Last updated on February 16th, 2019 at 10:26 am

Ephesians 4 New International Version (NIV)

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

1. Verse 1 – Have you been living your Christian life as if it were a calling or maybe as something less (fire insurance, safety net, et al?) How is this different than simply following the old law?
2. Verse 2 – Where have you heard characteristics like humility, gentleness, patience before?
3. Verse 3 – Pastor Jay titled his study of Ephesians “Unity.” How are we doing on this one? How is unity carried out by the church we attend? …by other churches we may have attended in the past?
4. Verses 4 – 6 – Paul says, “There is one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism one God and Father…” in other words, one way. (See Matthew 7:3, 4 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it), i.e., “one way.”
• Are all these “ones” that bind us together or set us apart?
• How is this unlike or opposed to a “one world” church?

***”My take” take away from the first few verses: Live a life worthy of the priceless gift of salvation that you have been given!

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[b]
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

1. Christ gave different skills to different individual Christians to “build up the body.” What skills has he given you? How are you using them? In the church? In your personal walk?

“My take” on take away from verses 9 – 13: When Jesus ascended, he gave gifts – different gifts to different people that would be needed to build up the church with the admonition to do so.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

1. As we study and grow, we will no longer be infants, tossed and blown. What are you doing to grow?
2. What happens to the church isn’t bound together by every supporting ligament and/or every part isn’t doing its work?

2nd Timothy 2:15: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
(Study to show thyself approved unto God. A workman needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth). – KJV from memory without checking, but close enough to get the meaning.

My take away from verses 14 – 16: We should grow by using and sharing our own gifts and learning from others in the body to maturity in Christ.

Instructions for Christian Living

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, (emphasis added) that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

1. These are the modern day (post-Christ’s death and resurrection) “ten commandments” with a lot more practical detail. It is no longer the law, but just because we are no longer under the law, doesn’t mean that we should not live rightly. We are instead instructed to turn from sin – “put off your old self.” How does this play out in your life?
2. What should influence us to “put off the old self” or the “old man”?
3. How are we to effect this change in our lives?
4. I like to think of verse 29 is the “Thumper rule.” While it may reduce this to triteness, it helps me remember. How do you confront the temptation to speak poorly of others?
5. Just as Christ forgave us, we are to forgive others. Where have we heard this before?
6. Isn’t this really playing out the great commandment and its corollary, to love others?
7. What are the benefits of following these guidelines in our Christian walk?
8. What are the downsides?

My take away from verses 17 – 32: Live as a Christian, shedding the old sinful nature (old man/old self) and strive to take on the nature of Christ (new man/new self). The last several verses (v 25-32) tell us in greater detail guidelines for living the Christian life.