Ephesians
Ephesians was taught by Dr. James Modlish

Chapter Four
(Lesson Four - 4:1-32)

 

The second half of the book of Ephesians emphasizes the walk of the Christian. Seven times our walk is referred to in the book...(2:2,10! 4:1,17; 5:2,8,15). The chapter naturally divide itself at the beginning of (verse 17).

Warren Wiersbe, in his notes on the New Testament, very generally divides the last three chapters into seven walks of his own.

They are as follows:

[1]. Walk in unity (4:1-16)
[2]. Walk in purity (4:17-32)
[3]. Walk in love (5:1-6)
[4]. Walk in the light (5:7-14)
[5]. Walk carefully (5:15-17)
[6]. Walk in harmony (5:18-6:9)
    (a). Husbands and wives (5:18-33)
    (b). Parents and children (6:1-4)
    (c). Masters & servants (6:5-9)

[7]. Walk in victory (6:10-24)

The theme verse is verse one "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called."

 

I . WALK IN UNITY - (1-16)

Verses 1-16 - show us God's design for unity in the Body of Christ. Verse one says "walk worthy" and verse sixteen shows us that if we will, the Body of Christ will perform its' designated purpose, efficiently and effectively.

Verse 3 - "the unity of the Spirit" - there are seven "ones" in the verse that follows: one body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God.

Verse 7 - The Spirit was given to Christ without measure, (Jn. 3:34), but grace is given to the Christian according to measure... the measure you need. (2 Cor. 12:5-8; Rom. 12:3-6)

The point is, every Christian is not given the same gifts or position in the Body. Gifts were distributed to the apostles at the ascension of Christ as He saw fit. (1 Cor. 12:4-12)

Verse 8 - is a quotation from (Ps. 68:18). In (verses 8-10) we see our Lord's itinerary before He was seated at the right hand of God the Father. (See 1 Peter 3:18-4:6)

Verses 11-16 - show us the offices, presents the purposes of them, and shows us God's design for the local church in the Body of Christ, for the perfecting of the saints. Notice "unity of the faith." (vs. 13) "Perfect man unto the measure of the stature of Christ." - (Romans 8:29) - we are predestined to be like Jesus Christ (Col. 1:24; Gal. 4:19; Phil. 3:15).

Note for a moment some of the purposes for the offices and gifts of the Body:

[1]. For the perfecting of the saints (12)
[2]. For the work of the ministry (12)
[3]. For the edifying of the Body (12)
[4]. That we no more be tossed to and fro (14)
[5]. We may grow up (15)
 

II. WALK IN PURITY - (17-32)

We can walk in Purity if we follow four admonitions found in (verses 17-32).

A. Walk not as other Gentiles walk (17)
B. Put off the old man (22)
C. Put on the new man (24)
D. Put away (childish things) (25)

A. HOW DO THE GENTILES WALK?

[1]. Vanity dominates their minds (17)

[2]. Their understanding is darkened (18)

[3]. They are alienated from the life of God (18)

[4]. This is because of the ignorance in them (18).

[5]. The ignorance is deliberate and intentional (18).

[6]. They are past feeling when it comes to spiritual truths and issues.

[7]. They have given themselves over to fornication. gluttony, cannibalism, sexual perversions, sensuality, etc.

[8]. They are greedy and unclean (19).

The current trends in "Gentile walking" are:

[1]. Existentialism - a refusal to concern oneself with either past or future. Today is truth.

[2]. Determinism - the work of Freud and Skinner - external circumstances are always to blame.

[3]. Hedonism - the pursuit of pleasure alone is the highest good.

[4]. Utilitarianism - this represents the search for the greatest social good without objective standards and no real concern for the individual.

[5]. Liberalism - denial of Biblical authority

[6]. Situation Ethics - the end justify the means. Love becomes the law and as long as it is done "in love" and will "hurt none" it is all right.

B. PUT OFF THE OLD MAN - (Rom. 7:24; 6:6; Col. 3:9,10)

We are three people - a dead body (Rom. 8:10), an old man (Rom. 7:23-25), a new man (Rom. 6:1-4).

Put off your former conversation - mode of behaviour or your former way of life. (Rom. 6:11-16) deals with putting off the old man.

C. PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN - The new man is Jesus Christ in us. (1 Cor. 15:47; Col. 3:10; 11 Cor. 4:4,5; Heb. 1:2,3; Rom. 13:14; Gal. 6:15; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:16)
D. PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS -  (1 Cor. 13:11)

Nineteen changes should accompany the arrival of the new man:

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