Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1-6

The Worthy Walk: Man’s Role - Having seen how God has done everything that He can possibly do for us to live a victorious life, Paul then focuses upon the believer’s response to this divine calling. The first three chapters of Ephesians have told us that if God be for us then who can be against us (note similar verses in Romans 8:31; Romans 8:37, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14). Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” 1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:14, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” God the Father planned our journey, while Jesus has given us the legal right to take this journey, and the Holy Spirit empowers us for the journey. In the last three chapters of Ephesians Paul exhorts them on practical application by showing them how to live “saintly,” or how to respond to God’s grace in their lives in light of this position of spiritual authority. God has a plan for each of us that is so unique and so important to the body of Christ, that if we do not fulfill this calling, then the body of Christ will forever suffer the lack of this ministry. The reason the Church has yet to fulfill the Great Commission after two thousand years is because believers have not fulfilled their proper roles in God’s plan of redemption. This section in Ephesians opens with a key verse that summarizes the theme of these three chapters of exhortation, which is to walk worthy of our calling, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” (Ephesians 4:1). Paul takes the first half of his epistle to the Ephesians to teach his readers doctrinal truths. He then takes the second half of this letter to show them how to apply these truths to their daily living. Paul discusses the theme of God the Father’s divine plan of redemption for mankind in the first three chapters. He then takes the last three chapters to teach the Church how to live so that the Church can help fulfill the Father’s will. In the last three chapters of Ephesians, Paul exhorts them on practical application by exhorting them to walk out their high calling in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:1-16), then he shows them how to do it. The word “calling” is used because this is part of God the Father’s foreknowledge in fulfilling His divine plan of redemption.

We see this in Romans 8:29-30 where foreknowledge is seen as predestination and calling. Thus, Paul is telling the saints how to respond to the Father’s calling, rather than the Son’s work of righteousness on Calvary, or the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification. Paul exhorts the believers at Ephesus to live “saintly” by showing them how to respond to God the Father’s divine call in their lives in light of this position of spiritual authority. This section opens with a key verse that summarizes the theme of these last three chapters of exhortation, which is the “worthy walk”:Ephesians 4:1, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” In Ephesians 4:1 Paul begins to explain their obligation to God’s high calling upon their lives as His “saints” (Ephesians 4:1-16). In order to fulfill this calling, they are to strive to walk in the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). Paul then focuses on the three-fold area of human development, the spirit, the soul and the body, so that they will be able to walk in the fullness of Christ. Paul chooses to begin with the soul of man, for it is made up of the mind, will and emotions. Therefore, it contains the five sense-gates by which a person receives information in order to make a proper decision in life, which is figuratively spoken of as a “walk.” Once a person can be “discipled in Christ” by the renewing his mind (Ephesians 4:17-32), he will learn how to be led by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:1-14), which will then allow him to yield his body daily as a servant of Christ (Ephesians 5:15 to Ephesians 6:9), and finally, to win the victories of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18). Thus, Paul’s exhortation first places emphasis upon the soul (Ephesians 4:1-32), then the spirit (Ephesians 5:1-14) followed by the body (Ephesians 5:15 to Ephesians 6:9).

Only then will a person be ready to enter into the spiritual warfare discussed in the final passage (Ephesians 6:10-18). The reason Paul uses the word “walk” to introduce each section of this passage is because he is telling us to take a journey that will lead us into spiritual maturity. Outline - Note the proposed outline: A. The High Calling into Spiritual Maturity — Ephesians 4:1-16B. The Path to Spiritual Maturity — Ephesians 4:17 to Ephesians 6:9

1. Soul – The Renewing of the Mind — Ephesians 4:17-32a. The Old Man — Ephesians 4:17-19b. The New Man — Ephesians 4:20-322. Spirit – Being Led by the Spirit — Ephesians 5:1-20a. Walk in Love (Our Hearts) — Ephesians 5:1-7b. Walk in the Light (Our Minds) — Ephesians 5:8-17c. Be Filled with the Holy Spirit (Our Bodies) — Ephesians 5:18-203. Body – Submitting our Bodies to God’s Will — Ephesians 5:21 to Ephesians 6:9 a. Submission in Marriage — Ephesians 5:21-33b. Submission in Parenting — Ephesians 6:1-4c. Submission at Work — Ephesians 6:5-9 Illustration - You say, “How can focusing on my marriage or my job lead me into a great work of God. Well, just listen to the teachings of Joyce Meyer. She spent her years in the ministry becoming a better wife while studying the Scriptures and participating in her Church.

As a result, God was able to supernaturally open those doors for her. She found herself as the most powerful woman minister on the earth today. In her messages, listen to her frequent testimonies of how she focused on submission and obedience in the little things in life. It all began for her with a relationship to her church and her pastor. This gave her the strength to develop her relationship with her husband and children and her boss. The rest followed naturally. I have personally hosted her on two occasions and have seen how steady is her character. When I’ve become frustrated, she stood unmoved by her circumstances, which involved a week of jackhammering under her hotel room, a car breakdown in the middle of heavy traffic, but also steady and always thankful. Remember John the apostle, who wrote five books in the New Testament. What was his first assignment after Jesus’ resurrection: to take care of His mother (John 19:26-27). An early tradition says John spent the first fifteen years of his ministry taking care of Mary.[117] In the book of Acts, we only see him following Peter. While the other apostles were preaching and teaching, he was primarily taking care of an elderly lady. In the end, he wrote more of the New Testament than any of the original twelve apostles and thus left more impact on the world than any of them. [117] One Catholic tradition tells us that John the apostle remained in Jerusalem and cared for the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ until her death about fifteen years after the Crucifixion of Jesus. Adam Clarke says, “John was banished by the Roman emperor, Domitian, to the isle of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea: but his successor Nerva having recalled all the exiles banished by Domitian, John returned to Ephesus, where he died, aged upward of one hundred years. The holy Virgin is said to have lived with him till her death, which took place about fifteen years after the crucifixion.” See Adam Clarke, The Preacher’s Manual: Including Clavis Biblica, and A Letter to a Methodist Preacher (New York: G. Lane and P. P. Sandford, 1842), 37.John 19:26-27, “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” Application - So, you want to fulfill God’s for your life? First submit yourselves under the authority of God’s leadership first. Then allow your mind to become renewed and learn how to be led by the Spirit of God so that you will be able to walk in humble submission in all of your relationships, whether it is as a wife or a husband, whether as a parent or a child, whether a boss or an employee. In the midst of submission, you will learn obedience and this will qualify you for God’s service. This journey through Ephesians teaches us that we must stay in submission and faithfulness to our church first before God will lead us further along His plan for our lives. This journey will take us to great heights.

Ephesians 4:17-6

The Path to Spiritual Maturity - In order to fulfill this high calling, believers are to strive to walk in the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). In order to do this, Paul focuses on the three-fold area of human development: the spirit, the soul, and the body. Paul chooses to begin with the soul of man, for it is made up of the mind, will and emotions. Therefore, it contains the five sense-gates by which a person receives information in order to make a proper decision in life, which is figuratively spoken of as a “walk”; and it is in this realm that a person decides by his own will to grow into spiritual maturity. Once a person can be “discipled in Christ” by the renewing his mind (Ephesians 4:17-32), he will learn how to be led by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:1-20), which will then allow him to yield his body daily as a servant of Christ (Ephesians 5:21 to Ephesians 6:9), and finally, to win the victories of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18). Thus, Paul’s exhortation first places emphasis upon the soul (Ephesians 4:1-32), then the spirit (Ephesians 5:1-20) followed by the body (Ephesians 5:21 to Ephesians 6:9).

Only then will a person be ready to enter into the spiritual warfare discussed in the final passage (Ephesians 6:10-18). The reason Paul uses the word “walk” to introduce each section of this passage is because he is telling us to take a journey that will lead us into spiritual maturity. The large amount of emphasis that these chapters place upon renewing the mind, being led by the Spirit, and submission is due to the fact that when we are under the authority and leadership of the Holy Spirit, we find God’s divine protection, as did Job (see Job 1:10). However, when we become proud and rebellious, we step outside of God’s protective hedge, and are no longer about to stand against the devil. Job 1:10, “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” James describes this humble walk as “meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13, “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” Outline – Here is a proposed outline:

1. Soul – The Renewing of the Mind — Ephesians 4:17-322. Spirit – Being Led by the Spirit — Ephesians 5:1-203. Body – Submitting our Bodies to God’s Will — Ephesians 5:21 to Ephesians 6:9

Ephesians 4:20-32

The New Man: Renewing the Mind of Man – Ephesians 4:20-32 emphasizes the new man. Paul then tells the Ephesians how to develop this divine character in their lives, which was not there before their conversion. They are to renew to their minds and chose to lay aside the old man (Ephesians 4:17-19) and to put on the new man (Ephesians 4:20-32).Note that each individual Christians must make a choice as to whether or not to put on the new man. No one can force them. God gives man this responsibility to act and chose to live Godly or not, even as a believer, in order to see if they truly love Him or not. Outline – Here is a proposed outline:

1. The Old Man verses the New Man — Ephesians 4:20-242. Characteristics of the New Man — Ephesians 4:25-32

Ephesians 4:25-32

Characteristics of the New Man - In Ephesians 4:25-32 Paul gives them practical advice on how to put on the new man while further describing the characteristics of each type of man. Lying, stealing, laziness, and corruption are the words that characterize the old man. In underdeveloped societies where God is not served, these are the major characteristics of such people. In addition, such people are often angry and vengeful. Today’s corrupt nations are full of such people. This is what characterized the ancient Greek society in which the Ephesians lived.The new man will learn to speak the truth in all situations (Ephesians 4:25), to control his temper (Ephesians 4:26), to labor honestly rather than stealing (Ephesians 4:28), to control his speech (Ephesians 4:29), to learn the leadership of the Holy Spirit rather than grieving Him (Ephesians 4:30), to control his emotions (Ephesians 4:31) and to forgive others (Ephesians 4:31). Characteristics of the Old Man – Lying, vindictiveness, laziness, and stealing are a major problem for missionaries living and working in undeveloped cultures around the world. Paul obviously encountered it, since he addressed this issue in Ephesians 4:25-29. Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Ephesians 4:25 — Comments – I believe the greatest shock I experienced when going into the African mission field was the problem of lying that permeated much of society. Telling the truth was normal in the Judeo-Christian culture of the U.S. where I grew up, but telling a lie was the way people generally lived in Africa. It took me a while to make the adjustment to this aspect of the African culture. Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Ephesians 4:26 — “Be ye angry, and sin not” – Comments - When anger comes, do not go out and say foolish things, but learn to control your spirit (Proverbs 16:32, James 1:19-20). Proverbs 16:32, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” James 1:19-20, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” Ephesians 4:26 — “let not the sun go down upon your wrath” - Comments - Learn to cool down so that you do not stay mad. It is not as bad to get angry, but to take it with you into the next day shows spiritual immaturity. A mature person learns to make some decisions after sleeping over the issues so that a decision is not made out of emotion, but rather out of reason. Ephesians 4:26 — Comments – In addition to the characteristic of lying that permeates non-Judeo-Christian cultures, vindictiveness is a second major problem. This child-like behavior is rooted in the African culture where people find many occasions to bring retribution upon those who did wrong. Ephesians 4:26 — Scripture References - Note a similarly in Psalms 103:9 of how God is not always angry. Psalms 103:9, “He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.” Ephesians 4:26 — Old Testament Quotes in the New Testament - It is very likely that Ephesians 4:26 is a quote from Psalms 4:4-8. Psalms 4:4, “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” (KJV) Darby reads, “Be moved with anger, and sin not; meditate in your own hearts upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” (Psalms 4:4)NKJV reads, “Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.” (Psalms 4:4) Word Study on “stand in awe” - Strong says the Hebrew word “stand in awe” (ψβζ) (H7264), which is used in Psalms 4:4, means, “to quiver (with any violent emotion).” The Enhanced Strong says it means, ““(Qal) to quake, be disquieted, be excited, be perturbed, (Hiphil) to cause to quake, disquiet, enrage, disturb, (Hithpael) to excite oneself.” The Enhanced Strong says the Hebrew word “stand in awe” (ψβζ) (H7264), is used 41 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “tremble 12 times, move 7 times, rage 5 times, shake 3 times, disquiet 3 times, troubled 3 times, quake 2 times, afraid 1 times, and misc. 5 times.” Note also that Psalms 4:8 says, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Therefore, it is very likely that Paul, the Apostle, was referring to this passage of Scripture in Psalms 4 when he wrote Ephesians 4:26. Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27 — Comments (Fear is the Root of Giving Place to the Devil) - The Lord spoke to Kenneth Copeland and said, “Satan can do no more in your life apart from fear no more than God can do something for you apart from faith.”[131] This means that when we step out of faith in God’s Word and walk in sin and unbelief because of the fear of circumstances, we give place to the devil. [131] Kenneth Copeland, Believer’s Voice of Victory (Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Fort Worth, Texas), on Trinity Broadcasting Network (Santa Ana, California), television program, 9 November 2001.Ephesians 4:27 — Comments (The Church’s Authority Over the Devil) - Ephesians 4:27 teaches us that every child of God has authority over the devil through the name of Jesus Christ. The believer is not to give any place in his life to the devil. Since Satan can only gain a place in our life by our permission, it means that we have authority over him. We see an illustration of a man who gave place to the devil and it cost him his life. The story of Judas is a tragic one. We almost hoped that he would have gone to Jesus Christ and repented after his guilt surfaced, but at this point, his mind was darkened and confused.

Judas had been given the responsibility of carrying the moneybag. However, at some point in time, he gave place to the devil and began to steal out of the money (John 12:6). After repeatedly giving place to the devil, Judas opened the door in his life for Satan to enter him (Luke 22:3). At this point, Satan was able to control his thoughts and moved him to betray the Lord (John 13:2). John 12:6, “This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” Luke 22:3, “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.” John 13:2, “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;” This series of events reveals the way people become demon possessed without intending to do so from the beginning. Sin leads people down a path that may look appealing at first, but it ends in bondage, then condemnation and eventually destruction, as when Judas hanged himself out of guilt. Matthew 27:3-5, “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.” Acts 1:18, “Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.” Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Ephesians 4:28 — “but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good” – Comments – The phrase “the thing which is good” refers to a deed which is legal and ethical to do in a society in contrast to illegal and immoral efforts of income, such as stealing. Ephesians 4:28 — “that he may have to give to him that needeth” - Comments – Labouring and gaining material gain is not for our own covetous desires, but that we can be able to help others. Since it is more blessed to give than to receive, a person is happier who give out of his labour, than one who labours for self-gain. We are to use wisdom in giving our labours to those in need. Make sure it is a genuine need. Not every request to give is a need. Illustration - When I was preaching a the Rescue Mission in Panama City, Florida, one of the men who was staying at the mission asked me to help him get a place to stay. I scraped together what little money I had and paid one month’s rent for him in a trailer part. One day, I went to visit him. I found him drunk with a lady friend. Later, when talking with the director of the mission, he told me that this man was on a ninety-day rehabilitation program when I found him a place to stay. He had just gotten out of prison and needed to go through this program. I had tried to help a man, and did him more harm than good. Ephesians 4:28 — Comments – In addition to lying and vindictiveness, a third characteristic of non-Judeo-Christian cultures is laziness and stealing. I have witnesses all of these behaviours on a regular basis during my thirteen years in the African mission field. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 — “And grieve not the holy Spirit” – Comments – Benny Hinn explains that if the Holy Spirit can be grieved and “quenched,” as stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:19, then so can the Holy Spirit be honored by us. This means that as we honor the Holy Spirit, we invite Him into our presence and enable him to work in our lives.[132] [132] Benny Hinn, Good Morning, Holy Spirit (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, c1990, 1997).Note that the context of this passage of Scripture is about sin in the life of the believer. Grieving the Holy Spirit is done by sins of commission, that is, things that we do that are sinful. Galatians 5:19-21 calls these acts the “works of the flesh.” Within the context of these verses, Paul is explaining how to put off the works of the old man and walk in the new man. The next verse in Ephesians 4:31 lists some of these sins of the “old man” that grieve the Holy Spirit while Ephesians 4:32 lists actions that are done by someone who is walking in the “new man.” Illustration - In Genesis 6, God was grieved in His heart at man’s sinfulness. Genesis 6:3, “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” Genesis 6:6, “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” When the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years, the Lord became grieved with their sins. Psalms 95:10, “Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:” Note these words from Frances J. Roberts: “Go not into the path of folly, for My heart goeth with thee wheresoever thou goest; and I grieve over thee when thou art turned aside. Ye may not be going in the opposite direction. Ye may even be on a road that lies quite parallel with the one upon which I would have thee travel. But to be almost in the perfect will of God is to miss it completely. Check your course. Chart it by My Word, and hold to it with rigid determination and be not led aside by the other little ships. For, as the Scripture says: ‘There were with them other little ships’ – but Jesus was in only one. Be sure you are in the boat with Him if ye hope to make it safe to shore in spite of the storms. For there shall be storms; but ye shall be safe if ye abide close with Me.”[133] [133] Frances J. Roberts, Come Away My Beloved (Ojai, California: King’s Farspan, Inc., 1973), 60.In contrast, quenching the Holy Spirit would be sins of omission, as compared to grieving the Holy Spirit with sins of commission in this verse. This would be our failure to do what the Holy Spirit was leading us to do. 1 Thessalonians 5:19, “Quench not the Spirit.” Ephesians 4:30 — “whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” – Word Study on “sealed” – Strong says the Greek word “sealed” (σφραγίζω) (G4972) means, “to stamp (with a signet or private mark).” Zodhiates says it literally means, “to seal, close up and make fast with a seal signet such as letters or books so that they may not be read,” and more generally, it means, “to set a seal or mark upon a thing as a token of its authenticity or approvedness.” Comments - The day of redemption refers to the time when we enter heaven are clothed with an immortal body (Romans 8:23). Romans 8:23, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Ephesians 4:31 — Word Study on “clamour” – Strong says the Greek word “clamour” “krauge” (κραυγή) (G2906) word means, “an outcry (in notification, tumult, or grief).” The Enhanced Strong says this word is used 6 times in the New Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “cry 3, crying 2, clamour 1.” Ephesians 4:31 — Word Study on “malice” – Strong says the Greek word “malice” “kakia” (κακία) (G2549) means, “badness, depravity, malignity, trouble.” The Enhanced Strong says this word is used 11 times in the New Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “malice 6, maliciousness 2, evil 1, wickedness 1, naughtiness 1.” Ephesians 4:31 — Comments - We can imagine a progression of events in Ephesians 4:31, culminating in a person’s ill will to do someone harm, which is called malice. A person who holds bitterness expresses it with wrath and anger. The more we speak evil words, the more anger grows until a person is moved to commit evil acts against someone. Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:30-32 — Comments - Grieving the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 4:30 tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. Grieving the Holy Spirit is done by sins of commission, that is, things that we do that are sinful. Ephesians 4:31 lists some of these sins that grieve the Holy Spirit as mentioned in the previous verse. The sins listed here are all sins that have to do with our patience and tolerance towards one another, such as bitterness, wrath, anger, and evil speaking. The next verse (Ephesians 4:32) gives us a list of acts of righteousness that directly tear down these sins. Kindness will help us overcome bitterness. When we are tenderhearted, we are able to avoid wrath and anger towards others. Forgiveness keeps our hearts clean so that we do not speak evil of others. The Lord revealed to me in a dream one night the importance of forgiving others. When we verbally forgive others who have wronged us, it opens the door for the Holy Spirit to minister to us in that area of hurt and bring healing and perfection. However, when we confess our anger and frustration to others and speak out words of bitterness, we open the door for the Devil to perfect strife and bitterness in our lives. It is our choice to take our lives in either direction, and under the control of the Holy Spirit or the Devil. (18 February 2006)