The Practical Application of th Body of Christ #4
Ephesians 4–it’s Context
My first intention was to look at Vs 7-24, the “church” part of the Body of Christ, which is what
usually comes to mind when “body of Christ” is mentioned. But, as usual, the Spirit seemed to say, “your missing the context, your focus is shortsighted.” So, we will look at the whole of chapter 4, keeping Ephesians 1-3 close at hand. I think we will see that chapter 4 is the visible outworking of the Father’s Will as seen in Chapter 1.
I. Ephesians 4:1-4 Walking worthy of our calling with which we are called. Paul is “beseeching” the Ephesians (and us) to walk (behave day to day) in a manner that reflects our calling. This is not a suggestion. It is an exhortation that is intended to produce a desired effect.
A. Romans 8:28-30 We can’t even attempt to walk worthily of our calling if we don’t know what it is!
1. Vs 28 This comforting promise is valid only to those “who love God, to those who are called according to His Purpose.
a. Ephesians 1:9-10 Remember the Purpose of the Father “to gather together in one all things In Christ.” This is all about our Heavenly Father’s Will and Purpose. That establishes this calling as an Eternal Purpose that is to be manifested in our walking historically in this fallen world.
b. Therefore, we can conclude that the “all things” of Vs 28 are Divinely Calculated to fulfill the Father’s Purpose and to bring about the display of this Purposed Walking!!!
B. Vs 29 “For whom He Foreknew, He also predestined to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that He might be the FIRSTBORN among many brethren.”
1. This Foreknowledge of the Father establishes His Eternal Will and Purpose. His Foreknowing a “thing” is the predestining that “thing” to assuredly work out in history (and Eternity) according to His Will and Purpose.
2. And what is the ultimate Will of the Father? The conformity of all those foreknown ones to the Image of His Son!!! Why? Because His Incarnate Son is the exact Image of the Godhead! (Hebrews 1:3) In the Body of His Incarnate Son dwells all the fullness of the Godhead! (Colossians 1:19 & 2:9)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. Now notice the word FIRSTBORN. It was the Father’s Eternal Will and Purpose that His Glorious Son be Incarnated in human form and that His Incarnation and His death would set in motion the establishment of a whole new “race” of mankind, or more properly, a whole new Family in mankind, for FIRSTBORN is a human family term.
John 12:23-24 “But Jesus answered them, saying, ‘the hour has come that the SON OF MAN should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say unto you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
Hebrews 2:9-18 This is the Union of the God/Man spoken of in Hebrews, that Jesus might “bring many sons (children) to glory.
NEVER FORGET, THIS IS ABOUT FAMILY!!! THIS IS ALL ABOUT OUR BEING THE ADOPTED CHILDREN OF GOD. THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION BY WHICH WE CRY “ABBA FATHER”. (Romans 8:4-7) This is about our being “birthed” into the Family of the Father, THE ONLY PERFECT FATHER, THE ONLY ONE WE NEED FOR ALL ETERNITY!!! JOHN 14:8 (Philip’s wise words) John 17:20-26 (Jesus’ Ultimate Prayer!!!)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! C. Vs 30 Notice the complete package!! The Father’s foreknowledge predetermines the adopted ones conformity to the Image of His Son and that becomes their “CALLING”. They are the CALLED OUT ONES. Called out of what? Called out of Romans 3:9-20! And He justifies them (declares them righteous by the sacrificial work of the FIRSTBORN Rom. 3:26) and He glorifies them! The Father’s Foreknowledge, and the working out of that Foreknowledge, is the complete package!
WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Romans 8:29-30 is Paul’s declaration of God’s Will in Eternity. God’s Will and Purpose is secure. He has Planned His Work and has Worked His Plan through His Beloved Son.
But Ephesians 4 is the outworking of that plan in our history! In considering this outworking, we must remember our Lord’s parable of the soils (Matthew 13:3-9) and His parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30) HISTORY IS MESSY!!! History is defined by death. The very term “history” is a death term. History is the record of time that has passed away, time that has “died”.
II Timothy 2:19 (KJV) “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His, (therefore in history) Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
II Peter 1:10-11 “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble (in history); for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
We have said all of this to say this: “......Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (our historical context); for it is God Who Works in you both to will and to do of His Good Pleasure.”(The assurance of His Eternal Will and Purpose) (Philippians 2:12b-13)
This “working out” is Paul’s concern in Ephesians 4 when he is speaking of “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” It is in the “working out” of our calling that the Eternal Will and Purpose is manifested. But beware! Just having a “nodding acquaintance” with God’s Eternal Will and Purpose is not sufficient. Theological “ducks in a row” aren’t sufficient. The Father requires that we “believe in Him Whom He has sent.” And that belief looks like something. It is manifested in the Family Likeness.
Our next study will be Ephesians 4:1-6: What the Family looks like–our calling!
Ephesians 4–it’s Context
My first intention was to look at Vs 7-24, the “church” part of the Body of Christ, which is what
usually comes to mind when “body of Christ” is mentioned. But, as usual, the Spirit seemed to say, “your missing the context, your focus is shortsighted.” So, we will look at the whole of chapter 4, keeping Ephesians 1-3 close at hand. I think we will see that chapter 4 is the visible outworking of the Father’s Will as seen in Chapter 1.
I. Ephesians 4:1-4 Walking worthy of our calling with which we are called. Paul is “beseeching” the Ephesians (and us) to walk (behave day to day) in a manner that reflects our calling. This is not a suggestion. It is an exhortation that is intended to produce a desired effect.
A. Romans 8:28-30 We can’t even attempt to walk worthily of our calling if we don’t know what it is!
1. Vs 28 This comforting promise is valid only to those “who love God, to those who are called according to His Purpose.
a. Ephesians 1:9-10 Remember the Purpose of the Father “to gather together in one all things In Christ.” This is all about our Heavenly Father’s Will and Purpose. That establishes this calling as an Eternal Purpose that is to be manifested in our walking historically in this fallen world.
b. Therefore, we can conclude that the “all things” of Vs 28 are Divinely Calculated to fulfill the Father’s Purpose and to bring about the display of this Purposed Walking!!!
B. Vs 29 “For whom He Foreknew, He also predestined to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that He might be the FIRSTBORN among many brethren.”
1. This Foreknowledge of the Father establishes His Eternal Will and Purpose. His Foreknowing a “thing” is the predestining that “thing” to assuredly work out in history (and Eternity) according to His Will and Purpose.
2. And what is the ultimate Will of the Father? The conformity of all those foreknown ones to the Image of His Son!!! Why? Because His Incarnate Son is the exact Image of the Godhead! (Hebrews 1:3) In the Body of His Incarnate Son dwells all the fullness of the Godhead! (Colossians 1:19 & 2:9)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. Now notice the word FIRSTBORN. It was the Father’s Eternal Will and Purpose that His Glorious Son be Incarnated in human form and that His Incarnation and His death would set in motion the establishment of a whole new “race” of mankind, or more properly, a whole new Family in mankind, for FIRSTBORN is a human family term.
John 12:23-24 “But Jesus answered them, saying, ‘the hour has come that the SON OF MAN should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say unto you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
Hebrews 2:9-18 This is the Union of the God/Man spoken of in Hebrews, that Jesus might “bring many sons (children) to glory.
NEVER FORGET, THIS IS ABOUT FAMILY!!! THIS IS ALL ABOUT OUR BEING THE ADOPTED CHILDREN OF GOD. THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION BY WHICH WE CRY “ABBA FATHER”. (Romans 8:4-7) This is about our being “birthed” into the Family of the Father, THE ONLY PERFECT FATHER, THE ONLY ONE WE NEED FOR ALL ETERNITY!!! JOHN 14:8 (Philip’s wise words) John 17:20-26 (Jesus’ Ultimate Prayer!!!)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! C. Vs 30 Notice the complete package!! The Father’s foreknowledge predetermines the adopted ones conformity to the Image of His Son and that becomes their “CALLING”. They are the CALLED OUT ONES. Called out of what? Called out of Romans 3:9-20! And He justifies them (declares them righteous by the sacrificial work of the FIRSTBORN Rom. 3:26) and He glorifies them! The Father’s Foreknowledge, and the working out of that Foreknowledge, is the complete package!
WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Romans 8:29-30 is Paul’s declaration of God’s Will in Eternity. God’s Will and Purpose is secure. He has Planned His Work and has Worked His Plan through His Beloved Son.
But Ephesians 4 is the outworking of that plan in our history! In considering this outworking, we must remember our Lord’s parable of the soils (Matthew 13:3-9) and His parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30) HISTORY IS MESSY!!! History is defined by death. The very term “history” is a death term. History is the record of time that has passed away, time that has “died”.
II Timothy 2:19 (KJV) “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His, (therefore in history) Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
II Peter 1:10-11 “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble (in history); for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
We have said all of this to say this: “......Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (our historical context); for it is God Who Works in you both to will and to do of His Good Pleasure.”(The assurance of His Eternal Will and Purpose) (Philippians 2:12b-13)
This “working out” is Paul’s concern in Ephesians 4 when he is speaking of “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” It is in the “working out” of our calling that the Eternal Will and Purpose is manifested. But beware! Just having a “nodding acquaintance” with God’s Eternal Will and Purpose is not sufficient. Theological “ducks in a row” aren’t sufficient. The Father requires that we “believe in Him Whom He has sent.” And that belief looks like something. It is manifested in the Family Likeness.
Our next study will be Ephesians 4:1-6: What the Family looks like–our calling!