LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for October 17: Being in step

It is one thing to preach, teach and believe great theology, it is another thing to live it out in the streets. In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul has given his readers a tremendous foundation of theology and doctrine upon which to build their faith. Now, as with many of his other writings, he takes this heavenly theology and applies it to earthly practice.  

In 4:1-6, Paul challenges his readers to take the information he has given them and to live “a life worthy” of their calling. The product of such a life together is unity. Unity does not just happen. We have to work at it.  

When differences come to a body of believers, Paul gives clear instructions. First, we must look at our own heart. Verses 2 and 3 speak of individual humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance and effort to keep “the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” There is a difference between unity and uniformity. Unity comes from within and is a spiritual grace. Uniformity is the result of pressure from without.  

Second, as believers, we belong to one body. We are united under one head—Christ. In verses 4-6, he gives the areas where  believers must agree to attain unity by referring to them: “one body” (the fellowship of believers, the church), “one Spirit” (the Holy Spirit, who activates the fellowship), “one hope” (the eternal future to which we are called), “one Lord” (Jesus, to whom we belong), “one faith” (our common commitment to Christ), “one baptism” (the first physical act of identifying with Jesus), and “one God and Father” (who keeps us for eternity). Instead of majoring on what divides us, we are told to remember what unites us.

In verses 7-12, Paul moves from what all Christians have in common to how Christians differ from one other. He states that, without exception, every believer in Christ has been given at least one special gift of ministry by the Holy Spirit. No matter what natural abilities he or she might have,   these gifts are to be used to contribute to the strength and health of the church. Not all are gifted equally, but all are gifted. Every gift is important and needed by the church.

After affirming the giftedness of all believers, Paul mentions in verse 11 four specific gifts the Holy Spirit gives for the foundation and spiritual leadership of the church. “Apostles” were those men personally selected by Jesus who could give witness of the resurrection and had seen the risen Christ personally and could give testimony of this. “Prophets” were those who proclaimed the word of God. In the absence of the written word, God’s Spirit would work through these individuals to share God’s truth with the local assemblies seeking God’s will. “Evangelists” traveled from town to town preaching the gospel and winning the lost. “Pastors and teachers” was one office with two ministries. Pastor means “shepherd,” suggesting the person God has called to lead the local church. The “pastor/teacher” does this by means of teaching and preaching the word of God, which nourishes those under his spiritual care.

Verse 12 gives the reason God gives these foundational gifts—“to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” The word translated “prepare” or “equip” means “to make right, like the setting of a broken bone and the rehabilitation and restoration of the injured.”

Those who possessed these gifts were called to furnish and equip believers to do the work of the ministry which results in the church being built up. It is built up in the faith when the members care and show love for one another and use the individual gifts God has given each one to strengthen the church.

The church also is built up when it “seeks the welfare of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7) as it reaches out in the love of Christ to those in whom it comes in contact. In doing so, it draw others into its fellowship.  

God has given the church a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to make disciples and minister in the name of Jesus. As believers are equipped for ministry, there is maturity that begins to take place in the individual and unity starts to thrive in the fellowship. When this happens the church begins to experience the “whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (v. 13).  

When there is maturity in the believer, there is fullness of Christ in the body and trust in the church begins to come to fruition. As the individual parts of the church do their Spirit-led assignments, all become rooted and grounded together as they face the distractions and distortions Satan throws at them.

In 4:15-16, Paul tells us when all of the parts of the body of Christ work together in love by exercising their spiritual gifts, the church will become stronger and more effective as it ministers across the street or around the world.