1. Believer's position in the true church
a. Spiritual blessings - Ephesians 1:1-23
b. One in Christ - Ephesians 2:1-22
c. Church hid in past time - Ephesians 3:1-21
2. Believer's new life in the true church
a. Gifts and the walk of the believer - Ephesians 4:1-32
I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. (Ephesians 4:1)
This word vocation caught my attention in the verse above. What did Paul mean? Vocation - G2821 - From a shorter form of G2564; an invitation (figuratively): - calling. Hmmm, browsing through Gill's commentary:
"That ye walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye are called; by which is meant, not that private and peculiar state and condition of life, that the saints are called to, and in: but that calling, by the grace of God, which is common to them all; and is not a mere outward call by the ministry of the word, with which men may be called, and not be chosen, sanctified, and saved; but that which is internal, and is of special grace, and by the Spirit of God; by whom they are called out of darkness into light, out of bondage into liberty, out of the world, and from the company and conversation of the men of it, into the fellowship of Christ, and his people, to the participation of the grace of Christ here, and to his kingdom and glory hereafter; and which call is powerful, efficacious, yea, irresistible; and being once made is unchangeable, and without repentance, and is holy, high, and heavenly. Now to walk worthy of it, or suitable to it, is to walk as children of the light; to walk in the liberty wherewith Christ and his Spirit make them free; to walk by faith on Christ; and to walk in the ways of God, with Christ, the mark, in their view, and with the staff of promises in their hands; and to walk on constantly, to go forwards and hold out unto the end: for this walking, though it refers to a holy life and conversation, a series of good works, yet it does not suppose that these merit calling; rather the contrary, since these follow upon it; and that is used as an argument to excite unto them: but the phrase is expressive of a fitness, suitableness, and agreeableness of a walk and conversation to such rich grace, and so high an honour conferred on saints."
Which put me in mind of this verse:
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
A few more verses which caught my attention:
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:5-6)
I think the thrust of my thoughts on these verses had to do with a sense of unity amongst believers. There is such a fragmentation in the body of Christ in this day and age. One says I am of Paul, another of Apollos, etc. I am an OPC, I am a PCA, I am a Baptist, Methodist, Reformed Christian, etc. etc. While, in a sense, I understand how some of these denominations came to pass...I do not think that it shows a unity within the Bride. I suppose one could speculate that there are SO many 'Christians' that 'branches' of the original tree have 'sprung' up. I hate to say that is from a lack of due diligence to study the Word and wrestle through those passages which there is disagreement. What is it that causes there to be dis-unity? An area definitely in need of prayer.
This passage is preceded by the listing of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers which were to perform the function above. In the case of apostles, my understanding here is that to qualify for that title, one had to have actually seen Jesus (Paul on the road). Some would say that the office of prophet has passed. I would agree that there is no new revelation which could, would (or God forbid) should be added to the written Word of God. I am trying to balance that thought out with the foretelling that was made concerning how in the last days God would pour out His spirit, sons and daughters would prophesy, young men would see visions, old men dreams, HIS servants and handmaidens would prophesy (Acts 2:17-18)
Lest I overstep my understanding...back to Strong's I go. :-)
apostles - G652 - From G649; a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers).
prophets - G3496 - From a compound of G4253 and G5346; a foreteller (“prophet”); by analogy an inspired speaker; by extension a poet.
evangelists - G2099 - From G2097; a preacher of the gospel.
pastors - G4166 - Of uncertain affinity; a shepherd (literally or figuratively).
teachers - G1320 - From G1321; an instructor (generally or specifically).
I read several of the commentaries, and all are reasonably in accord with one another, though lengthy, I am going to use Poole's commentary:
"And he gave; distributed several gifts (which are spoken of in general, verse 7) according to HIS Father's appointment, who is said to set in the church what Christ is here and to give. 1 Corinthians 12:28. Object. Nothing is here said of gifts, but only of offices. Answer. Christ never gave offices without suitable furniture; this diversity therefore of offices without suitable furniture; this diversity therefore of offices includes diversity of respective gifts. Apostles; extraordinary officers, with an immediate call, universal commission, infallibility in teaching, and power of working miracles, appointed for the first founding the Christian church in all parts of the world, Matthew 28:19; Acts 19:6. Object. The apostles were appointed by Christ before his death. Answer. The apostle here speaks not of Christ's first calling them, but 1. Of his fully supplying them with gifts necessary to the discharge of their office, which was after his resurrection Acts 1:4; John 7:39. And, 2. Of their solemn inauguration in their office, by the pouring out of the Holy Ghost upon them in a visible manner, Acts 2. Prophets; extraordinary officers who did by immediate revelation interpret the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 14:4-5, and not only such as did foretell things to come, Acts 11:27; 21:10. Evangelist; these were likewise extraordinary officers, for the most part chosen by the apostles, as their companions and assistants in preaching the word, and planting churches in the several places where they travelled. Such were Timothy, Titus, Apollos, Silas, etc. Pastors and teachers; either two names of the same office, implying the distinct duties of ruling and teaching belonging to it; or two distinct offices, but both ordinary and of standing use in the church in all times; and then pastors are they are fixed to and preside over particular churches, with the care both of instructing and ruling them, 1 Thessalonians 5:12; Hebrews 13:17; called elsewhere elders and bishops, Acts 22:28; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:5,7; 1 Peter 5:1, 2. Teachers; they whose work is to teach the doctrine of religion, and confute the contrary errors."
I found that thought office versus gift to be interesting. Though one could not perform the office without a gift. :-) It would appear from the commentaries that the office of apostle, prophet and evangelist were extraordinary gifts and are no longer functioning. How that balances out with Paul's exhortation to seek to prophecy?
1Co 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
There is some disconnect here...unless, the office of prophet (one who foretells) is dissolved, and there remains a gift of prophecy of one who forth tells (speaks what has already been spoken). Obviously a topic in need of more study and research.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
bitterness - G4088 - From G4089; acridity (especially poison), literally or figuratively.
wrath - G2372 - From G2380; passion (as if breathing hard).
anger - G3709 - From G3713; properly desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), that is, (by analogy) violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication punishment.
clamour - G2906 - From G2896; an outcry (in notification, tumult or grief.
evil speaking - G988 - From G989; vilification (especially against God).
malice -G2549 - From G2556; badness, that is, (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or (passively) trouble.
kind -G5543 - From G5530; employed, that is, (by implication) useful (in manner or morals).
tenderhearted - G2155 - From G2095 and G4698; well compassioned, that is, sympathetic.
forgiving - G5483 - Middle voice from G5485; to grant as a favor, that is, gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue.
forgiven - Same as above.
Lord, help Your Bride to walk in unity, not in division, strife or contention. Let there not be a spirit that clamors after Paul or Apollos or Calvin or Wesley or any other man. Let the Bride's cry be one of desiring to know her Lord and Savior with more intimacy, to grow in wisdom and knowledge of who HE is, to desire to please Him in all her ways. Help the Bride to not behave as a harlot, to learn from the mistakes and sinfulness of Israel and Judah.
Father, raise us men and women within the Bride to call her back to her foundation, to diligently contend for the faith delivered unto the saints. Let those that are tares become evident by their fruit. Give the Bride the ability to see the truth of those who are hirelings, not attentive to shepherding the flock with sincerity. Raise up those who preach with sincerity and truth the Word of God with an unfeigned heart. Help Your Bride to study to show herself approved, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word.
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