ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES THAT WE MUST HOLD IN COMMON
SCRIPTURE LESSON EPH. 4 : 1 - 4
ALL OF PAUL’S LETTERS CONTAIN A BEAUTIFUL BALANCE BETWEEN DOCTRINE AND DUTY, AND EPHESIANS IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE.
THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH DOCTRINE, OUR RICHES IN CHRIST, WHILE THE LAST THREE CHAPTERS EXPLAIN DUTY, OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN CHRIST.
THE KEY WORD IN THIS LAST HALF OF THE BOOK IS WALK WHILE THE KEY IDEA IN THE FIRST HALF IS WEALTH.
IN THESE LAST THREE CHAPTERS, PAUL ADMONISHES US TO WALK IN UNITY (EPH. 4:1–16), PURITY (EPH. 4:17–5:17), HARMONY (EPH. 5:18–6:9), AND VICTORY (EPH. 6:10–24).
THESE FOUR “WALKS” PERFECTLY PARALLEL THE BASIC DOCTRINES PAUL HAS TAUGHT US IN THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS.
TWO IMPORTANT WORDS IN EPHESIANS 4:1: THEREFORE AND BESEECH.
THE WORD THEREFORE INDICATES THAT PAUL IS BASING HIS EXHORTATIONS TO DUTY ON THE DOCTRINES TAUGHT IN THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT BASED ON IGNORANCE BUT KNOWLEDGE, AND THE BETTER WE UNDERSTAND BIBLE DOCTRINE, THE EASIER IT IS TO OBEY BIBLE DUTIES.
WHEN PEOPLE SAY, “DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT DOCTRINE—JUST LET ME LIVE MY CHRISTIAN LIFE!”
THEY ARE REVEALING THEIR IGNORANCE OF THE WAY THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN.
PEOPLE MIGHT SAY “IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU BELIEVE, JUST AS LONG AS YOU LIVE RIGHT”
THIS IS A SIMILAR CONFESSION OF IGNORANCE.
IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU BELIEVE, BECAUSE WHAT YOU BELIEVE DETERMINES HOW YOU BEHAVE!
THE WORD BESEECH INDICATES THAT GOD, IN LOVE, URGES US TO LIVE FOR HIS GLORY.
HE DOES NOT SAY, AS HE DID TO THE OLD TESTAMENT JEWS, “IF YOU OBEY ME, I WILL BLESS YOU.”
RATHER, HE SAYS, “I HAVE ALREADY BLESSED YOU—NOW, IN RESPONSE TO MY LOVE AND GRACE, OBEY ME.”
HE HAS GIVEN US SUCH A MARVELOUS CALLING IN CHRIST; NOW IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LIVE UP TO THAT CALLING.
THE MAIN IDEA IN THESE FIRST SIXTEEN VERSES IS THE UNITY OF CHRISTIANS IN CHRIST.
THIS IS SIMPLY THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE DOCTRINE TAUGHT IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE LETTER: GOD IS BUILDING A BODY, A TEMPLE. HE HAS RECONCILED JEWS AND GENTILES TO HIMSELF IN CHRIST.
THE ONENESS OF CHRISTIANS IN CHRIST IS ALREADY A SPIRITUAL REALITY.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO GUARD, PROTECT, AND PRESERVE THAT UNITY.
TO DO THIS, WE MUST UNDERSTAND FOUR ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES.
POINT ONE THE GRACE OF UNITY (EPH. 4:1–3)
POINT TWO THE GROUND OF UNITY (EPH. 4:4–6)
POINT THREE THE GIFTS FOR UNITY (EPH. 4:7–11)
POINT FOUR THE GROWTH OF UNITY (EPH. 4:12–16)
POINT ONE THE GRACE OF UNITY (EPH. 4:1–3)
UNITY IS NOT UNIFORMITY. UNITY COMES FROM WITHIN AND IS A SPIRITUAL GRACE, WHILE UNIFORMITY IS THE RESULT OF PRESSURE FROM WITHOUT.
PAUL USED THE HUMAN BODY AS A PICTURE OF CHRISTIAN UNITY (1 COR. 12), AND HE ADAPTS THE SAME ILLUSTRATION HERE IN THIS SECTION (EPH. 4:13–16).
EACH PART OF THE BODY IS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER PARTS, YET ALL MAKE UP ONE BODY AND WORK TOGETHER.
IF WE ARE GOING TO PRESERVE THE “UNITY OF THE SPIRIT,” WE MUST POSSESS THE NECESSARY CHRISTIAN GRACES, AND THERE ARE SEVEN OF THEM LISTED HERE.
THE FIRST IS LOWLINESS, OR HUMILITY.
SOMEONE HAS SAID, “HUMILITY IS THAT GRACE THAT, WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE IT, YOU HAVE LOST IT.” HUMILITY MEANS PUTTING CHRIST FIRST, OTHERS SECOND, AND SELF LAST.
IT MEANS KNOWING OURSELVES, ACCEPTING OURSELVES, AND BEING OURSELVES TO THE GLORY OF GOD.
GOD DOES NOT CONDEMN YOU WHEN YOU ACCEPT YOURSELF AND YOUR GIFTS (ROM. 12:3).
HE JUST DOES NOT WANT US TO THINK MORE HIGHLY OF OURSELVES THAN WE OUGHT TO—OR LESS HIGHLY THAN WE OUGHT TO.
MEEKNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS. IT IS POWER UNDER CONTROL. MOSES WAS A MEEK MAN (NUM. 12:3), YET SEE THE TREMENDOUS POWER HE EXERCISED.
JESUS CHRIST WAS “MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART” (MATT. 11:29), YET HE DROVE THE MONEY CHANGERS FROM THE TEMPLE. IN THE GREEK LANGUAGE, THIS WORD WAS USED FOR A SOOTHING MEDICINE, A COLT THAT HAD BEEN BROKEN, AND A SOFT WIND.
IN EACH CASE YOU HAVE POWER, BUT THAT POWER IS UNDER CONTROL.
WHEN YOU COUPLE MEEKNESS WITH LONG-SUFFERING, WHICH LITERALLY MEANS “LONG-TEMPERED, OR THE ABILITY TO ENDURE DISCOMFORT WITHOUT FIGHTING BACK
NOW YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A CHILD OF GOD.
THAT BRINGS US TO FORBEARANCE, A GRACE THAT CANNOT BE EXPERIENCED IF IT IS SEPARATED FROM LOVE.
“LOVE SUFFERETH LONG AND IS KIND” (1 COR. 13:4). ACTUALLY, PAUL IS DESCRIBING SOME OF THE “FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT FOR THE “UNITY OF THE SPIRIT
THAT IS THE RESULT OF THE CHRISTIAN “WALKING IN THE SPIRIT” (GAL. 5:16).
THE NEXT GRACE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IS ENDEAVOR.
LITERALLY IT READS “BEING EAGER TO MAINTAIN, OR GUARD, THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT.”
THE VERB USED HERE IS A PRESENT PARTICIPLE, WHICH MEANS WE MUST CONSTANTLY BE ENDEAVORING TO MAINTAIN THIS UNITY.
IN FACT, WHEN WE THINK THE SITUATION IS THE BEST, SATAN WILL MOVE IN TO WRECK IT.
THE SPIRITUAL UNITY OF A HOME, A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS, OR A CHURCH IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH PERSON INVOLVED, AND THE JOB NEVER ENDS.
THE FINAL GRACE IS PEACE—“THE BOND OF PEACE.” WHEN YOU READ JAMES 3 & 4 YOU WILL GET THE CLEAREST PICTURE PAINTED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ABOUT WAR AND PEACE
THE REASON FOR WAR ON THE OUTSIDE IS WAR ON THE INSIDE. IF A CHRISTIAN CANNOT GET ALONG WITH GOD, HE CANNOT GET ALONG WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS.
WHEN “THE PEACE OF GOD” RULES IN OUR HEARTS, THEN WE BUILD UNITY (COL. 3:15).
POINT TWO THE GROUND OF UNITY (EPH. 4:4–6)
MANY PEOPLE TODAY ATTEMPT TO UNITE CHRISTIANS IN A WAY THAT IS NOT BIBLICAL.
THEY WILL SAY: “WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN DOCTRINES, BUT IN LOVE.
NOW, LET’S FORGET OUR DOCTRINES AND JUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER!”
PAUL DID NOT DISCUSS SPIRITUAL UNITY IN THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS; HE WAITED UNTIL HE HAD LAID THE DOCTRINAL FOUNDATION.
IF DOCTRINE IS NOT IMPORTANT, PAUL WOULD NOT HAVE WROTE ABOUT
MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THIS, THERE ARE SOME ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES THAT WE MUST AGREE ON IF WE ARE TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD
AND THERE IS SOME NON-ESSENTIAL DOCTRINE THAT CHRISTIAN DO NOT AGREE ON
WHAT IS ESSENTIAL IS THAT ALL OF MUST AGREE ON THE FOUNDATION TRUTHS OF THE BIBLE.
UNITY BUILT ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN BIBLE TRUTH IS NOT UNITY, IT IS UNION AND ON A FALSE A FOUNDATION.
PAUL NAMES HERE THE SEVEN BASIC SPIRITUAL ESSENTIALS THAT UNITE ALL TRUE CHRISTIANS.
ONE BODY. THE BODY OF CHRIST IN WHICH EACH CHRISTIAN IS A MEMBER, PLACED THERE AT CONVERSION BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD (1 COR. 12:12–31). THE ONE BODY IS THE MODEL FOR THE MANY LOCAL BODIES THAT GOD HAS ESTABLISHED ACROSS THE WORLD
ONE SPIRIT. THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLS EACH CHRISTIAN, SO THAT WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER IN THE LORD.
ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING. THERE IS ONLY ONE CALLING OF THE GOSPEL IN THE BIBLE, AND THE ONE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL IS THE CALLING THAT SHOULD CALL ALL MEN TO THE LORD.
1 COR 15 : 1 – 4 TELL ME THE FACTS OF THE GOSPEL, AND THAT IS WHAT SHOULD CALL ME TO CHRIST
ONE LORD. THIS IS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO DIED FOR US, LIVES FOR US, AND ONE DAY WILL COME FOR US. IT IS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT TWO CHRISTIANS CAN CLAIM TO OBEY THE SAME LORD, AND YET NOT BE ABLE TO WALK TOGETHER IN UNITY.
ACKNOWLEDGING THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST IS A GIANT STEP TOWARD SPIRITUAL UNITY AMONG HIS PEOPLE.
ONE FAITH. THERE IS ONE SETTLED BODY OF TRUTH DEPOSITED BY CHRIST IN HIS CHURCH, AND THIS IS “THE FAITH.
” JUDE CALLS IT “THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS” (JUDE 3).
THE EARLY CHRISTIANS RECOGNIZED A BODY OF BASIC DOCTRINE THAT THEY TAUGHT, GUARDED, AND COMMITTED TO OTHERS (2 TIM. 2:2).
CHRISTIANS MAY DIFFER IN SOME MATTERS OF DOCTRINE THAT IS NOT ESSENTIAL, BUT THE FAITH IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR BELIEF IN CHRIST.
WHAT IS THE FAITH? IT IS A SERIES OF TRUTHS TAUGHT BY JESUS CHRIST THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE. “THE FAITH” MEANS ONE FAITH
ONE BAPTISM. THERE IS ONE BAPTISM—THE BAPTISM OF THE SINNER IN WATER FOR THE REMISSION OF HIS SINS.
SPRINKLING OR POURING WATER ON A PERSON IS NOT BAPTISM, AND THIS IS NOT SPIRIT BAPTISM
BAPTISM IS THE DOOR WAY INTO THE ONE BODY THE CHURCH
ONE GOD AND FATHER. THE MARVELOUS ONENESS OF CHRISTIANS IN THE FAMILY OF GOD IS EVIDENT HERE, FOR GOD IS OVER ALL, AND WORKING THROUGH ALL, AND IN ALL. WE ARE CHILDREN IN THE SAME FAMILY, LOVING AND SERVING THE SAME FATHER, SO WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO WALK TOGETHER IN UNITY.
POINT THREE THE GIFTS FOR UNITY (EPH. 4:7–11)
PAUL MOVES NOW FROM WHAT ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE IN COMMON TO HOW CHRISTIANS DIFFER FROM EACH OTHER.
HE IS DISCUSSING VARIETY AND INDIVIDUALITY WITHIN THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT.
GOD HAS GIVEN EACH CHRISTIAN AT LEAST ONE SPIRITUAL GIFT (1 COR. 12:1–12), AND THIS GIFT IS TO BE USED FOR THE UNIFYING AND EDIFYING (BUILDING UP) OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.
WE MUST MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN “SPIRITUAL GIFTS” AND NATURAL ABILITIES.
WHEN YOU WERE BORN INTO THIS WORLD GOD GAVE YOU CERTAIN NATURAL ABILITIES, PERHAPS IN MECHANICS, ART, ATHLETICS, OR MUSIC.
ALL MEN ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL, BECAUSE SOME ARE SMARTER, OR STRONGER, OR MORE TALENTED THAN OTHERS. BUT IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM, EACH CHRISTIAN HAS AT LEAST ONE SPIRITUAL GIFT NO MATTER WHAT NATURAL ABILITIES HE MAY OR MAY NOT POSSESS.
A SPIRITUAL GIFT IS A GOD-GIVEN ABILITY TO SERVE GOD AND OTHER CHRISTIANS IN SUCH A WAY THAT CHRIST IS GLORIFIED AND CHRISTIANS ARE EDIFIED.
HOW DOES THE CHRISTIAN DISCOVER AND DEVELOP HIS GIFTS? BY FELLOWSHIPPING WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS IN THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY.
GIFTS ARE NOT TOYS TO PLAY WITH. THEY ARE TOOLS TO BUILD WITH.
AND IF THEY ARE NOT USED IN LOVE, THEY BECOME WEAPONS TO FIGHT WITH, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH (1 COR. 12–14).
CHRISTIANS ARE NOT TO LIVE IN ISOLATION, BECAUSE THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE SAME BODY.
PAUL TAUGHT THAT CHRIST IS THE GIVER OF THESE GIFTS, THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT (EPH. 4:8–10).
THERE ARE THREE LISTS OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS GIVEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:4–11, 27–31; ROMANS 12:3–8; AND EPHESIANS 4:11. SINCE THESE LISTS ARE NOT IDENTICAL, IT MAY BE THAT PAUL HAS NOT NAMED ALL THE GIFTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
PAUL WROTE THAT SOME GIFTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHERS, BUT THAT ALL CHRISTIANS ARE NEEDED IF THE BODY IS TO FUNCTION NORMALLY (1 COR. 14:5, 39).
POINT FOUR THE GROWTH OF UNITY (EPH. 4:12–16)
PAUL WAS LOOKING AT THE CHURCH ON TWO LEVELS IN THIS SECTION.
HE SAW THE BODY OF CHRIST, MADE UP OF ALL TRUE CHRISTIANS, GROWING GRADUALLY UNTIL IT REACHES SPIRITUAL MATURITY,
THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST.” BUT HE ALSO SAW THE LOCAL BODY OF CHRISTIANS MINISTERING TO EACH OTHER, GROWING TOGETHER, AND EXPERIENCING SPIRITUAL UNITY.
THE STORY IS TOLD OF A FREE-LANCE MISSIONARY VISITING A PASTOR ASKING FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
“WHAT GROUP ARE YOU ASSOCIATED WITH?” THE PASTOR ASKED.
THE MAN REPLIED, “I BELONG TO THE INVISIBLE CHURCH.”
THE PASTOR THEN ASKED, “WELL, WHAT CHURCH ARE YOU A MEMBER OF!”
AGAIN HE GOT THE ANSWER, “I BELONG TO THE INVISIBLE CHURCH!”
GETTING A BIT SUSPICIOUS, THE PASTOR ASKED, “WHEN DOES THIS INVISIBLE CHURCH MEET? WHO PASTORS IT?”
THE MISSIONARY THEN BECAME IRRITATED AND SAID, “WELL, YOUR CHURCH HERE ISN’T THE TRUE CHURCH.
I BELONG TO THE INVISIBLE CHURCH!”
THE PASTOR REPLIED, “WELL, HERE’S SOME INVISIBLE MONEY TO HELP YOU MINISTER TO THE INVISIBLE CHURCH!”
THE PASTOR WAS NOT DENYING THE EXISTENCE OF THE ONE BODY. RATHER, HE WAS AFFIRMING THE FACT THAT THE CHURCH MINISTERS THROUGH THE VISIBLE CHURCH.
THE GIFTED LEADERS ARE SUPPOSED TO “EQUIP THE SAINTS UNTO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, UNTO THE BUILDING UP OF THE BODY OF CHRIST” (LITERAL TRANSLATION).
THE SAINTS DO NOT CALL A PASTOR AND PAY HIM TO DO THE WORK.
THEY CALL HIM AND FOLLOW HIS LEADERSHIP AS HE, THROUGH THE WORD, EQUIPS THEM TO DO THE JOB (2 TIM. 3:13–17).
THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH GROW BY FEEDING ON THE WORD AND MINISTERING TO EACH OTHER.
THE FIRST EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS CHRIST LIKENESS.
THE SECOND EVIDENCE IS STABILITY.
THE MATURING CHRISTIAN IS NOT TOSSED ABOUT BY EVERY RELIGIOUS NOVELTY THAT COMES ALONG.
THERE ARE RELIGIOUS QUACKS WAITING TO KIDNAP GOD’S CHILDREN AND GET THEM INTO THEIR FALSE CULTS,
BUT THE MATURING CHRISTIAN RECOGNIZES FALSE DOCTRINE AND STAYS CLEAR OF IT.
THE CULTISTS DO NOT TRY TO WIN LOST SOULS TO CHRIST. THEY DO NOT ESTABLISH RESCUE MISSIONS IN THE SLUM AREAS OF OUR CITIES, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO GOOD NEWS FOR THE MAN ON SKID ROW.
INSTEAD, THESE FALSE TEACHERS TRY TO CAPTURE IMMATURE CHRISTIANS, AND FOR THIS REASON, MOST OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE FALSE CULTS COMES FROM LOCAL CHURCHES, PARTICULARLY CHURCHES THAT DO NOT FEED THEIR PEOPLE THE WORD OF GOD.
THE THIRD EVIDENCE OF MATURITY IS TRUTH JOINED WITH LOVE: “SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE” (EPH. 4:15).
IT HAS WELL BEEN SAID THAT TRUTH WITHOUT LOVE IS BRUTALITY, BUT LOVE WITHOUT TRUTH IS HYPOCRISY.
LITTLE CHILDREN DO NOT KNOW HOW TO BLEND TRUTH AND LOVE.
THEY THINK THAT IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE, YOU MUST SHIELD HIM FROM THE TRUTH IF KNOWING THE TRUTH WILL HURT HIM.
IT IS A MARK OF MATURITY WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO SHARE THE TRUTH WITH OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS, AND DO IT IN LOVE. “FAITHFUL ARE THE WOUNDS OF A FRIEND, BUT THE KISSES OF AN ENEMY ARE DECEITFUL” (PROV. 27:6).
ONE MORE EVIDENCE OF MATURITY IS COOPERATION (EPH. 4:16).
WE REALIZE THAT, AS MEMBERS OF THE ONE BODY AND A LOCAL BODY, WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER, WE AFFECT EACH OTHER, AND WE NEED EACH OTHER.
EACH CHRISTIAN, NO MATTER HOW INSIGNIFICANT HE MAY APPEAR, HAS A MINISTRY TO OTHER CHRISTIANS.
THE BODY GROWS AS THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS GROW, AND THEY GROW AS THEY FEED ON THE WORD AND MINISTER TO EACH OTHER.
THE EMPHASIS IS ON LOVE: “FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE” (EPH. 4:2);
“SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE” (EPH. 4:15);
“THE EDIFYING OF ITSELF IN LOVE” (4:16).
LOVE IS THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM OF THE BODY.
IT HAS BEEN DISCOVERED THAT ISOLATED, UNLOVED BABIES DO NOT GROW PROPERLY AND ARE ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO DISEASE,
WHILE BABIES WHO ARE LOVED AND HANDLED GROW NORMALLY AND ARE STRONGER.
SO IT IS WITH THE CHILDREN OF GOD. AN ISOLATED CHRISTIAN CANNOT MINISTER TO OTHERS, NOR CAN OTHERS MINISTER TO HIM, AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE GIFTS TO BE MINISTERED EITHER WAY.
SO, THEN, SPIRITUAL UNITY IS NOT SOMETHING WE MANUFACTURE.
IT IS SOMETHING WE ALREADY HAVE IN CHRIST, AND WE MUST PROTECT AND MAINTAIN IT.
TRUTH UNITES, BUT LIES DIVIDE. LOVE UNITES, BUT SELFISHNESS DIVIDES. THEREFORE, “SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE,” LET US EQUIP ONE ANOTHER AND EDIFY ONE ANOTHER, THAT ALL OF US MAY GROW UP TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST.