistle "Christ also suffered for us , leaving us an example that we should follow in His steps."(1 Peter 2v21).   Thus from old and new testaments we have the examples of those who followed the Lord.   What it will mean is that in every situation, we follow what God would do, we act like He would act.   The whole matter of our imitating God is germane to our new life in Christ.   God saved us to make us anew, that we might be conformed to the image of His Son(Romans 8v29.)    Ultimately He will make us like Himself;   it is His desire we imitate Him now.

• We are called to be holy, because our Father is holy                       1 Peter 1vv15-16
• We are to be kind and generous as the children of our Father         Matthew 5v45
• We are to be perfect as our Father                                                    Matthew 5v48
• We are to be merciful as our Father                                                  Luke 6v36
• We are to love, because our Father loves us                                     1 John 4v1

"Walk in love......"      Order your steps, live your life, as directed under the motivating power of love.   Love is agape sacrificial love, God's kind of love, love that needs no personal return, love that takes no account of the object of love.   Love is not only what God does, love is what God is!!   He is the very source and fountain of love that knows no human measure.....and always seeks the best for the one so loved.
"...as Christ also hath loved us..."   This is the high standard set, according to the level of the love of Christ to us.   Various descriptions of this love are given in the scriptures to convey love that transcends normal human love.   He loved us when we were most unlovable(ungodly);   He loved us when we came short of His standards(sinners);   He loved us when we were rebellious(enemies);   He loved us to the uttermost(not counting the cost to Himself);   His love is unfathomable, inexplicable, and unfeigned.   Truly, in the words of the hymn, "There is no love like the love of Jesus!"   Libraries have been filled to describe it, language cannot exhaust it, intellect cannot contain it, orators cannot explain it, cynics cannot destroy it.   It is a power, a spiritual force that constrains all who come into it's compass.   Nothing in all of the visible earth can hinder it, nothing in the unseen spiritual universe can touch it, nothing now, nothing of the past, nothing of the future can separate believers from Him.   Love, the love of Christ, never fails, when everything else may fail.   It is God's "more excellent way."
"...and hath given Himself for us..."      Love gives, love is action, talk is cheap.   Many talk love, but where is the evidence?   John 3v16 "God so loved the world that He gave......"   We can give many things but we cannot give more than ourselves.   When we consider who it was who gave Himself, when we think of all He is, and the fact, that, as God, He needed nothing from us, this gift of love is supreme.
"...an offering and a sacrifice to God..."      These two words are not the same;   we are talking here of an action toward God.   Because He is GOD, only a proper offering will do.   The first word has the thought of presentation, that is, such that was acceptable to God.   The second is the actual giving up of His life, as the holiness of God demanded because of sin.   Thus the twin thought is presentation, followed by dedication to God for us.
"...for a sweet smelling savour..."      The issue was greater than our needs only, Divine justice must be satisfied, and it was;   instead of the stench of sin rising to heaven, now the sweet incense of a perfect sacrifice is before the throne.   Divine satisfaction means human salvation, and behind it all is an act of love unparalleled in all history.   As the recipients of such love we are to follow in His steps.   Surely we must, what else can we do?   "Love, so amazing, so Divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."

EPHESIANS 4 vv25-32

Discarding the ugliness of the old for the beauty of the new         (25-32)

Throughout all of these verses, Paul is contrasting the virtues of the new man with the vileness of the old.   This is what you were....this is what you now are, so live it out!   There are four main areas in which this radical change will be evident.
1)       Our attitude to slander   verses 25-27  
2)       Our attitude to stealing   verse  28
3)       Our attitude to speaking(particularly in public)   verses 29-30
4)       Our attitude to the saints   verses 31-32

These represent major areas of life, involving the devil, material things, the Holy Spirit, and the people of God.   In each area there are negatives and positives and reasons given why there ought to be a difference.

1)   verses 25-27   the issue of slander....this is a very big part of human behaviour, the propensity to believe ill of another, and the tendency to falsely accuse without due attention to the truth.   This comes in many guises, and has no place in Christianity;   it may be the way of the world, it is not to be the practice of believers who are the recipients of the grace of God.   That this is the subject of these verses is evident as follows......the word for "lying" is falsehood, or "the lie", that is the biblical word for all that is of the father of lies, the devil.   Indeed to practise this is to "give place to the devil."   There are many depictions in the bible of Satan, and this one "diabolos" is the false accuser, or the arch-slanderer.   Slander is his stock and trade, and deception is his ploy.   He is not concerned with the truth, and he fills the world with his delusions.   By dealing in slander the believer is doing his work and giving him, the master slanderer, a foothold in their life, and therefore in the church.   The context of Psalm 4 which Paul quotes here supports this view;   there the writer is concerned with people acting in a godless way by dealing in falsehood "...how long will ye turn my glory into shame, how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing(falsehood-slander).   Quoting from Zechariah 8v16 Paul says put away the practise of false accusation, be done with slander, and "Speak every man truth with his neighbour."   Do not deal in lies, but in truth, and that with every one, and in order to emphasize it he reminds them of the truth of the body, he has taught them in chapters 1-4 "for we are members one of another".   The individual members of a body will not oppose other members, otherwise the body will be very sick indeed.   We are to be done with falsehood....but further,  (and here he continues the argument of Psalm 4)....."Be angry and sin not...." this is the Septuagint translation of verse 4 of the Psalm "stand in awe and sin not....."   This refers to David's way of coping with slander directed toward him.   As God's people we will become the objects of slander, from the devil(Revelation12v10), from the world of sinners(John 16v1-3), from false brethren(Galatians 2v4, 2 Corinthians 11v13).    We are not to dwell on it, allow it to bring us down, indeed it is not wrong to be angry when falsely accused, but we are to swiftly bring it to an end on the very day that it happens to us "let not the sun go down on your wrath(provocation)."   Deal with it in the presence of God on the day before you close your eyes in sleep....do not carry it on to another day, see it for what it is in the presence of God.   The Psalmist puts it like this "...commune with your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah".   If angered by what someone has done or said falsely against you, resolve it in your mind before God and rest.   In summary, do not deal in falsehoods, do not dwell on falsehoods directed against you, do not let it fester to another day.   The Lord Jesus said "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

2)   verse 28...the issue of stealing     Paul is very precise about this "let him that stole, steal no more.." be done with it, finish it completely, notice the command NO MORE!   Stealing (taking what does not belong to me) is part of everyday life and has many aspects to it, but it is no longer to be the lifestyle of the Christian.   This goes to the whole aspect of our view of our possessions... in another place  he says "be content with such things as you have" and again "having food and raiment let us be therewith content."   Stealing is a sin, forbidden in the eighth commandment and represents an unlawful desire to gain at the expense of another.   It's many forms include armed robbery, petty theft, extortion, fraud, tax evasion, unpaid debt, reset, plagiarism, identity theft, intellectual property theft, scams etc.   In spiritual things, the bible highlights the sin of "stealing the hearts of the people", and also the possibility of "robbing God."   The cure to all of this is to "work with your own hands the thing which is good"....use your own energy, your own time, your own talent, to produce "the thing that is good."   Rather than taking from others what is not for you, supply by your efforts that which is profitable.   The issue of this is not to amass great possessions for yourself, but that you "may have to give to him that needeth."   Your surplus through honest use of time and talent for the benefit of those who lack.   God turns the robber into a benefactor, in the hands of Almighty God the parasite becomes the provider, the taker becomes the giver.

3)   verses 29-30... the issue of speaking       Paul now focuses on the evils of the tongue, how words can be used for good or bad.   "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth...."   The Apostle James warns against the immoral use of the tongue, which can be so hurtful.   Paul, however is concerned here with the doctrinal misuse of the tongue which is to the detriment of the saints.   Clearly he is referring to public communication when he talks of the need to "minister grace to the hearers."   He is thinking of the propagation of "every wind of doctrine, and the deception of men lying in wait to deceive" which he mentioned in chapter 4v14.   His burden here is of doctrinal hygiene in the teaching of God's word.   There must be nothing that is corrupt , nothing of the old nature, nothing of the doctrines of demons who controlled us before.   The language is very emphatic "Let no corrupt communication....." absolutely nothing at all, not even a hint of evil in our communication of the things of God.   The only thing we should be communicating is that which edifies the saints, and which ministers grace to the hearers.   Failure in this will grieve the Holy Spirit who dwells within us until the day of our redemption.   Teaching which does not edify and minister grace is an offence to the Spirit who is the revealer of God in His word.   Doctrinal purity is what is in view, the need to accurately communicate Divine truth.

4)   verses 31-32     the issue of the saints       Twice over in these verses he says ""one another".   He continues the theme of verse 25 "members one of another."   Behaviour one to another is paramount in the church.   There are six vices of the old man to be put away, there are three virtues of the new to replace them.

• All bitterness........harbouring of resentment, continuing disputes, raking up of past faults.   Actually betrays hatred, when there should be love;   an unforgiving spirit among those who have been forgiven.
• All wrath.....overflowing passion, a venting of temper, uncontrolled rage.
• All anger.....a different word(orge) which is a settled, deeply held, inward, implacable attitude.
• All clamour...loud, vocal, justifying of oneself, constant assertion of one's rights, and self proclamation, argumentative.
• All evil speaking....the word used is "blasphemia", attributing to a saint evil motives, from which will come false accusation, even slander.
• All malice.......the greek word kakia means badness, the desire to bring someone down, to defame, a disposition to hurt another.

The above ugly traits may take many forms and all of them have to be put away, removed altogether,

and replaced with three virtues, worthy of our new life.

• Kindness one to another......chrestos, literally to become employed in the interests of others, sacrificing self interest to make the needs of others your concern, graciousness, a practise of becoming useful to others.
• Tender hearted.....as opposed to hard hearted, showing real affection, especially to God's people.
• Forgiving one another.....the standard is high, wrongs done to others are seen as debts which must be paid;   since we were unable to pay our debt to God and have received His forgiveness, in the same way, and, in the same measure, we are to forgive those who sin against us....."according as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you."   Jesus suggested to Peter there was no situation when forgiveness should not be forthcoming, but sorrowful repentance should also be in evidence on the part of the offender.

EPHESIANS4 vv22-24

The old and the new           (22-24)

Using the idiom of clothing, Paul wishes to impress on the believers. the importance of a change of character in fellowship with God.   Just as we change our garments in the realm of the physical, so in spiritual things.   Christianity is an extremely positive experience, but there are definite prohibitions.   We have powerful Divine resources to help. but it requires our cooperation if we are to develop contrary features to our old way of life.   Paul says "put off ...the old man..." in verse 22, and "put on the new man."   He then explains the relative character of the two natures.   We must be clear that, initial conversion happens at a point in time, with no attendant moral change, but practical change is a process that will be lifelong, only to find it's fulfilment in the next life.   What Paul is doing here is comparing the former with the present, thus highlighting a change which has already begun.   In these verses he presents the doctrine of this, before in verses 25-32, he addresses the specifics.   He presents the principles before the prohibitions, the doctrine before the practice.

• The old man               This means, of course, the old way of life;   the expression occurs in the new testament three times, and so we must underline this as a truth which is to be understood(Romans6 v6; Ephesians4 v22;  and Colossians3 v9.)   A reading of these will reveal this is now a fact, the old man is crucified with Christ(Romans), the old man has been stripped off with his deeds(Colossians), and put off the old man....this is aorist infinitive, which indicates a past point in time with eternal results.   All three of these scriptures refer to something that has already happened.   God has finished with the old man, He has put it to death it is incurable, and in accepting God's terms, unwittingly we put it away also.   Now a permanent change has taken place, you cast off your old way of life, like you would cast off a filthy garment.   This is something already done at the point of salvation.   However this is to be distinguished from the new testament word "the flesh", which will still trouble the believer.....this refers to our weakness, our frailty in succumbing to sinful desires....the old man is dead, but the flesh is always with us.   The two ideas, the old man and the flesh are sometimes the same in some scriptures, such as John chapter3 and Romans chapter8, but mainly they are seen as separate entities, the one positional, as done away in Christ, the other practical and still very much with us to trouble us.   We are to view the old man as our standing in Adam, which took us far from God.   He says two things about the old man.....firstly that it is corrupt;   the word is ptheiro which means shrivelled or withered, that is, it is beyond repair, it cannot be improved!   God is not in the business of rehabilitating human beings, rather is He making them anew, because the old is finished.   Secondly it is corrupt "according to the deceitful lusts"....those cravings, those desires, which filled the life, are deceitful, they are illusionary, because the human being, created by God, can only ever be satisfied with God.   All this says dissatisfaction and degradation.   The false world notion of evolution is so far off the mark, since God has finished with man in Adam, there is no betterment.
• The new man      This is our new status in Christ, we have to understand what we are in Christ.   We are not as we were before, we have been made anew;   verse 24 says we have once and for all put on the new man, and verse 23 says we are to continually be putting on the new man.   The phrase "Be what you are" comes to mind, we are to live out the reality of our new life in Christ.   The question is, do we know what we are, how we have been made anew?  In contradistinction to the old man, which is corrupt, the new man is pure.   Notice the differences;   the old was deceitful, the new is true, it is the real thing.   The old was corrupt, the new is righteous, it is after God, in whose image we were originally created.   The new man is created in perfection and patterned after the Creator.   This is what we are in Christ, in eternity we will be perfect, if we want to experience it here and now, the way to it is to continually renew the spirit of our mind.   Paul says a similar thing in Romans12 v2 "...be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind."   God expects us to play our part;   prior to our salvation we were unable to live up to His standards, now we can, we should give every effort to display the beauty of the new man, which, after God is "created in righteousness and true holiness".....living justly before our fellow man, and in true devotion to God.

 

 

  

EPHESIANS4 vv20-21

 The essence of the new nature                (20-21)

"But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by(in) Him, as the truth is in Jesus."

The first thing to note is that he moves from a catalogue of evils in our fallen state, directly to Christ.   God's new life given to us is not a catalogue of good works, it is not an alternative life creed, it is not a list of rules which we are to follow, it is rather a glorious person of infinite beauty, who is in His very person "the truth" and He is our new standard of life.   Everything apart from Him is a lie and is of the devil, everything of Him is the truth, and represents God truly.   Thus we do not have a list of commandments as our model of life, we have the person of Christ.   Note the change from Christ to Jesus from verse 20 to verse 21.   Jesus is the title of His humanity, and if we would know how to live in our new situation we must learn from the gospel records of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the nature of His life while here on earth.   During His short stay on earth, He fully demonstrated godliness and He is one we should follow in every aspect of life.

• Once we lived in emptiness of mind, now our minds are filled with the things of God.
• Once our understanding was darkened, now we have been illuminated.
• Once we were alienated from the life of God, now we are in fellowship with God.
• Once our hearts were hardened to the truth of God, now we are receptive to Him.
• Once our consciences were inert to His will, now we have been awakened.
• Once we lived according to the dictates of sinful desires, leading to corruption and rank selfishness, now we seek holiness before God and the betterment of others.

All this in Christ, who changes not only our destiny, but also our lifestyle!   We are now introduced to one of the many "if" statements of scripture.....it is not so much a matter of questioning anyone's salvation, it is that of asserting that true salvation will lead to a change of lifestyle.   Salvation in the Bible is never presented in terms of profession, but in terms of real spiritual change, and if no such change is evident, the profession is probably just that and nothing else.

Romans8 v10    "If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."

Ephesians4 v21 "If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him....."

Colossians1 v23 "...if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled....."

Hebrews3 v6      "..whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."

True salvation will result in true conversion of the individual.   Note the process by which this change of lifestyle takes place.   He says "you learned Christ.....", you learned Him by first of all hearing Him, then you were taught in Him.   Hearing Him involved heeding His word, believing His word, just as He said when He was here....  "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life."   His word, in the matter of salvation, is authoritative for everyone.   He is the giver of everlasting life, He is also the authority of our spiritual growth, His word, His life must become indispensable to us in our new life, and so we have not only heard Him for initial salvation, we are "taught in Him", and since there is so much to learn it will be a continual process.   "Taught in Him" involves not merely verbal academic teaching, it involves inward supernatural power within such that only the Spirit can provide.   However it is only in exceptional circumstances the Holy Spirit by-passes the normal means of communication, and so the continuous programme of bible teaching, as indicated in scripture, and, as practised by the Apostles, indeed, as expounded in the first half of Ephesians chapter4, should be in evidence in every church.   This teaching is to be "according as the truth is in Jesus", and so it is unlikely such teaching will ever end this side of eternity.   In the first half of the letter, we are "in Christ" with all the attendant blessings; in the second half it is Christ in us with all the inevitable responsibilities.

EPHESIANS4 vv17-19.

God's verdict on the truth about human nature         (17-19)

Scripture is clear, there is no betterment for it, no improvement, no reformation, God is finished with the old man. Those He saves are a new creation, not that He makes us better, but that He makes us anew.   In John 3v6-7, Jesus said to one of the foremost spiritual leaders of Israel  " that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.   Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again."   In Ephesians 2v2-3, Paul has reminded them that their former way of life was under the dictates of a godless world, of corrupt flesh, and demonic spirits.   Now he says  "walk not as other Gentiles walk" and he brings the Lord as a testimony to this;  in effect he brings the Christian under a vow to turn away from their former life.   He now goes on to explain why.

1. The vanity of their mind.   This means emptiness of mind, not emptiness intellectually but emptiness spiritually.   In the book of Ecclesiastes king Solomon, the most prosperous and wisest man in all the earth, wrote these words as a summary of the best of human life.   "All is vanity and vexation of spirit."   No matter how much we human beings seek to substitute the real need within us with lesser things, we are left with emptiness.   The truth of this is illustrated in the name Golgotha, where Christ was crucified.   Golgotha means the place of a skull, and the message is clear that, without God, human beings are bereft of true wisdom, so far as God is concerned, just an empty skull. 
2. Having the understanding darkened.   A derogatory yet true description.... like toads living in a darkened cavern thinking this is all there is.   The condition of vanity of mind is because the mind has been darkened by an evil force and therefore unable to see properly.   The Lord Jesus dealt with this in Matthew 7v22-23  "the light of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.   But if thine eye be evil,   thy whole body shall be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness!"   In John 3v19 he gives another dimension to this  "this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light."   Not only were we in darkness but we preferred the darkness to the light that God would give us.   God therefore calls the human condition one of darkness.  
3. Alienated from the life of God.   God, who gave us life, is life and there is no life worth talking about apart from Him.   In John 17v3 Jesus described eternal life, real life, as "knowing God and Jesus Christ whom God sent.   "The life of God" is life that is far superior to anything that this darkened world can provide: in essence a human being can be satisfied with nothing less than God.   The expression "get a life" is a statement of some arrogance since it usually points to things lesser than God for their occupation.   The only ones who have a life are those who know God and Jesus Christ who is the creator of all life.  
4. Through the ignorance that is in them.   Professing wisdom they prove themselves to be fools.   Scripture is clear "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 9v10)   Those who have not even started on the road of reverential fear of the Lord, accepting His judgments upon us, confessing our sins before Him and trusting only in Christ for salvation, are deemed by God to be living in ignorance, and because of that they think that the shallow lives that they are living is all that exists.
5. Because of the hardness  (R.V.) of their heart.   Rejected light brings an ever increasing hardness of heart to the things of God.   The same sun that melts ice, hardens clay.   When bones are broken in the human body there forms a substance called "callus"  which sets and joins the bones together.   The result makes the join harder than the actual bone itself.   What is a benign process for the human body is an evil process in the human heart because the heart is hardened towards God and that process gets harder and harder with time.   The heart is much more than the fleshy pump which keeps our bodies alive.   In the bible the heart is the very centre of the human being, the centre of the will, the driving force, that which makes us all that we are.   When all that we are is hardened toward God, there may come a time when God will finally accept our decision against Him.
6. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness.   The word asalgeia which translates as lasciviousness is the ultimate condition reached when the conscience has been so supressed that it leads to a person throwing off all restraint.   This is the end of the process where there is no longer any attempt to cover up, abandoning all morality resulting in a state of amorality.   The process is from immorality (where all of us have been) to amorality, where open sin has become a way of life.   This inevitable process leads to the constant breaking of the two major commandments, namely, living a life of uncleanness in the sight of God, and living to defraud my fellow man.   This is the sure end of a life lived without God.

This is how the nations live who know not the Lord.....says Paul "do not live your lives like that!"

EPHESIANS 4 vv17-32 OVERVIEW

The walk of separation       overview of chapter 4v17-32

A positive appeal to "walk worthy" in vv1-16, is followed by a command to avoid former and worldly practices in vv17-32.   In association with a holy God, the believer is expected to change the habits of a lifetime.   Note the abrupt change in mood:

Chapter4 v1      "I beseech you that ye walk worthy....."

Chapter4 v17    "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles..."

 

The first section of chapter4 was exhortatory, the second is mandatory.   The proliferation of the title "Lord" is evident in chapters4-6...chapter4 v1v5v17;  chapter5 v8v10v17v19v22v29;  chapter6 v1v4v7v8v10v23v24.   We who have received unmerited Divine blessings are now to live worthily in the context of the church, and in separation from the world system which God has condemned.   The word for testify-marturomai- is very strong and means to call God to witness.   It suggests a vow which must be enacted on pain of death, it is the basis of our English word martyr.   This is not an optional extra for Christians, it is mandatory for all, although in typical Pauline style, he will in the next few verses explain the reasons.   The mandatory nature of separation from our old life cannot be overemphasised.   The verses can be easily classified as follows:

• Verses 17-19      The true nature of the old man, our former way of life
• Verses 20-21      The essence of the new man, our new way of life
• Verses 22-23      The putting off the old man
• Verse  24           The putting on the new man
• Verses 25-32     What we have to discard and what we have to adopt

We will look at each of these in turn, but it should be evident that God saved us to change us, not just to provide a meal ticket for heaven.

  

EPHESIANS 4 vv11-16

The unity of the faith expressed in the corporate effort of the church     (11-16)

We are to guard the unity of the Spirit, which already exists;   now we are to strive towards the unity of the faith. that is the level of unity which expresses the beauty of Christ in the diversity of our divinely bestowed gifts.   God is not in the business of mass-producing clones, we are as different as our faces, and He has equipped us all to participate in this glorious and most powerful unity.   The outworking of this is nothing short of breath taking genius.   He ascended on high leaving a defeated enemy behind;   He took His rightful place on the throne of heaven, the highest authority in all the universe;   He received gifts, the spoils of war, then through the Holy Spirit which He sent to earth He shared those gifts with all His people to empower them for the task ahead.   First of all He gave specially gifted men to the church.   They were not to be seen as an end in themselves, but a means to an end, to assist all the spiritually gifted people of God to perform their own particular ministry, the end being the edifying of the body of Christ, as stated at the end of verses 12&16.   It is clear from these verses that that every believer is contributing to the whole, and there is no thought in the mind of God of a clergy/laity system in which the greater number are passive in the church.   The picture to the contrary is of the active participation of every member in accordance with the measure of the gift of Christ.   Here is how it should work, and in the church of God there is nothing left to our own imagination.

The context is therefore the EXALTATION OF CHRIST to the highest place in heaven.   Then we have:

• The ENABLING OF THE SPECIAL GIFTS       These are the leaders of the church in all generations.   He lists four major gifts to the church:

Apostles     literally "one who is sent on a specific mission."   The usage of the word is of a naval expedition, or an ambassador sent to a foreign land.   The two main ideas are representation, and devolved authority;   the fact that those sent carry all the authority of the sender.   There were twelve apostles plus Paul plus many others.   The key feature was that they were directly appointed by God, their message was by revelation, and they all enjoyed the recognition of the early church.   Their work and their words are laid down as foundational to the church which we are to follow as being from the Lord( Ephesians2 v20 and 1 Corinthians3 v10.)  

                                                                                                                

Prophets    There being no new testament scriptures in the early church for about 30-60 years, prophets were required to expound the mind of God in different situations, and they did so in close harmony with the apostles, since they are linked with them as the foundation of the church in Ephesians chapter3 v20.   Being foundational gifts, there is no need for them ongoing.   We are all building  on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.

 Evangelists       Specially gifted men who can persuade people of their need of a Saviour by proclaiming the scripture based gospel.   Although this is the task especially to these men, we are all enjoined to do the work of evangelism, as the early believers clearly did.   The work of evangelism is external to the church.   The pattern of the early church seems to be mainly that of going out, rather than asking the unbeliever to come in.   The example of the great evangelist Himself is made clear in the gospel of the perfect servant, the gospel of Mark;   "by the sea" chapter1 v16;   "in the synagogue" chapter1 v21;   "in the house" chapter1 v29;   "at the door" chapter1 v33;   "on the mountain" chapter3 v13;   Wherever people were, He was, to bring the message to the people.  He made Himself accessible to all      

Pastor-teachers    This, I believe, to be one gift, and the idea is that the one so gifted should be ministering to both the head and the heart of the flock of God.   This work is internal to the church, and should be of a didactical and a pastoral nature.   In a modern setting, this gift will fall to elders whose position in the church is not official, but that of overseership of the spiritual needs of the people.   Teaching is an integral part of pastoring, and pastoring, the care of saints, must be the aim of teaching.   Lording it over the saints is not envisaged, rather the sound teaching coupled with fine example for all to follow.

• The EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS      The leadership gifts, as above, are to a very definite end, that of equipping all the saints in their service for God.   That is the meaning of the word "perfecting".   It is used elsewhere for the mending of fishing nets and also for the setting of broken bones.   These two usages describe adequately what the function of leadership gifts are.   Mended nets catch fish, set bones enable a person to function.   This is the role of the special gifts to bring the saints to the point of positive service for the Lord.   The word "ministry" should be thought of as service, not any position of importance as is sometimes perceived.    Special gifts assisting the saints to perform their own work of ministry, this is the pattern.   He will develop the practicalities of this shortly, but we must see that specially gifted men are a means to an end, which end we will now discuss.
• The EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST     This is the aim of all the gifts of the ascended Lord Jesus Christ;   not for self glorification, but for the benefit of the body, the whole body, not just a select part of it.   Paul underlines this in 1 Corinthians14 a number of times;   verse3 "..he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification...";   verse5 "..that the church may receive edifying.";   verse12 "..seek that ye might excel to the edifying of the church.";   verse26 "Let all things be done unto edifying."    The edifying of the church is paramount in the mind of God and requires the contribution of all as we shall see.
• The EXCELLENCE FOR WHICH WE ARE TO STRIVE      Notice what he says "..till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"   In short, this programme will never end this side of eternity!!   The Amplified version puts it like this "..until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God; that we might arrive at really mature manhood--the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection--the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and the completeness found in Him."   Note the detail.......until we all....not some;   He gave some special gifts, but their function was for all.   This mirrors chapter3 v18 "..that ye...may be able to comprehend with all the saints.....".    The things of God are for all the saints, not for a select few.   We are to arrive at or attain to this high level, this suggests a journey, a process, and a life-long one, this will go on while life lasts.   The attainment is Christian maturity and the level is Christ, the standard of true excellency.   We are to aim for the unity of the faith.   That is the point where we are all of the same mind in regard to the body of truth that has been delivered to the saints.   Paul says to the disunited Corinthians in chapter1 v10 "..that ye all speak the same thing.....but that ye may be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."   No loose cannons, no mavericks, no fancy interpretations, all striving together with one aim, the perfection of Christ working in us and through us.   He says "and of the knowledge of the Son of God..."  The introduction of the title "Son of God" here is significant.   In an epistle where he entitles Christ as "Christ" 25 times, as "Christ Jesus" 6 times, as "Lord" 13 times, as "Lord Jesus Christ" 8 times, as "Jesus Christ" 4 times, as "Jesus" once, and as "Master" once, he introduces this most important title of "Son of God".   The term son of God or sons of God always relates to character, and points to those who are in character as their Father.   The title Son of God refers to Jesus Christ who on earth displayed perfectly the fullness of His Father in every way......this is the standard!!   Excellence becomes our God, and excellence becomes all His saints, and so measured by that standard we have a mountain yet to climb.
• The ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ENTIRE BODY OF CHRIST       The church of Christ on earth can be a major spiritual force for good, if we all decide to grow together in Him....."no more children((infants)".....but "growing up into Him which is the head, even Christ."   No longer "tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine", like a ship on a stormy sea(see Luke8 vv23-24.)   Activity doesn't always mean spiritual growth, it can be a cover for the lack of it.   In the world there are endless alternative doctrines blowing about.   Satan is the master of the winds of doctrine, we are to stand for the faith just as He did by countering them with "it is written" and "it is written again."   These doctrines come in the shape of men masquerading as the appointed servants of Christ.   Their method is trickery, "by the sleight of men whereby they lie in wait to deceive."   Let there be no doubt that what Paul is referring to here is a SYSTEMATIC ATTACK ON THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST by introducing systematic error that sometimes looks and sounds like the real thing but is in fact spiritual deceit in a concerted attempt to de-stabilise the people of God.   The only safe guard against it is the establishment of systematic declaration of the truth, re-iterated regularly in the church, the "ekklesia" the blood bought people of God.   The same word that brought us to salvation, is the only means whereby we can truly grow in Christ.   This is the Divinely appointed way to deflect and defeat the enemy of souls and to honour our glorious head.   It may be we have become complacent in this matter and we need to give attention to it.
• The EXERCISE OF EVERY MEMBER       For this to work effectively, it will require each one of us to play our part, just as every cell in our human bodies play a vital and active part for the health of the whole.   There is no concept in the church of God of a caste system of members.   There are members and there are members, all privileged to be part of this great unity, all suitably gifted to perform a task, all expected to be contributing as the Lord enables.   From Him the whole body is fitted....the foundation of the apostles and prophets has been laid...on that the evangelist is to build up the numbers, the pastor-teacher is to build up the saints, the saints are to serve in the capacity fitted by the Lord.   No passengers, no part-timers, no encroaching on another's work, but all functioning for the good of the whole, that is the concept of genius from our blessed God, that is the pattern, that is the recipe for success for the local and the global aspect of the church.   As ungodly people in our sins, serving only our self interest, we could not do this, but now in Christ we can and we must.   Note the unmistakeable power at our disposal....."fitly joined together"..."compacted by that which every joint supplieth";   the first refers to the suitable placing of each member, the second is the power which drives us together, namely the powerful driving forces uniting us through the word of God which describes the wonder of the cause, and exposes the intent of the enemy.   There is nothing like a bit of adversity to bring people together, and the incentive to unity is very strong.   The requirement is for the effectual working in the measure of every part.   Whether we think of a local setting or the church as a whole, it will only grow by the dedicated effort of everyone functioning in their rightful place.   The Lord spoke of 30%, 60%, and 100% believers.   He predicted that is the reality of what would happen.   Ideally He wants us all to be at 100%....are we?   We should be, we could be....but are we?   The late John F Kennedy famously said, and we could apply it to a church situation today, "Ask not what your country can do for you...ask rather what can you do for your country."

We have the repetition of the word "love" in the midst of all this and it is so important to observe.   Verse 15 We are "to speak the truth in love" and verse 16 it is "unto the edifying of itself in love."    Love is not what God does, love is what God is, and the things of God must be handled in this demeanour, thus truly representing Him.

                                                                       

EPHESIANS 4 vv7-10

The spoils of war        verses 7-10

Paul now turns to the rich variety in the church that reflect the victory of the risen and ascended Christ.... "Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."   The picture is taken from Psalm 68 v18.   The Psalm begins "Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered...."   The context therefore previews the victory of God in all conflicts, perhaps alluding to David's conquest of Zion, taking Jerusalem from the Jebusites as recorded in 2 Samuel5 vv6-8, and 1 Chronicles11 vv4-6, but foreshadowing the ultimate victory of God, as stated in Revelation11 v15 "..the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ."    There is no doubt that the language used here depicts the triumph of God in Christ over all opposition.   The giving of gifts to the church is set in the context of a defeated enemy.   The ascension of Christ from the lower parts of earth to the heights of heaven is presented as a victorious march through the unseen heavens to the throne of God, from whom He received gifts as the spoils of war, and gave them to His church to equip them for their earthly task.   This is the only way, I believe this wonderful portion can be understood;   it has nothing to do with "emptying Sheol", as some suggest and removing old testament saints to heaven.   "He led captivity captive" means He led those who had held others in captivity.....He led them captive!   Who had held men captive? .....well, of course, Satan and his hosts.  The phrase "captivity captive" is only used here and in Psalm68 v18, and in Judges5 v12.   In both Psalm68 and Judges5, the context is victory over the enemies of God.   The picture in Psalm68 vv17-18 is a prophecy, ultimately, of the ascension of Christ and it seems the innumerable chariots of God, bearing the angels, accompanied Him on His journey.    In the Hebrew culture the number 10000 was regarded as the highest conceivable number, the figure 20000 of the chariots of God suggests numbers way beyond any comp   utation.   Applied to Christ as it is in Ephesians 4, we conclude that when He ascended to glory, He was accompanied by myriads of angels in triumphant procession.     The biblical teaching on the ascension has been neglected, and we need to understand the issues involved.    Different writers stress varying aspects of the ascension;   Mark in chapter16 v19 records "He was received up into heaven d througand sat on the right hand of God."   This as the culmination of a perfect life of service to God, a job well done.   Luke records in chapter24 vv50-52 the place and the people involved at His ascension.   The phrase "He was carried up into heaven" suggests He was accompanied.  John emphasises that He ascended to the Father in John20 v17.   In Acts1 v9 Luke records "He was taken up.....", again hinting at an assisted passage.   The writer to the Hebrews in chapter4 v14 makes it clear that the ascension involved a definite journey through the heavens "..we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens( or passed through the heavens)..." .   The same writer underlines the journey's end "...entered into heaven itself"....chapter9 v24;   and again "...is set on the right hand of the  throne of the majesty in the heavens."...chapter8 v1.........passed through......entered into.....set down.......the language is unmistakable.    Paul says "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men."   Like the victorious Roman generals returning from the field of battle, surrounded by His entourage and parading his captives, so Christ passed through the ranks of demon spirits who occupied space, leaving them powerless to thwart His work of salvation.   The prince of the power of the air(chapter2 v2) is defeated, the strong man is bound, and now his house will be spoiled.   The ranks of spiritual wickednesses, the rulers of the darkness of this world,, have their powers curtailed, ultimately to diminish to zero.   The lowly man of Calvary who descended into death, is now ascended to the greatest heights, far above the powers He has conquered.   Praise God, it is only a matter of time until He comes again to reclaim this world for God.    When He entered into the third heaven to present His work, and to commence His high priestly ministry, He received gifts, as the spoils of war, which He has given to the church for their protection and their spiritual growth.

Every one of us has received a spiritual gift, by the measure decided by Himself.   All of us have a gift, but a unique personal gift, that is to be used for the edification of the church.   This he will expand in the next section.   The word for measure is "metron" meaning a distinct portion, a gift to fit our profile.   Paul explains this in 1Corinthians7 v7 "But every man has his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that."    We have already seen in chapter2 v21 that the ultimate temple of God will be made up of parts that are "fitly framed together."   The word is used again in the chapter in verses13&16.   We are to use our gift, we are to progress in our gift, we are to use it for the benefit of the church, the ultimate target is the perfection of all the saints, as he will expound later.   We are enjoined not to neglect the gift we have, and, indeed to stir it up.   The point is that these gifts were given in the context of a defeated enemy, and must be seen in that light.   Once, I was useless to God, now I can be useful.....the enemy who opposes me(as he describes in chapter6) is allowed to be active but his cause has already failed.   The ascended glorious Lord Jesus Christ is on the throne and He has enriched us by showering us with gifts of the spoils of spiritual warfare.   Whatever gift He has given us, He also supplies commensurate grace......"grace according to the gift."    He supplies the gift, He also supplies the power!   Now we know the meaning of the scripture "forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

EPHESIANS 4v 1-6

The Christian's walk to preserve the unity of the body of Christ

We are to "walk worthy of our vocation"....the word for worthy is axios and is translated mostly as "as becometh";   we are to match our high position with our walk, we are to order our lives commensurate with our calling, which is outlined in chapters 1-3:   individually chosen, predestinated , redeemed, sealed, enlightened, empowered, and glorified;   corporately bound together as members in the same body, as kinsmen in the family, as citizens in the kingdom, as priests in the temple.   In Christ we are heirs of heaven's riches, and sharing the same covenant blessings as Israel.   We are the instruments of angelic education, we are the vehicle of the eternal glory of God in Christ Jesus.  Chapter 2v10 says we were created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before ordained that we should walk in them"  Now says Paul, order your lives in line with your eternal predestination.   We have the resources as per chapter 3v14-21, now walk accordingly.   He begins by emphasising the need for unity.   This is the only chapter in the new testament with the word unity.   In verse 3 he speaks of the unity of the Spirit;   in verse 13 of the unity of the faith, so he is clearly appealing for unity in verses 1-16.   The unity of the Spirit is a fact that we are to guard, the unity of the faith is that for which we must strive using every available resource   There is no call for us to create anything, it is already done;   we are asked to guard what exists.   This is no fragile creation of man, this is no shambolic collection of people with differing agendas, this is the unity of the Spirit, creating what was planned for all eternity, and which now exists.   Some very powerful terms are used to encourage us in this;

• "With all lowliness"        Although exalted by Divine grace, we should never forget what we once were.   The epistle is full of reminders as to our former state;   chapter2v2 "once ye walked";   chapter 2v3 "our manner of life in times past";   chapter 2v11 " remember...in times past Gentiles in the flesh";   chapter 2v12 "..at that time ye were without Christ";   chapter 5v8 "ye were once darkness";   we are to have lowly thoughts of ourselves.
• "With all meekness"       In the interests of unity we are to accept a lowly position when given it by others, that is, not to react when others put us down.   Humility is taking the humble position, meekness is accepting the humble position from outside sources.
• "With all longsuffering"       Not everyone sees things as we see them, or at the same pace.   We must allow others to differ from us, all the while seeking their best interests.   We are to grow in the things of God "with all the saints" (chapter 3v18).   This side of eternity, none of us is perfect and we must suffer long the imperfections of our brethren.
• "Forbearing one another in love"       Allowing others to make mistakes, covering them with love which covers "a multitude of sins".    The word means to "put up with", to suffer their ways, to bear their irritations.
• "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."       Two very strong words are here;   firstly "endeavouring", which is spoudazo, calls for urgent effort, diligence, an exertion of oneself, straining every nerve and muscle, just as an athlete would to achieve a goal.   It combines the thought of maximum effort with speed to reach the desired end.  Occurs 12 times in the new testament, in 2 Timothy4v21 it is translated "do your utmost".   Next we have "keep", which is terao and is a military term meaning guard as a military fortress, to yield nothing, to defend stoutly.   We might well ask does the unity of all believers come that high in our thinking or have we succumbed to inevitable disunity?   If so we are not walking worthy.   We are not asked to make this unity, we are called to guard what the Spirit has created.   We shall see later in the chapter this does not involve compromise in doctrine, however it may demand personal grace.   We are to guard what God has created and disregard the artificial barriers raised by men.   Chapter 2 teaches that all human barriers were torn down at the cross, and we are called to honour that.   We live in very difficult times when divisions in the visible church are rife.   Care must be taken that such divisions are not perpetuated on sectarian grounds.   Every effort must be made to preserve what God has united.  

The question is....what is unity?   It is not uniformity, He made us all different naturally and so He does spiritually...   He does not want clones.   It is not conformity to any human organisation, or any set of human rules.   It is not meniality, subjecting ourselves to tyrannical leaders.   It is not structural unity, it is a dynamic spiritual unity, such as exists in the Godhead, working in us;   a  perfect harmony of counsel and operation between Father, Son , and Holy Spirit.   This dynamic unity has already been demonstrated in the letter, in the matter of our salvation, and our inclusion in the mystical body of Christ, as follows;   Chapter 1v 3-14 the Godhead united in our redemption;   chapter 1v 17-23  in our spiritual illumination;   chapter 2v 13-22   in our incorporation;   chapter 3v 14-21  in our spiritual growth.   The Godhead is one in all things and they are one in the church and it is our duty in concert with them to maintain that unity visibly.   They appear again together as the uniting bond of peace in the sevenfold unity of the church, such a unity, created and united by Divine power.   When Divine standards are raised, redeemed human beings must respond.   He now gives a description of the unity.

1. There is one body       The body of Christ, the gift of the Father to the Son, ( see chapter 1v 22 and the sevenfold reference to the love gift of the Father in John chapter 17..... interestingly in that chapter there is also a repeated call for unity).   This is the sum total of all believers in the church era, every one of them, by redemption, a member of the body.   They are vitally and indivisibly bonded to each other.   Practically speaking for us it means all who are alive in Christ.   No longer any splintered groups along racial, or cultural, or gender, or religious, or economic lines, one body in Christ!
2. One Spirit                  The Holy Spirit of God, the same Spirit who hovered over a dead planet in Genesis chapter to bring life;   illustrated in the human spirit given by God to bring to life the lifeless body of Adam in Genesis chapter 2, so the Holy Spirit gave life to the church on the day of Pentecost.   Only those indwelt by the Spirit are in the body (see Romans 8 v9).   He breathed the body into life and it continues to this day.   In James 2 v26 it says "...the body without the spirit is dead...", what is true in the physical is also true in the spiritual, and the Spirit of God is the life force of the body and this is true of every believer.   This is the baptism of the Spirit as stated by Paul the apostle in 1 Corinthians 12 v13 "..for by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
3. One hope of your calling       Every believer shares the same hope for the future, described in many ways in the bible:    Every believer is called to be saints (1 Corinthians 1v2, 2 Timothy 1v9);   called to eternal glory  (1 Peter5v10);   "begotten unto a living hope....to an inheritance... reserved in heaven..." (1 Peter 1 v3-4).   This hope is not a wish list for things we would like, but a sure hope that will not fail, based on the word of God which cannot fail.   The language of Paul in 2 Corinthians 5 v1 serves to illustrate this thought perfectly, "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
4. One Lord       The first three strands of unity are objective, and refer alone to the work that God has done.   We now come to three strands that are subjective and call for a response from us.   The first of these is the Lordship of Christ over every believer and over every church.   He is Lord, and must be seen to be Lord in all our hearts.   The overall emphasis in teaching from the Acts through to Revelation is that Jesus is Lord.   The title Lord was part of Paul's favourite "Lord Jesus Christ", which he used over 100 times.   Jesus is His title in humanity, Christ is His title in ministry, Lord is His title in authority.   He is Lord of the church, He is Lord in all our lives.   Paul sums this up in 1 Corinthians 8 v6 "..but to us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through Him."   This brings a deal of responsibility on us, but the Lord will have His way.   We all answer to the same Lord, we all come under His authority.   As the head controls the body physical, so Christ controls the body spiritual, and this calls for our subjection.
5. One faith       We have seen the body of believers, now we see the body of the faith.   Jude speaks of it as "The faith which was once for all delivered to the saints", for which we have to contend.   Paul refers to it in Romans 6 v17 "..ye obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you." (or whereinto you were delivered).   The word for form is mould; when a product is moulded into shape the thing is set, there is no changing it's shape.   The new testament is clear that there is an unchangeable truth called "the faith" in our possession.   This is as laid down by the Lord of the body.   It is described elsewhere as "the form of sound words" (2 Timothy1 v13.) "Form" there is pattern or delineation, indicating a line upon line teaching in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ.   In 2 Timothy v v15 Paul calls it "the word of truth."   In 1 Timothy6 v3, Paul speaks of "wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ....the doctrine which is according to godliness."   This binds the Lordship of Christ with the one faith, and confirms words of Christ Himself when He was here;   John 14 v23 "if a man love me he will keep my words";   to Pilate He said "..every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."   To jettison any part of the truth, of the one faith given to the church, is to deny His Lordship, and disturb the unity of the Spirit.
6. One baptism       An integral part of the faith is water baptism, to which this must refer.   The baptism of the Spirit is understood in the one body and one Spirit in verse 4, so he is not repeating that.   It is as if the Spirit anticipated that this rite would become a contentious issue throughout the history of the church, and so He presents it in the context of visible church unity.    It is not the baptism of John, since Apollos, knowing only this baptism, was instructed in "the way of God more perfectly"(Acts 18 v26).   Therefore it is baptism by immersion as taught in the new testament;   it is an integral part of the great commission of Matthew28 v19(there the name of the 2trinity of Father , Son, and Holy Spirit is invoked as the absolute authority for it.)   It was practised by the early church, and, indeed, there is no concept of an unbaptised believer in the new testament.....Acts 2 v41;   Acts8 v12;   Acts8 v16;   Acts8 v38;   Acts9 v18;   Acts10 v48;   Acts 16 v15;   Acts 18 v8;   Acts 19 v5.   Paul expounds it's meaning in Romans6 vv3-11 and Colossians 1 vv12-13.   Peter explains it in 1 Peter3 v21, that although it has no moral value it is an answer of a good conscience toward God.    
7. One God and Father of all     Paul, now, reaches the pinnacle of the truth of unity by relating it to the universal Godhood and Fatherhood of God.   This should be understood as the One to whom all human beings owe homage as the one true object of worship, and the Father of all mankind as being the origin of all.   Essentially we all owe our existence to Him.   This does not suggest He has a spiritual relationship with all, for He does not because of sin, but we all exist because of Him, and are totally dependent on Him.   These things are made clear in other scriptures.....even after the fall it is recorded in Genesis5 v1 "In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him."   In Acts17 v25 "He giveth to all life and breath and all things".....again in verse 26 "hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth...".....again in verse28 "in Him we live and move and have our being......for we are also His offspring."   At the physical level, He is the God and Father of all.   He expands on this in three ways;   "He is ABOVE all..."  He is supreme, He is the Most High, even Satan acknowledges there is none superior to Him.   "He is through all..."    He is the channel through which everything comes and holds together.   "He is in you all..."    He is the life force indwelling every believer;   notice he changes the emphasis here from "all" to "you all", he now refers to those in spiritual relationship, as well as creatorial relationship.   He is higher in rank than all, He is active in all lives and life events, He indwells believers in a unique way.   All of this points to the incredible Divine governance of the universe.   The great God who controls the universe in perfect harmony, has created a new spiritual entity that will only function properly when in perfect step with Him.   The force of this is plain, that any deviation from the perfect creation of God, which is the unity of all believers in Christ through the Holy Spirit, will result in ungodly divisions which will hinder the work of salvation.   Were any of us to divide the body on sectarian grounds, were we to claim exclusive possession of the Spirit, were we to deny the hope of every believer, were we to deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ, were we to deviate from the faith, once for all delivered to the saints, were we to reject new testament baptism, we would be disturbing the unity of the Godhead, and walking contrary to His will.   Such deviations impinge on His government of the universe and His management of church affairs, and may result in undesirable consequences.   Since the benchmark of our salvation in Ephesians is the glory of God, this crucial aspect would be compromised.   Conformity will not be easy for any of us, and calls for a deal of spiritual effort, which is why Paul addresses it from the standpoint of real endeavour and real humility.    We must see things from God's perspective if we are to "walk worthy."