Ephesians 4:7-24

Now we are getting to some exciting parts of Ephesians. Anyone who has read my books or even my writings, knows that there are parts of these passages that just thrill my soul. Why, you may ask? Because it speaks so deeply as to the person I was before I came to know Christ. And I only know Him intimately because I read the Bible daily and there, He guides me, He shows me how much He loves me and that, in itself, keeps me going towards the final goal.

Christ Jesus has given each one of us grace, something we don’t deserve but get anyway, and has given each of us a gift. That is why He also created us with a special purpose in mind. We aren’t here to take from others as much as we are here to give to ourselves, to give that gift given to us away.

MacArthur points out that “Christ possessed the authority and sovereignty to assign the spiritual gifts to those He has called into service in His church.” (p1808)

With those gifts, we have a new understanding as we read the Word.

Once we make that decision to turn from our sin, being pulled by the Holy Spirit to change our walk, we start on a new road. But never forget what we have been through as worldly people. Ephesians 4:17-19 are a constant reminder of what the world is like and what we been saved from.

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” (NIV)

When we look at verse 17, we see that unbelievers are “intellectually unproductive. As far as spiritual and moral issues are concerned, their rational processes are distorted and inadequate, inevitably failing to produce godly understanding or moral living. Their life is empty, vain, and without meaning.” (MacArthur, p 1810)

Do you recognize it? That’s the way we once were! But as we go on to verse 18, which reminds me so much of Exodus 5 through 11, where Pharaoh hardens his heart towards God, we see that it’s still happening today!! It is an “ignorance” in them “Due to the hardening of their hearts.”

I guess we aren’t so more intelligent, or more modern and further advanced after all! An unbeliever is separated from God, living in the darkness of this world being blinded morally. It started with Adam and Eve and it continues.

As we move on to verse 19, we can better understand how they have “lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity…”. Unbelievers are depraved in their behavior (see Romans 1:28) and they willingly gravitate towards immorality. It’s almost like they can’t help themselves and they can’t without Christ’s direction.

And finally, the ending of verse 19, “with a continual lust for more.” The NKJV says, “To work all uncleanness with greediness.” MacArthur points out, “Impurity is inseparable from greediness, which is a form of idolatry (Eph 5:5; Col 3:5).” Lust, uncleanness with greediness, equal idolatry. When you have an idol, you can’t live without it, you must have it.

Without these next verses, it would seem there is no hope but indeed, there is hope! As we continue to read verse 20, “You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.” Although many may not reach this height of depravity, we are only where we are by the grace of God. Our former ways of life were not good, no matter how bad or good we think we are, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Our hope is in Christ alone! God calls us to a new life in Christ. I pray that each of us will not look to these verses and be prideful but rather, to be humble in spirit and know that the only way we are walking this new path is because God has called us and through His Word, is teaching us a new path of righteousness each day.

Ephesians 3-4:6

God had given Paul the responsibility of being a messenger of God’s grace to the Gentiles. (see verse 2) Gentile and Christian, fellow heirs (v 6) through the works of Christ Jesus. Through faith we continue to trust in Christ and what He has done for us. (see verse 17)

Concerning verse 20, MacArthur says, “When the conditions of v 16-19 are met, God’s power working in and through believers is unlimited and far beyond their comprehension.” (p 1808)

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (v 20-21, NKJV)

Faithfulness of the saints, giving glory to God!

4:1 ~ “Therefore…” MacArthur explains that there is a “transition from doctrine to duty, principle to practice, position to behavior.” (p 1808) We are now called to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called”. Definitely we are called to practice a different behavior than before we were called out of our former lifestyle. We are called to change our behavior through the faith we gain as we read His Word. If you say you can’t change, your faith is lacking because God can do all things.

4:2 continues to give us examples of putting into practice what God is revealing through Paul. He calls for “humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (v 2-3, ESV)

MacArthur helps us understand that our walk points to our daily conduct and the word humility here is a word not found in the Latin or Greek vocabularies during Paul’s time. The Greek word apparently came about by Christians, “perhaps even by Paul himself, to describe a quality for which no other word was available. Humility, the most foundational Christian virtue (James 4:6), is the quality of character commanded in the first beatitude (Matt 5:3), and describes the noble grace of Christ.” (p 1808)

He goes on to explain that “meekness”, an inevitable product of humility, refers to that which is mild-spirited and self-controlled. “Humility, gentleness, and patience are reflected in forbearing love for others that is continuous and unconditional.” (p 1808)

As we continue on with Ephesians next week, we will start to understand where we, as believers, were before Christ called us and find there are no excuses as we learn from His Word what he has called us to task.

I trust that you had a blessed Thanksgiving and are now looking forward to a season where we point to our Precious Savior’s birth. May you feel the challenges of God’s calling, read the Word daily. From November 28th to December 5, Amazon will offer the Kindle edition of “Faithful Promises of God” for 99 cents. It will walk you through the Word day by day and help you to apply God’s Word to your own life. Until next week, be blessed in Him alone!

Ephesians 2

Vv 1-3 A reminder that each of us “walk according to the course of this world” (see v. 2) being guided by evil and are disobedient. “Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of the flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.” (Eph 2:3)

We are dead when we live as the world lives. “But God, rich in mercy” (v.4) “raised us up with Him” (v.6) brought us to Himself. Imagine that, He brought us to Himself!

Vv 8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,” (v 1:4) “for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them.” (v 2:10) Would I have grown more in Him if I had understood that I was chosen by God? Understanding that He had a plan for me from the beginning of time, not just since I was born but from the beginning; would I have behaved any differently than I have in my Christian walk? Or did He allow me to walk as I have to teach me who He is? To guide me closer to Him so that I would grasp that no one on this earth can give me what I need most.

And what is that?

Being rejected by my mother, I wasn’t good enough. Being compared to other women by men I trusted, I wasn’t good enough. Being put down by an employer no matter how hard I tried, I wasn’t good enough. By people that I thought were friends, I didn’t measure up to their expectations.

But God…but God was there the whole time, lovingly waiting for me. He gently showed me that He loves me for who I am. I didn’t have to keep proving myself, He knows me and accepts me for who I am and where I am. He chose me to be His because I am part of His plan, my talents are just what He needs. There are no surprises with God, He has known me from the beginning, flaws and all.

I cannot boast or think I am better than anyone else. He chose me for a purpose and the only way I can know what that purpose is is by reading the Bible, not bits and pieces here and there but all of it. From cover to cover, year in and year out. He uses His Word to guide me to all truth.

In Him is my whole being. I may fall short from time to time but He is there to pick me up, to dust me off and with a repentant heart, I am ready to move forward, hand in hand with my Savior.

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As I explained last week, as I read the Bible this year, I have been keeping a journal of my thoughts, of what He shows me and what I am trying to grasp. I don’t expect you to understand each thought but perhaps my thoughts will help someone else move forward in Christ. Until next week…may you walk with God in His abundance.