'Eph 4:1-16

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Eph 4:1-6:24 THE DAILY LIFE OF THE CHURCH MEMBERS

Unity in the church (Eph 4:1-16)

God’s great purposes for his church should produce a new quality in the lives of the church members. The blessings that God gives should not lead the believers to pride. On the contrary, when they see that these blessings are an indication of the standard God expects, they will develop a new humility. When people or circumstances annoy them and try their patience, they will show love by being patient and helpful (Eph 4:1-2).

People in the church come from various racial, cultural and social backgrounds, but they must not allow these differences to spoil the unity that God has created in the church (Eph 4:3).

After all, they hold all the important things in common. They are indwelt by the same Spirit, they own the same Jesus as Lord and they are children of the same heavenly Father. As fellow members of the same body, the church, they have experienced the same baptism, share the same faith and look forward to the same salvation (Eph 4:4-6).

Just as people in the church differ from one another, so the spiritual gifts that Christ has given for the functioning of the church vary from person to person (Eph 4:7).

Christ is likened to a triumphant conqueror who has returned from battle and now divides the goods seized in battle among his people. In Christ’s case he came down to earth where he conquered sin, Satan and all the other angelic powers of evil. He then returned to heaven, from where he shares out his gifts to his church (Eph 4:8-10).

These divine gifts are in fact people - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They are given to build up the Christians so that they also can do the work of God. This will help the Christians individually and the church as a whole to grow in maturity towards the perfection and fulness that is found in Christ himself (Eph 4:11-13).

Such Christians will not be like immature children who can be persuaded to believe almost anything (Eph 4:14).

Mature Christians will be confident in their faith, though they will always act towards others in love. They will be under the control of Christ, as the parts of the body are under the control of the head. This will help them to maintain and develop strength in the church (Eph 4:15-16).