Ephesians

Ephesians 4:1-6

Paul begins with a therefore; all that was said in the first three chapters regarding our reconciliation and standing in the Lord brings Paul to this place.  It’s like saying, “You gentiles are saved, now, here’s how it plays out in your life.”  Paul calls this your ‘walk’; it’s the conduct of your life. 

Paul beseeched the readers.  This is the word ‘parakalo’ meaning to ‘come alongside’ and encourage, build up and exhort.  The prisoner of the Lord was encouraging others to be captivated by Him.

The readers were encouraged to establish a walk that reflected what had been done on their behalf.  We know, as sinners, we were once dead in our trespasses and therefore struggle think of ourselves as worthy.  Yet, in Christ, we are reconciled.  As such, we must walk in a way that we don’t show ourself unworthy!  The ‘calling’ was completed in them.  The readers were to accepted that, then, conduct themselves consistent with that call.

No one is worthy of our salvation.  It is the gift of God, nobody can boast.  However, now that this work of salvation is done, we are called to walk in a manner worthy of Christ.  We are to reflect our master who purchased us.  We must not shame Him.  A walk consistent with Christ is one characterized in several ways:

1. Lowliness and gentleness;
   1. Lowliness is not thinking highly of yourself.  It is one who knows their spiritual poverty; we have nothing, know nothing, can do nothing.  We bring nothing; our hands are empty but lifted up and opened up to receive.
   2. Gentleness is mild and even-tempered.  It is likened to meekness; power under control.  This is a person not driven by anger, emotion or bitterness but controlled by the master’s hand.  Think of a powerful workhouse controlled by the reins in the hand of a man.
      1. In the Roman culture, gentleness was a virtue but meekness was seen as weakness. 
   3. These were also listed as fruits of the spirit (Gal 5).
   4. "The man who is praus is the man who is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time."  (Barclay)
2. Longsuffering
   1. This term in closely related to the first two.  It means ‘not taking vengeance or inflicting speedy punishment’.  It’s slow to anger, letting life play out and leaving judgment in the hands of the Lord.  It’s a life of forbearance in every direction. 
3. Bearing with one another in love
   1. As longsuffering is linked to lowliness and gentleness; so is bearing with one another closely related to longsuffering.  Each of these virtues seem as links in a chain, tied together and overlapping in strength. 
   2. To be longsuffering and bear with another shouldn’t be done in cold indifference, but in love.  It should be genuine, warm and caring as we would like others to bear with us.
4. Keeping the unity of Spirit in the bond of peace
   1. All the previous is done in an effort to keep the unity of the Spirit.  We have lots of differences across our church family.  Yet, we all have in common the Holy Spirit. 
   2. The peace we’ve experienced in Christ is common to all believers.  This peace allows us to walk in humility and meekness.  This unity and peace should be a supernatural aspect of who we are. 
      1. As we each have found peace with God, as we are gathered in unity of Spirit, we have peace with each other.

It is inconsistent with Christ for us to be divided.  Division is unworthy of the blessings of Christ.  Therefore, we are to recognize the points of our unity.  There is:

• One body
• One Spirit
• One hope
• One Lord
• One faith
• One baptism
• One God and Father of all

The Jews and gentiles had believed they were of different body, spirit, hope or Lord.  There was unity, common ground found in the gospel and the completed work of Christ.  We can’t claim one Lord and one faith at the same time having a divided body of believers.  When we see this, it is a sign of something broken, misaligned or skewed.  God’s supremacy is seen ‘above all and through all, and in you all’.  Our walk should be consistent, in unity and under the supremacy of God.

What is a reasonable response that is worthy of all that we know and believe?  Wouldn't it be offensive to God to go on living as we did before, refusing to change?  (Like Israel grumbling in the wilderness.)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  (NKJV; Romans 12:1-2; 1982, Thomas Nelson) 

Offering our bodies as living sacrifices is a reasonable response to what God has done for us.  We were bought with a price.  We are to be different, not being conformed to the ways of the world, but being transformed.  Our lives are to undergo a major remodel.  There is to be a renewal of the mind.  In this renewal we prove God's will for our life.

Ephesians 4:7-10
This gift of grace wasn't doled out to people because they deserved it, earned it, worked for it or had a good reputation.  It wasn't given according to any measure of man.  It was given according to the measure of Jesus Christ.

This is a quote of from Psalm 68.  This Psalm is a celebration of military victory.  What did David have in mind when he wrote this Psalm?  We see the triumphant victory of the Lord.  Verse fifteen proclaimed the mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan.  This mountain is pictured as fuming with envy.  This mountain had no say – the Lord desired to dwell there.  This mountain is Mt. Hermon.  The mountain is covered with temples of all kinds.  Extra biblical literature claims this mountain as the place where the sons of God came down to take the daughters of men – the place where the fallen angels descended.  It was been seen as a spiritual stronghold.  Jesus journeyed to Caesarea Philippi with His disciples.  In the shadow of this mountain Peter proclaimed Him Lord.  If this was also, then, the mount of Transfiguration, the Lord revealed himself in the presence of this pantheon of demonic would be gods  This mountain was spiritually captive, it would be conquered by God and become His mountain.  Many see this picture as the Lord ascending Mt Zion in victory.  He took captive those where captive, a conquering general would then receive gifts from the captives.

Paul exercises literary license when he quotes it here.  He uses those verses to speak of Jesus as the conquering King.  This speaks of his great victory after he was crucified, dead and buried and then rose again.  He ascended on high and sat down at the right hand of the Father.  He took those who were captive by sin and death as His captives.  However, instead of those captives giving gifts to the king, Paul reverses it and sees the King giving gifts to the captives.  When he freed men from the grip of death and sin and He gave gifts to men.  These spiritual gifts are presented then as a free gift from the Lord that is the spoil of war.  It is given freely to men.

The ascending and descending of verse 9 is a contrast to show the work of Jesus Christ.  He was enthroned on high, yet he humbled himself to enter time, to come to earth as a man.  He came to live among men as a man.  Then, when His work was completed on earth, He ascended on high, far above the heavens.  His captives were led there also, being seated (positionally) with Him in the heavenlies. 

Some see this descent a descending of Christ to the lower parts of the earth, the abode of the dead, upon his death, from which He rose again and then ascended on high.

Ephesians 4:11-13

These are the gifts given by He who has taken us captive.  He captured us from the one who used to possess us and things we were bound to.  Then he gave us gifts.  See Numbers 18:7; Aaron and his sons were given the priesthood by God.  He called it “their gift of service.”  In verse 11 we see a similar idea with “He Himself gave.”  He gave these gifts that He might fill all things.  The grace given is the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer; a gift given to equip the saint for good works. 

• Apostles were those that saw the resurrected Christ, they had a specific calling to preach in a specific way and place. 
• Prophets bring forth the word of God.  We often think of prophets bringing direct revelation, but it’s not just that.  A prophet can have insight into God’s word and declare God’s heart, His ways, His love and discipline to mankind.
• Evangelists deliver the good news to the lost.  We might see this as men walking into the darkness carrying a light to share with those living in the dark place
• Pastors watch over the flock.  These are the shepherds caring for people, physically and spiritually.
• Teachers are those teaching God’s word and ways.  They might be seen as those fanning the flame to keep the light on.

Other lists of the gifts are listed in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12.  These are given to:

• Equip men and women for works of service (service bearing fruit)
  • Equipping is bringing people to completion.
• For the edification of the body (service to the fruit bearers)
  • Edification is ‘to build up’.  This is to go on, moving toward a goal and not stopping until we get there. 

The gifts are then given to each as a gift of service with the goal of:

• Bringing us to maturity (unity) of faith. 
  • A healthy body is made of healthy parts.  The church couldn’t be healthy with parts that had not grown or were not functioning at all.
• The knowledge of the Son of God.
  • Each person in the church was to grow and in their knowledge of Christ, becoming more Christ-like in the walk and function.

We are to be brought to maturity (perfect) that is likened to the ‘measure of stature’ of the fullness of Jesus.  This isn't any perfection as understood and measured by men.  This is to say, the standard by which our maturity is measured is Jesus – He is the measure of stature.  The offices within the church; apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors; teachers, are to lead us into spiritual maturity. 

As we become Christ-like in every way, we will inevitably be moving toward unity with all Christians within the body.  As Christians around the world come from many cultures and many walks of life, we all come from different places but we are all to be driven toward that single point.  As we move toward that unity under the One, we should find ourselves becoming one with other believers.

It is an act of Grace from our Lord Jesus that he equips us and those around us.  So together, within the church we teach and exhort and admonish.  We are to grow each other and be perfected in Christ.  None of us are called to set and watch this go on.  We are each called to be part of this.  We each have a job to do.  We are called to grow up and be about this work.  Adam and Eve tended the garden; it was their joy in life to perform this work.  It wasn’t work at all though, it was done in the presence of God and it was doing that for which they were created.  In our sinful flesh, being about our good works is the closest we can be to “doing that for which we were created”.  To use our gift, do good works while walking in fellowship with Him is to walk in faith and knowledge of who we are in Christ.

It’s not just suggested that we grow up.  It is not a hope that someday when we are old we arrive at this place.  It's downright critical that we come to maturity from wherever we presently are.  Otherwise, we are subject to be led astray.  We have to think Paul saw these threats to the church, carrying away those dabbling and not moving toward maturity.

1. Some were children being tossed to and fro.  They were young, light in the faith, with a weak anchor point.  They were children, easily distracted and drawn away, reliant on a parent to keep them close.
   1. Drawn away.  Like carnival barkers on the midway; bright lights, can’t lose, fun and games.  The next thing you know, you’ve crashed and burned and wonder how you got there. 
      1. If you are spiritually immature, and we all are in some way, you are not equipped to recognize and deal with all the stuff that is trying to draw you off the path that God set you on. 
      2. Where I am weak, someone else is strong.  Where someone else is weak, I am strong.  Together, as a fellowship, we protect each other and grow.  Those young in the faith are protected and watched over by the mature until they can begin to hold their own.
2. Some of these children we being carried away with new winds of doctrine, trickery of men and cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.  These things sound like they come from politicians leading our government.  Deceit and corruption do not belong in faith.  It requires discernment, born of maturity, to sort these things out.
   1. Trickery of men.  This is like a game that is rigged.  The game seems sincere and you think you know what's happening.  Only later to find out the cards were marked, the dice were loaded, the fix was in. 
   2. The cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.  These are the shysters and hucksters that would beg faith seed money from their grand-mother.  These men are pretenders, pretending to be men of God but not having the slightest clue.

Paul encourages speaking the truth in love was critical to growing up in Christ and being a healthy and whole body of believers.

1. Joined and knit together – a leg not attached isn’t much use.  Each member is supplied what they need through another – each joint providing as a connection point.
2. Every part does its share.  By this, the body can mature and edify itself in love. 

Sometimes in our pride we are fooled into thinking we can't be drawn off course.  Like a little kid thinking he is grown up we believe spiritually we have it all figured out and can't be drawn off course.  This is like having a target on your back for Satan to shoot at.  We are all subject to being fooled at times, being drawn off course or chasing after fads, going with the crowd, chasing after what is popular. 

The advertising world are masters of this.  They know how to work us and get us to follow the crowd.  This why people bought Pet rocks, cabbage patch dolls, Rubiks cube, hacky sack, Hoola hoops, and why people stand in line for the new Iphone.  Getting deceived spiritually isn't all that much different.  Every day, people buy into strange teachings, deceived by salesmanship and bet their eternity on the teachings of men.  There are many sincere people teaching bad things out there.  They really think they have it all figured out. 

In fairly recent history we've seen groups that were spiritually deceived enough to drink poison Kool-Aid in a mass suicide.  We saw a UFO cult gather on a mountaintop and poison themselves as a means of mass evacuation from the planet.  We saw the branch Davidians in Waco whose beliefs varied, making room for incest and polygamy and much more.  And every day we see so-called Christian pastors and ministers taking advantage of their flocks in many ways.

All these people that were deceived weren't a bunch of bumbling boobs.  They were professionals, craftsmen, doctors, lawyers, mechanics, salesmen and welders.  They came from every level of education.  They were normal people but they lived in spiritual darkness.  Somehow, they were convinced they had found the truth in these cults.  By trickery, by the cunning craftiness or deceitful plotting these people were led astray because the truth wasn't found in them, they were surrounded by others who were deceived.

Every church because of the sinful nature of man is one generation away from apostasy.  If we aren't diligent to remain Christ centered and hold onto the bible as the perfect, inerrant, infallible word of God, then we can't possibly be growing in Christ.  The spiritual immature can't be maturing.  And the result is the raising up of a generation that hasn't matured.

Paul knew this.  This church in Ephesus was alive, vibrant and thriving.  Paul had been there.  Apollos had been there.  Timothy had been there.  Aquila and Priscilla had been there.  Yet, a short time later, Jesus told John as recorded in Revelation that the church in Ephesus had left their first love.

So much of what Paul has shown us in the book of Galatians and now in Ephesians are contrasts; contrasts between the flesh and the spirit, life and death, light and darkness, hope in the world and hope in Christ.  I think in this first part of Ephesians 4 we see a more subtle contrast.  We see the contrast of youth and maturity.  It's a church functioning as the church; in unity, under Christ, growing, protecting the young in Christ from the wolves, moving toward perfection in Christ.  Each individual is operating within their gifts to edify and benefit others as part of this mystery.  That is the church.

Ephesians 4:17-19
Paul started this section with exhortation to ‘walk’ and now he instructs on where believers should no longer walk.  Using a contrast like this was a common method speakers used in those days to make their point.

Notice Paul no longer considers the people of this gentile church as gentiles.  He uses the term for the wider unbelieving world.  It was a world that had a darkened understanding because God was not in them.  They had no light in their life.  They stood in darkness.  They were still spiritually dead and completely unaware of it. 

Paul characterized the gentiles as having futile minds, darkened understanding with no fellowship with God.  Their minds were incapable of worthy thoughts, their thought processes broken by sin.  The understanding of spiritual things was always out of their grasp.  He carried this understanding even further by considering their hearts blind.  No matter how hard they try, they can’t see.  And finally, he said they were ‘past feeling’.  This was like having a calloused heart.  They no longer had the capacity to feel and love.  No feeling could penetrate a heart in that condition.

When people purposely ignore their conscience and ignore what they know to be right, they end up calloused.  They lose their ability to feel, they grow morally insensitive.  Their conscience is no longer tweaked by the law God wrote on their heart.  The feeling of right and wrong is gone.  Every decision is based on feelings and emotions, on how it makes one feel.  The gentile world had become very good at ignoring the conviction of their conscience because they desired to continue in their sin.  They no longer felt shame or the threat of the sting of sin and death.  Deep down, they knew what they are doing was wrong but they had become good at ignoring that fact.  Deep down, they knew a day was coming but they didn't feel the urgency of that in their life.  They just wanted to continue on as they were.  The end result was a calloused heart; a seared conscience.  If the unbelieving world of Paul’s time popularized this, then we must make the claim that we’ve brought it to perfection in our day. 

While they may have thought they were dabbling in sin for a season, they had given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  When the sensitivity to God and the Spirit was lost they fell subject to sensuality, indulging in impurity and lust for more.  This lewdness is translated lasciviousness in the King James and sensuality in the NASB.  This is a shameless and unbridled lust.  It's throwing off all restraint and just doing whatever pleases the flesh.  The sinful and rebellious heart of man leads to the same state today.  However, it feels more openly evil, void of any shame.  It has become prominent and empowered and attempting to force this state on others.

When the restraint is removed it leads to all kinds of works of uncleanness with greediness.  The two can't be separated.  The uncleanness is a broad term referring to sexual impropriety.  And the greediness is never getting enough; never finding satisfaction in any way.  This is what is in the heart of natural man.  This is our sinful nature; its filth and lewdness and an endless appetite for it.  That's the potential that was in each of us.  And we know there is no satisfaction in this kind of life.  It only leads to deeper sin and shame.  This lifestyle itself becomes an idol in an unbeliever's life.  It's an idol that works in the flesh promising fulfillment but never delivering. 

Natural man is forever chasing after that satisfaction, trying to arrive at that place.  But you never get there.  All this idol does is ruin your life.  Happiness and bliss always seem to be right there, very close.  It's stealing one more dollar to the greedy.  It's having one more drink to the alcoholic.  It's taking one more hit of your drug to the drug addict.  It's one more website to the porn addict.  It's your business or job, having affairs, shopping, bigger homes, more expensive cars.  It's jewelry, boats, guns.......whatever.  It's all the things unbelievers chase after; all are substitutes for a relationship with Christ.  The really ironic thing about all this is it's just natural man doing what comes naturally.  This is what is in our heart.

Now that we are Christians, we need to make sure we aren't walking as the rest of the gentiles walk.  This lewdness, uncleanness and greed shouldn't be found in a Christian life.  There is a futility in the mind of the unbeliever that should be clearly absent in a believer.  Our lives have purpose found in Christ.  The unbeliever is without hope, living in deceit.  We have a hope that is sure and there is no deceit found in God.  The unbeliever stands in futility and hopelessness.  Either being ignorant of the truth or just flat out ignoring it.  We should never resemble that unbelieving world.

Ephesians 4:20-24
What we learned about Christ is in contrast with the ways of the world.  As a contrast to walking with the gentiles in the ways of the world, Paul tells us what walking with Christ will look like.  After we are saved there is a path set before us; upon being born again there is this expected response.  And you have to note that this response doesn't automatically happen.  This is a response that is initiated by the believer.  If you really believe all you said; if you believe the truth is in Jesus; if you profess Christ as your savior, then turn to Him and abide in him.  Forsake the things of the world.

This is a process that comes from the knowledge of Christ but also from hearing Him and being taught by him.  It's living and abiding in that knowledge.  Paul phrases the same thing another way when he says to put off the old man and put on the new man.  Paul is saying, now that you have new life, you have hope.  Now that you are out of the grave, take off the grave clothes.  The old man was the product of sin.  The old man was inherited from Adam.  He reeks of lusts, corruption, death and hopelessness.  It's time to throw that old garment away and put on the new man.  The new man was created according to God.  This new man is born in righteousness and holiness.  It seems as though we are throwing off the corruption of our fallen nature to put what we were originally intended to be.

Paul was telling the Ephesians that the new 'you' must be put on.  You have to put the new you on.  It's not automatic, no one can do it for you.  The new 'you' resembles Jesus Christ having power over sin and walking in new life.  This is like one of those make-over shows.  Here you are wreaking and filthy and unkept.  You slouch and have a bad attitude.  Then when you are made over, you are clean and fresh; you have new clothes that make you look good.  You stand up straighter, you have confidence and all that is reflected in your attitude. 

¹¹ And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (NKJV; Romans 13:11-14; 1982, Thomas Nelson)

This putting on Christ is a daily and life-long action.  It is the continuous process of knowing Jesus but not just knowing Him but being in Him.  He abides in us; we abide in Him.  It's growing closer, learning more, trusting deeper, daily living in Him, walking in Him, talking in Him, becoming more like Him in every way.  And you have to know, we all will fail at it from time to time.  We will forget, we will stray, we will open our mind back up to the uncleanness.  It's a tough battle when we are still in these corrupt bodies.  When we fall to sin, He is faithful to forgive those sins when we confess them.

Ephesians 4:25-28
It seems strange to us that this apostle had to tell the church to stop lying and stealing and such.  These commands are the conclusion drawn from putting on the new man.  It’s indication that people were trying to walk in the old and new simultaneously.  This isn’t possible and created an unhealthy church. 

• Stop telling lies – instead speak the truth.
  • Why?  For we are members of one another.  Lying damages the body of which we are part of making it unhealthy.
  • Jesus is the truth, to be like Him you will speak the truth, no matter the cost.  Therefore, the new man puts away lying.  The bible says (John 8:44) that Satan is the father of all lies.
  • Augustine: “The mouth that lies destroys the soul.” … Therefore the apostle puts truth telling in the first place when he commands us to put off the “old nature,” under which name all sins are understood, saying “therefore, putting off lying speak the truth.” [Edwards, M. J., ed. (1999). Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians (p. 175). InterVarsity Press.]
  • Theodoret: It would be extremely perverse, since we belong intimately to one another, to say things that are not true. For this is not the way the body functions. The eyes, for example, when they see cliffs and steep caverns, instantly report them to the feet so that they may turn aside and protect the whole body from harm. [Epistle to the Ephesians 4.25. Edwards, M. J., ed. (1999). Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians (p. 176). InterVarsity Press.]
• If you are angry, it must be godly anger 
  • Godly anger is directed to another for the purpose of saving them, delivering them from sin or its effect.  It's interesting that there is a time limit on our anger.  When the sun sets it's time to be done with it.  If we don't let go of our anger or deal with it, we are subject to giving a foothold for the devil.  Our Godly anger can quickly become sin.  Satan looks for these openings when we hold fast to our anger too long.  He latches on to those opportunities.
• Don’t steal any longer, get a job! 
  • If the old man was a thief, the new man joins the workforce.  He does this not just to provide for himself but also to provide for others in need. Then use it to bless another.
• Don’t use the words of your mouth to corrupt and slander.
  • This word ‘corrupt’ means unsound or decayed.  It would include vulgar, filthy, slanderous and contemptuous speech.  We should speak only what is necessary for edification.  Our words should impart grace to those that hear.  Our parents told us, “If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.”  This is wisdom.  How much of what comes out of our mouth is useless, or worse yet, unwholesome and unworthy?  Someone once said, “It is better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”
• Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit
  • Everyone in those days knew what a seal was.  Private letters, legal transactions, declarations, loans or other financial transactions all would be sealed.  The seal was soft wax with the impression or mark of the owner in the wax.  The seal implied ownership, security, promise or action.  It was often used as proof that merchandise wasn’t tampered with (or that a grave wasn’t tampered with). 
  • The presence of the Holy Spirit is the believers mark of ownership or proof of ownership.  His presence says a work has been done for us, is being done in us and will be completed very soon.  He (the Holy Spirit) is the authentication of our redemption.   You’ve experienced the same thing when you have something notarized.  The notary presses their seal onto the paper, forever marking it.  With their signature, they are authenticating your paperwork.  For the believer, when we are sealed, it’s like having a ‘sold’ sign on us because we’ve been purchase.  The one who purchased us hasn’t picked us up yet.  However, He’s coming back soon, any time now. 
  • It would be grievous to the Holy Spirit for us to put those grave clothes back on, to begin to lie and steal and speak in an ungodly way.  The Holy Spirit is our source of power, our counselor and helper.  He is there to help us get through this.  He is standing right there with us when we are faced with temptation and when sin is crouching at the door.  He is more than willing to help us overcome that temptation and to turn away from sin.  How grievous it would be for us to ignore that help and surrender to the temptation. 
  • Because we are able to grieve him, we know that he loves us.  This is same feeling a parent might feel when you've done all you can to teach and guide you child.  Then you see them mess up the very thing you tried to teach them to avoid.  Their actions grieve you.  You still love them but you are heartbroken because you were there and willing to help or provide an answer.  You could have helped them but they did it their way and their way was wrong.
• Put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking with all malice. 
  • We are to put all these nonproductive things aside and forgive each other as Christ forgave us.  There is no place for these works of flesh in our new walk.  We are called to Christian character, marked by kindness, as well as tenderhearted and forgiving.  (Tender hearted means ‘having good bowels!!)

If there's a renewing of your mind and you have put on the new man, these things will serve as evidence of the change that took place.  If you've had a makeover from the King of Kings then it is only normal that you would believe as He believes.  Your thought process would follow His thought process.

Chrysostom: Tell me what good it is to weed a garden if we do not plant good seed.… Sow good habits and dispositions. To be free from a bad habit does not mean we have formed a good one. We need to take the further step of forming good habits and dispositions to replace what we have left behind. [Homily on Ephesians 16.4.31–32. Edwards, M. J., ed. (1999). Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians (p. 180). InterVarsity Press.]

As the body of Christ, as the Church, there is strength in our unity, yet we are diverse.  We are a collection of those who resemble Christ.  We should all be clothed in Christ and be known for being loving, forgiving, understanding and tenderhearted.  If a church looks that way you have to know Satan working diligently trying to destroy our unity.  We can't forget that's what is going on behind the scenes.  Through temptation and all kinds of sin, he tries to drag us down, discourage us.  When we become discouraged or weak in our faith, we lose touch with the body, at times some stop going to church because they feel unworthy.  That's the worst thing you could do.  When you disconnect with the body, you disconnect from your source of life, from your support system.  It's like a leg trying to make a go of it on its own.  It won't get very far.

If you don't maintain a connection to the body you have disconnected from those that are growing you.  Suddenly you are alone, drawn away from the pact.  Like a helpless animal separated from the others Satan will pick at you without interference from others.

⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (NKJV: 1 Peter 5:8; 1982, Thomas Nelson)

We can be effective in warding off these attacks when we stick together in fellowship.  There is strength in being a whole body of believers with Christ being the head.  This is part of our function.  Each of us are called to being part of this.  We know that because you are here, it's no accident.  God brought us together to be this very thing Paul is talking about.  Together, when we are walking in faith, we are the perfect blend of gifts, talents, love, mercy, grace, peace and many other things.  Each of us function as a important part of the life of those sitting next to you.

The Spirit would not be the Spirit of truth if he could approve of that which is false in us:  he would not be pure if that which is impure in us did not grieve him. We could not believe him to be holy if he could look with complacency upon our unholiness; nor should we think of him as being perfect if our imperfection could be regarded by him without displeasure. No, because he is what he is, the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of holiness, therefore everything in us which falls short of his own nature must be grievous to him: he helps our infirmities, but he grieves over our sins.  [Spurgeon, C. H. (1867). Grieve Not the Holy Spirit. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 13, p. 122). Passmore & Alabaster.]

Amen

©2010, 2017, 2023 Doug For