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Where Are We Going?
Ephesians 4:1-16 (part 1)
Introduction: With this lesson we will begin a few lessons on who we are to be and where we are to be going as a church. Our primary text will be Ephesians 4:1-16. There is probably no letter in the NT that is more thorough than Ephesians when defining the broad purpose of the reason we Christians are to join together and work together as a singular group.
If you were to ask me where I believe most churches fail their calling, I would say it is understanding the need to fulfill the requirements of this text. “Church” in America became our culture, a family tradition. But especially in the last 75 years, the reason & purpose for the church has been lost. That loss is the primary reason young and old see no reason for it. Others might say, “Oh I know I need to go to church,” but it is more out of an obligation of something they “ought to do” rather than understanding the purpose of God.
Therefore, knowing this text and how to specifically put these admonitions into practice is critical for us being what God wants us to be and critical to our efforts in sharing Christ with others.
- Getting the Broad Picture
- 4:1 begins with “therefore,” indicating a conclusion from the first three chapters, which declares that all God has done for us is to create us into a people who will be to the praise of his glory. (1:6, 12, 14)
- Therefore chapters 4-6 is Paul’s application of living within our new calling.
- In 4:1-16, there are two primary movements:
- The imperative of maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
- The second is building on that foundation of unity by the use of the gifts that grows the body.
- Keeping our context in its proper setting, 4:1-16 primarily addresses the things we do positively in order to maintain the unity of the Spirit. 4:27ff primarily addresses those things a Christian would do that would destroy unity and love within the body.
- Maintaining the Unity of the Spirit
- Let’s begin by looking at the phrase, “eager to maintain” because it is the goal. God intended a unity among believers. Nothing can more surely destroy us as being to the praise of His glory than for us to not be unified. When unity does not prevail, Satan wins and God’s name is blasphemed. So what we have is that the Spirit has provided for this unity, but we must maintain it.
- ESV uses the word “eager.” The word is typically translated “diligent.” The NET translates, “making every effort.” It also carries with it the idea of using speed or haste to assure the unity of the Spirit. In other words, we are to work diligently and urgently to maintain unity.
- Paul is obviously indicating that maintaining unity and peace does not come naturally or easily. We are flawed people with varied backgrounds and personalities. We would expect there to be difficulties. After all, if you are married, you were madly in love when you stood before God and man and promised to love, honor, and cherish one another till death to you part. And yet, how has that worked out for you? Love and peace between the two of you has not happened easily. You have had to constantly work at it.
- Compare this to a marriage. Marriage has a basic “15-hour per week rule in which husband and wife are to directly spend time relating to one another in order for love to grow. Numerous studies show that marriages that spend less time than that have decreased passion, less forgiving of each other’s faults, and more arguments and hurts. Christians also need a certain basic amount of spiritual time together. This includes the obvious time of study and prayer together, but also includes doing God’s work together and working on understanding each other so that we are more compassionate (Cf. 4:32).
- Finally, notice that we are to be diligent to maintain this unity in the bond of peace. “Bond” is the same as “prisoner” in verse 1. Just as Paul was a prisoner of the Lord or for the Lord, so we are to be shackled to the principle of peace. While we must uphold God’s word, we must also, follow Paul’s command, “as much as lies with you, live peaceably with all men.” Even in doctrinal matters, we are to patiently and gently teach (2 Tim. 2:24-25). It is amazing how Christians justify themselves of bad behavior just because they have determined that “this is a doctrinal issue.”
- How to Maintain Unity
- As we look at the words, humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another, it is important that we maintain the sentence structure. Humility, gentleness, and patience are the means to bring us to the end goal of bearing with one another in love.
- Therefore, let’s begin with the end goal. “Bearing” is the idea of bearing up under provocation; to put up with something annoying. Now if we left it at that, our interpretation would be to just grin and bear it, to hold in our anger and just put up with certain people who get on our nerves. But that is not the whole statement. It is bearing with one another in love. The NLT translates, “Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” My four boys have faults, as do I. But I know they love the Lord and I love them. Therefore, I pursue them and enjoy them in spite of faults. I love them so much, I don’t think about the faults. Can we not do that with each other!
- Humility:
- We must first admit that when we do not get along with someone it is usually a result of a lack of humility. Usually, at some point we have judged that person; and considered him our inferior, not our superior. We have elevated ourselves. Sure, maybe he has faults; maybe even wrong. But are we absolutely right?
- Therefore, as Paul says in Philippians 2, the opposite of selfish ambition and conceit is, “in humility count others more significant/value than yourself.” Consider, if a brother/sister knows that you value them more than yourself, if will be difficult to not attain the bond of peace.
- Proverbs 18:1-2 “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding; but only in expressing his opinion.” Perfect example of pride!
- Gentleness is closely attached to humility. Without humility, there is no gentleness. Pride brings division.
- Matthew 7:3-5 illustrates the point. The person who sees the speck in another but not the log in his own eye, is full of pride. He is poor at self examination but is great in making himself the judge of everyone. And just consider how gentle this “speck-finder” is when he tries to remove the speck while a log is blocking his view!
- What is the opposite of gentleness? See 4:31 – bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, malice. Have you ever raised your voice, spoken harshly, or spoke with a “tone” to a person who didn’t see things your way? That is forbidden in this text! There is no excuse for not being gentle.
- 2 Tim. 2:24-25 “Be kind to everyone…patiently enduring evil, correcting opponents with gentleness
- Patience is translated by the older versions as longsuffering. This is notably the character of God. The Lord’s description of himself in Exodus 34:6, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…” The key is this: if we expect God to treat us in this way, how can we excuse ourselves when we do not treat our brothers this way?
- Concluding Applications: Three Weapons that Destroy Unity
- Just as in a marriage, there are actions that build love and their are actions that destroy love. And, just as in marriage, building love is a long process of practicing loving actions, but actions that destroy love can be done in minutes and will withdraw huge amounts of love units from your brother or sister’s mind.
- Disrespectful criticisms: Eph. 4:29
- We attempt “fix other people’s attitudes, beliefs, and behavior by trying to impose our way of thinking through lecture, ridicule, threats, or other forceful means.” That was the opposite of humility and gentleness and the essence of being a “speck-finder.”
- The deceitfulness of this action is that we think we are genuinely helping a person.
- Respectful Persuasion: The biblical model is exemplified by the way Paul “reasoned” (exchanged thought with thought) in the Synagogue. As Phil. 2 states, we value the other as more important than ourselves and therefore we give respect to each one’s wisdom and therefore an opportunity to override the other’s flaws. This is the only biblical way and the only way that works!
- Selfish Demands: Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit…Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
- Paul’s warning is that we would do nothing which would benefit us at the expense of someone else and without considering their own needs and feelings. When we do, we do great damage to love and respect. We make ourselves happy even if it runs over the feelings and beliefs of our brother. No faster way to ruin a relationship!
- This selfish ambition displays itself when we demand something to be our way with an implied threat if our demand is not fulfilled. Demands can become common both in the home and in the church because the demanding person often gets his or her way when others capitulate in order to keep peace. It is what people learn to do to get their way.
- It is especially disturbing when Christians threaten to leave even over matters that do not have a scriptural consequence. That is the opposite of love. The Corinthian church had doctrinal issues and Paul never urged them to separate. Nothing is to be done from selfish ambition!
- Sinful Anger
- This is the third weapon in the triad that is the opposite of humility, gentleness, and patience. When all else fails, anger is used to punish a person who harms us or does not go along with our sense of “ought.” See 4:29.
- Again, this weapon often works for a time, but it will destroy love in the long run. The angry person seems to never consider having a respectful conversation where feelings and beliefs are discussed and mutual agreement attained. We must remember, only one person has the right to punish, and that is the Lord (Rom. 12:18-19).
Conclusion: So, where are we going? Later in our text Paul talks about the great work we have to do to build up the body. But we will never accomplish anything the Lord has for us to do if we do not start with unity. Let’s make it happen!
Berry Kercheville