2015.12.06                              Ephesians 4: 1-6

    The Characteristics of a Worthy Christian Walk

This great passage on the worthy Christian walk really deserves our diligent faithful study… because it reveals an important truth that we need to consider… That is the Christian life is not a matter of what we do…. The First and most important thing is who we are…

There is a lot of confusion today about what it means to be a Christian…

The letter to the Ephesians is concerned first… With what it means to be in Christ… And very importantly we are confronted with this important question… How does the great theological truth that we are in Christ... Affect the way we live and treat others… God has redeemed us… He has transformed our lives…. He has poured His unbelieveable grace out on us in a never ending flood…

It is only Because of His work in transforming us… We are new creatures… But what are the practical ways that we are different than before we were born again…

In Ephesians… Paul clearly explains what it means to be in Christ… What it means to Born again… It affects everything…. God´s grace affects our past present and our future… We have been forgiven…. We now live for the Lord Jesus … We will continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him and we will be with Him forever!..

Most of this letter is teaching us how we should live our lives… We are now in this very practical section…. Paul focuses on our Christian walk… Everything about us is…. or at least should be different… We are part of His body… We are His representatives in this world… People need to see Jesus in us…. The world needs us to be a reflection of God´s Grace and Mercy… We are saved so that we can Graciously proclaim the truth to a lost and dying world… Just like Jesus… John 1… full of grace and truth…

Let´s read the first 6 verses of Ephesians ch4…. 1-6…

Ephesians 4: 1-3                      NLT   Neues Leben

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

1 Als ein Gefangener für den Herrn fordere ich euch deshalb auf, ein Leben zu führen, das eurer Berufung würdig ist, denn ihr seid ja von Gott berufen worden.

2 Seid freundlich und demütig, geduldig im Umgang miteinander. Ertragt einander voller Liebe.

3 Bemüht euch, im Geist eins zu sein, indem ihr untereinander Frieden haltet.

Ephesians 4: 4-6                             NLT Neues Leben

 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6  one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

4 Ihr sollt alle gemeinsam ein Leib sein und einen Geist haben, weil ihr alle zu einer Hoffnung berufen seid.

5 Es gibt nur einen Herrn, einen Glauben, eine Taufe,

6 und es gibt auch nur einen Gott und Vater, der über allen steht und durch alle lebt und in uns allen ist.

v1a... Therefore… Paul has just spent three chapters spelling out in detail all that God has done for us… He has reminded us over and over that it is all because of the Lord Jesus… He has given us these gifts freely by His grace… Now he begs us to lead a life that is worthy…

v1b… beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling… When we really understand how much the Lord has done for us… we will naturally desire to serve and obey Him out of grateful and thankful hearts….

The idea is clear… We don't walk worthy so that God will love us… but because He does love us… Our love and service is motivated out of gratitude… not out of a desire to earn God´s favor or to earn his blessings… Paul explains the Worthy walk to us…

Paul now gives us this wonderful description of the worthy walk…     Notice that these things are heart attitudes and not what we do…   Those are all internal attitudes…. These are the Characteristics of the transformed heart…These things should be true of every genuine believer… v2,3…

Ephesians 4: 2,3                      NLT   Neues Leben

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

2 Seid freundlich und demütig, geduldig im Umgang miteinander. Ertragt einander voller Liebe.3 Bemüht euch, im Geist eins zu sein, indem ihr untereinander Frieden haltet.

We're learning the basic principles of the worthy walk... v2a… Always be humble and gentle… The KJV says… With all lowliness and gentleness… A worthy walk before God will be marked by lowliness and gentleness… not a pushy desire to promote ourselves… We will also not be quick to defend our own rights… or to advance our own agenda… The first thing I see is that we cannot do these things unless the Lord is at work in us… It is a work of the Holy Spirit deep inside our hearts and minds…

v2b… Be patient with each other… making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love… the KJV says…. Longsuffering…  We desperately need this here in the church… Because we all make mistakes… We sin… we say stupid and hurtful things to each other… In the Sermon on the mount… we are reminded of the character of our heavenly Father… Turn with me to Luke 6: 35,36…

Luke 6: 35,36                             NLT Neues Leben

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

35 Liebt eure Feinde! Erweist ihnen Gutes! Leiht ihnen Geld! Und macht euch keine Sorgen, weil sie es euch vielleicht nicht wiedergeben werden. Dann wird euer Lohn im Himmel groß sein und ihr handelt wirklich wie Kinder des Allerhöchsten, denn er erweist auch den Undankbaren und den Bösen Gutes.

36 Ihr sollt gütig sein, wie euer Vater gütig ist.

Earlier in this same sermon… Matthew 6:15…We are reminded that if we do not forgive… We will not be forgiven…

We must remember that we have been forgiven…. We are commanded to forgive others… We do not retaliate… We do not pay back…. We cover their sins with our love… That takes longsuffering…

Longsuffering is having to power to take revenge… but never doing it… It is characteristic of a forgiving… transformed  heart… Back to Ephesians ch 4… v3…

v3… Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace… This humble… forgiving attitude towards each other… naturally helps to keep the unity of the Spirit… Listen carefully now… Forgiveness from the heart is the basis of Christian unity…. Not perfect doctrine…

We must endeavor to keep this unity - we do not create it... God never commands us to create unity among believers... He has created it by His Spirit… our duty is to recognize it and keep it… By forgiving each other… By being patient and kind…. By gently correcting each other…

This is a spiritual unity… It is based on the fact that we are in Christ…. He has redeemed us…. Even though we did not deserve it…   We see this in the instantanious fellowship possible among Christians of churches, nationalities, and languages….

This supernatural unity is found only in Jesus Christ… Genuine believers are knit together by the Spirit of God...

Many years ago Charles Spurgeon wrote this…

"We want unity in the truth of God… through the Spirit of God. This let us seek after; let us live near to Christ, for this is the best way of promoting unity. Divisions in Churches never begin with those full of love to the Savior." Charles Spurgeon

Let´s read the next section… v4-6…

Ephesians 4: 4-6               NKJV slt 2000

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

4 Ein Leib und ein Geist, wie ihr auch berufen seid zu einer Hoffnung eurer Berufung; 5 ein Herr, ein Glaube, eine Taufe; 6 ein Gott und Vater aller, über allen und durch alle und in euch allen.

v4,5… There is one body and one Spirit… We have unity because of what we share in common… In Jesus we share one body…. Together we make up the Body of Christ… We have the same Holy spirit living in us… one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one Father... Each of these common areas is far greater than any potential differences between us… Paul has been telling us over and over…. We are in Christ… We are one in Him… let´s read the next section…v7-10…

Ephesians 4: 7,8                    NLT   Neues Leben

7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say,“When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”

7 Doch hat jeder von uns seinen Anteil an der Gnade geschenkt bekommen, so wie Christus sie uns geschenkt hat.

8 Deshalb heißt es in der Schrift: »Er ist in die Höhen hinaufgestiegen und hat Gefangene mit sich geführt und den Menschen Gaben geschenkt.

Ephesians 4: 9,10                    NLT   Neues Leben

9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. ….

9 Dass er in die Höhen hinaufstieg, bedeutet aber auch, dass er vorher herabgekommen war: Er kam als Mensch auf die Erde.

10 Er, der herabkam, ist derselbe, der über alle Himmel hinaufstieg, damit er Herr über alles ist.

v7… he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ… Grace was given to us by and through the Lord Jesus Christ… We all have grace given to us abundantly…  This is the basis for God's distribution of spiritual gifts through His church…. It´s all  grace… the free, unmerited grace of God….  

v8… When He ascended on high… He gave gifts… This giving happened when Jesus ascended to heaven… It is proof   of His Total Victory over every enemy…  

Paul quotes from an ancient translation (called a Targum) that quotes the Psalm in this way…

v9… Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.

In this, Paul demonstrates how the words He ascended in Psalm 68:18 have reference to the resurrection of Jesus… Paul is proclaiming the incarnation of the Lord Jesus…. When he took on flesh and was born in Bethlehem… He descended into the earth… When he Rose from the dead… He ascended again into heaven from where he had come… If you have questions about this passage… You are welcome to  come and talk to me about it… For now… let´s continue… v11,12…

Ephesians 4:11,12      NLT Neues Leben

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

11 Er hat die einen als Apostel, die anderen als Propheten, wieder andere als Prediger und schließlich einige als Hirten und Lehrer eingesetzt.

12 Ihre Aufgabe ist es, die Gläubigen für ihren Dienst vorzubereiten und die Gemeinde - den Leib Christi - zu stärken.

v11a… These are the gifts… Jesus established these offices… They are really appointed by the Lord Jesus… not men...

v11b… Gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers… Paul describes four offices not five… as in the commonly but falsely called the  "five-fold ministry”… First Apostles…

Apostles… Sent ones…  Missionaries are in a sense Apostles… Because they were sent to do the Lord´s work… There are no capital A Apostles today… Not in the same authoritative sense of the first century apostles... They were used to provide a solid Biblical foundation (preserved as the New Testament) Ephesians 2:20… next…

Prophets… They speak forth the Word of God…. Remember that every Prophet that ever lived has had the same message… Judgment is certain…. Repent… The kingdom of Heaven is at  hand… That proclamation of the Gospel is always the main prophetic message… Yes Sometimes they speak about things that will happen in the future… But it is always in totally consistent with the Scriptures… And every Prophesy is always subject to the discernment and judgment of the church leadership…1 Corinthians 14:29... Also… Just like the apostles… modern prophets do not speak in the same authoritative sense that the first century prophets did… They brought God's foundational word (Ephesians 2:20)… next…

Evangelists… They  are specifically gifted to preach the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ… next

Pastors and teachers… pastor-teachers… the ancient Greek clearly describes one office with two descriptive titles… who shepherd the flock of God primarily through teaching the Word of God…

These gifts are given to the church by the Lord Jesus, working through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11)… They all serve the same great purpose… v12…

12… For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry… The purpose of these gifts of leadership is also clear… It is that the saints… All of God´s people…. Not just the perfect ones… might be equipped for the work of ministry…  That is taught and discipled… Equipped  and prepared to do the very things that the Lord has planned for everyone of us…  so that the body of Christ would be built up (expanded and strengthened).

The Greek word for Equipping also has the idea of healing and strengthening…  It was used for setting broken bones…   These ministries work together to produce strong, healthy…  fit Christians…

It is you…. God's people do the real work of ministry... Leaders in the church have the responsibility to equip people to serve…

Our job description is simple…. We help to equip you to do the work…. We do that with the Word of God….  It is the Word of God that the Holy Spirit uses…. He uses it in all of our lives… 2 Timothy 3: 15-17…

let´s continue… v13…

Ephesians 4: 13                NKJV       slt 2000

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

13 bis wir alle zur Einheit des Glaubens und der Erkenntnis des Sohnes Gottes gelangen, zur vollkommenen Mannesreife, zum Maß der vollen Größe des Christus;

v13a… Till we all come to the unity of the faith… This is the primary goal of God's work in the church… This is consistent with both the ultimate purpose of God… Ephesians 1:10… and the mystery of God revealed through Paul… Ephesians 3:6…

v13b… And of the knowledge of the Son of God… We As we spend time here in the church…. We mature in our faith and in our relationships with each other and with the Lord Himself… Peter exhorts us to this very same goal… Let´s take a quick look…. 1 Peter 3:18…

1 Peter 3:18                     NLT   Neues Leben

18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

18 Wachst aber in der Gnade und Erkenntnis unseres Herrn und Retters Jesus Christus! Ihm gehört alle Herrlichkeit und Ehre, jetzt und in Ewigkeit! Amen.         

He said we must grow in grace and as we learn more about Him… We will experience a greater… deeper relationship with God…. Back to Ephesians…ch4…let´s read.v.13-16 this time…

Ephesians 4: 13-16                       NKJV

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

13 bis wir alle zur Einheit des Glaubens und der Erkenntnis des Sohnes Gottes gelangen, zur vollkommenen Mannesreife, zum Maß der vollen Größe des Christus;

14 damit wir nicht mehr Unmündige seien, hin- und hergeworfen und umhergetrieben von jedem Wind der Lehre durch das betrügerische Spiel der Menschen, durch die Schlauheit, mit der sie zum Irrtum verführen,

15 sondern, wahrhaftig in der Liebe, heranwachsen in allen Stücken zu ihm hin8, der das Haupt ist, der Christus.

16 Von ihm aus vollbringt der ganze Leib, zusammengefügt und verbunden durch alle Gelenke, die einander Handreichung tun nach dem Maß der Leistungsfähigkeit jedes einzelnen Gliedes, das Wachstum des Leibes zur Auferbauung seiner selbst in Liebe.

v14a… We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine… We sit in the church… We sit under solid Bible teaching and learn to love and encourage each other… We become more and more mature… We grow up in Christ… We are being firmly planted on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20)…

The ancient Greek word for tossed to and fro is from the same words used to describe the stormy sea of Galilee in Luke 8:24 (raging of the water)….

v14b… By the trickery of men… Those who do not mature in this way are targets of deceivers… These decievers are effective precisely because they operate with little lies and cunning craftiness… and they lie in wait to deceive….  .

v15a… Speaking the truth in love… This speaks to not only how we are to relate to one another in God's family… but also to how leaders and saints are to deal with deceivers… We should deal with them patiently and in love… but never letting go of  the truth...

v15b… May grow up in all things into Him who is the head… Another way maturity is described is as the growing up into Jesus, who is the head. Again, this defines the direction of maturity. We never grow "independent" of Jesus, we grow up into Him.

v16… the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love…

God wants us to see the church functioning as a human body… where every part does its share…. Vs17-19…

Ephesians 4: 17-19      NLT Neues Leben

17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

17 Ich will vor Gott bezeugen, dass ihr nicht mehr leben sollt wie Menschen, die Gott nicht kennen3 und deren Denken ohne Sinn und Ziel ist.

18 Ihr Verstand ist verfinstert und sie sind von dem Leben, das Gott für sie hat, weit entfernt, weil sie von ihm nichts wissen wollen und ihre Herzen hart geworden sind.

19 Gleichgültig überlassen sie sich ganz ihren ausschweifenden Leidenschaften und suchen gierig nach jeder Art von Verlockung

v17a… Therefore… Stop living like the Gentiles… This makes the connection, not only with the glorious spiritual privileges laid out in Ephesians 1 through 3, but also with the high call of a unified, mature body as described in Ephesians 4:1-6. Because of this high calling, we should walk… conduct our lives… differently than the world around us does…

There is a growing tendency for Christians to try to display to the world that we really aren't so different after all… We try to compromise our Biblical values for their sake…This is usually a misguided effort to gain the world's "respect" or approval... This is nuts…. We are different and we need to stop pretending that we are just like them…  

v17b… for they are hopelessly confused… The Gentile walk is characterized by the futility of their mind…. KJV… v18… they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him… In the end, their thinking is futile because their understanding is darkened - because they are alienated from the life of God…

v19… They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity…

Basically…  the ignorance and lack of understanding of man is a heart problem… It is shown not only in a foolish denial of God, but also in their moral failures (licentiousness, uncleanness, greediness)…. We see this in Romans chapter 1…

The greek here is sometimes translated… Licentiousness…. It  is sin that flaunts itself…throwing off all restraint and having no sense of shame or fear…. uncleanness is a broad word…. mostly with reference to sexual sin and unrestrained lust....

CLOSE

It is interesting to remember that as dark and wicked as the world is today…. There is still hope… The Good News of the Gospel can still pierce the Darkness… You are the Light of the World… The desperate need of the hour is for the church to stop being just merely fans of Jesus…. It is time to truly be FAT….

Faithful…

Available… and

Teachable…

Turn to 1 Peter…ch1… v21-25… I want to use his words to summarize our mission here in the church…

1 Peter 1: 21,22                             NLT  

21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.

1 Peter 1:21-25                               Neues Leben

21 Durch Christus seid ihr zum Glauben an Gott gekommen. Und weil Gott ihn von den Toten auferweckt und ihm große Herrlichkeit gegeben hat, setzt ihr nun euren Glauben und eure Hoffnung auf Gott!

22 Jetzt könnt ihr einander aufrichtig lieben, denn ihr wurdet von eurer Schuld befreit, als ihr die Wahrheit Gottes angenommen habt. Deshalb sollt ihr euch wirklich von Herzen lieben.

Let´s pray…