Growth Thru DiversityEphesians 4:7-16

By David Turnerwww.BibleStudies-Online.com

Review

Ephesians 1-3 defines the graces we have all received from God in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:1–3 (ESV) I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Recognize Diversity within Unity

• Unity doesn’t mean unanimity or uniformity.• Unity is not in conflict with diversity.• God uses diversity to build unity.• Examples:– Automobile– Human body

Ephesians 4:7–16 (ESV)

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Christ Distributed gifts7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

• Christ gave gifts to all of us (general gifts chapters 1-3).

• Christ has given specific gifts to each of us.

• Christ determined to whom and in what measure the gifts were given.

Christ has the authority to give8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

Psalm 68:18 (ESV) “You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.”

Paul the Jewish Scholar8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

Paul apparently followed the Jewish interpretation of the day (the Targum), which paraphrased this verse as follows: “You did ascend to the firmament, O Prophet Moses! You led captivity captive; you taught the words of the Law; you gave [not received, ‘ as in the Heb.] gifts to the sons of men.” Bible Knowledge Commentary

Numbers 8:14–19 (ESV)14 “Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. 15 And after that the Levites shall go in to serve at the tent of meeting, when you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave offering. 16 For they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself. 17 For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself, 18 and I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel. 19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement for the people of Israel, that there may be no plague among the people of Israel when the people of Israel come near the sanctuary.”

His Accent shows authority9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

• Descended:– Into Hell?– Into the Grave?– Lower regions means

simply under the heavens and refers to Earth. Can refer to the incarnation or his return at Pentecost to distribute gifts.

God gives gifts to people to serve

• He gave the Levites to Israel to serve in the temple

• Christ has given certain people to the body of Christ to equip his children for service.

He gave certain people as gifts11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

• He gave– Apostles– Prophets– Evangelists– Shepherd/teachers

New Testament prophets were gifts to the church to provide edification, exhortation, and comfort : 1 Corinthians 14:3  On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

The Purpose of the gift12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

• To equip the saints– For the work of ministry– For building up the body

of Christ

“Already”, “Not Yet”13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

• We have it, but not yet.– We all attain to the unity

of the faith– We all attain the

knowledge of the Son of God.

– We all mature to adulthood

– We measure up to the stature of the fullness of Christ

Don’t be like children14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

• We stop being children– Tossed to fro by the

waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine

– By human cunning– By craftiness in deceitful

schemes.

Maturity is Conformity to Christ15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

• Speak the truth in love• We are to grow up in

every way into him who is the head - Christ

Result of the body being like the head

16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

• The body will be joined together as unit.

• The body will be equipped to function properly.

• The body will grow and build itself up in love.

ARE WE THERE YET?LET’S GROW THIS BODY