of the book of Ephesians. The first three chapters are doctrinal. In the first three chapters, the Church is pic tured as it is in the mind of God— its conception, construction, and its constitution. Here we see the believ ers’ elevated position as members of the body of Christ and what it means to be a part of this invisible body whose head is in the glory land. Now I come to the practical part of the epistle. Here appears the Church as God wants the world to see it. Note the word therefore in verse 1. It points to all that has gone before in the book. In view of the fact that a solid foundation has been laid for the Church in sovereign grace, “ there fore” there ought to be a “ walk” in this world that corresponds to its divine origin. In the section for our study today, the Apostle Paul pleads for a united Church. It is one body with one head therefore it ought to present a united testimony before the world. Graces that Maintain Christian Unity w . 1-3 Note the graces which minister to ward Christian unity: lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, and love. It is the lack of these graces that causes divisions in churches. Add these virtues together in their per fection and the face of Christ ap pears. Where Christ dwells in un hindered o p e r a t i o n divisions in churches are kept in abeyance. Basic Unities Demanding Unity vv. 4-6 There are seven unities which argue for unity in the Christian life. Living in harmony with these unities will mean full maturity in Christian living as the number seven suggests. (1) One body. This refers to the organism of the church. In the nor mal operation of a physical body, there is complete harmony between the various parts of the body. Suffer ing comes when one part becomes obstinate and refuses to do its part. (2) One Spirit. One cannot conceive of the Holy Spirit directing a believer in two different ways. His desire is that the believer may live with •an eye single to the Lord’s glory. (3) One hope. The believer has implanted within his heart the sure hope of one day living to see his salvation climaxed when .Christ comes. (4) One Lord. All-true believers can have fellowship one .with another because they worship one common Lord. This is so no matter what denominational badge we may be wearing. (5) One faith. How does the rich man come to Christ? The’ same way as the poor continued ►
God has also constituted believers fellow -citizens with the saints (v. 19a). (9) And He has brought them into the household of God (v. 19b). They are members of His great fam ily and enjoy the privileges of chil dren in God’s home. They are in no sense strangers or foreigners. This cannot be for they have the life of Christ in them and they know the language of heaven. (10) Finally, God has made believers a part of that great invisible temple of, God, the Church. None shall ever prevail against it, the fairest and noblest institution in the world! Adding all these benefits together, how rich is the child of God! He occupies a place that even angels do not enjoy. “ Are they not all minis tering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salva tion?” (Heb. 1:14). Helps for the Children Christian Friends Around the World Memory Verse: "There is . . . one God and Father of us all" (Eph. 4:4, 6). In the first Christian churches there were some Jewish people who did not feel that the gospel was for those who were not Jews. There were also some Gentiles (those who were not Jews) who did not want the Jews to become Christians. In one of his letters, that of Ephesians, Paul writes to tell all of the Chris tians, froth Jews and Gentiles, that they were one in the Lord Jesus Christ. When they received the Lord Jesus as Saviour, they became God’s children and should no longer hate one another. There are false teachers today who talk much about God being the Father of everyone, and all men being brothers in Him. This is one of Satan’s favorite lies! God did create all men, but He is the Father only of those- who receive His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as their per sonal Saviour. Only those who are children of God through faith in Christ are brothers around the world. Then, those of every land who are Christians are truly brothers in Christ. How wrong it is for those who know the Saviour to refuse to worship and work with those whose skin is a different color than their skin, or those who speak a language different from the language which they speak! Christians all over the world are one because of their faith in the Lord Jesus! July 26, 1953 Growing in Christlikeness Eph. 4:1-6, 11-16 Pointers on the Lesson We come to the practical section
we have been dug and then he shows how God fits the objects of His so licitude into His living temple. The portion of the chapter selected for our present study has to do with what God has done and is doing with the unlikely material upon which He has to work. Ten Things God Has Done (1) He has wrought salvation for those who believe (w . 8 ,9 ). This wonderful experience is altogether a gift of God’s grace appropriated by faith. No work of man can accom plish anything toward its provision.. It was wrought out at Calvary when the Saviour cried, “ It is finished” (John 19:30). A ll room for human boasting is thus eliminated. (2) God has brought into existence a new creation in connection with .man’s salvation (v. 10). The redeemed soul is God’s workmanship, handiwork or, more literally, His poem. Such a soul is the finest expression of His thought, His masterpiece. It is clearly stated here that those whom God saves are created “ unto good works” . There is no such thing as divorcing a* re deemed life from a redeemed walk. God has ordained that Christians shall bear the fruits of righteousness. (3) God has brought believers nigh to Himself (v. 13). This is accom plished through the blood of Christ. Those so blessed are “ in Christ Jesus” and thus are as close to God as is Christ Himself. (4) God has made believing Jews and Gentiles one new man in Christ Jesus (w . 14, 15). The new man here referred to is not the individual believer but the Church which is made up of both Jews and Gentiles. God is no respecter of per sons in this matter. In the Church there is no such thing as Jew or Gentile. These lose their identity in this new relationship. The Church is something new. (5) God has recon ciled sinful men unto Himself (v. 16). Through the death of Christ upon the cross God is reconciled to all men. It now only remains for sinful men to “ be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20). Through thé sacrifice of Christ, God is kindly disposed toward all men. (6) God has made peace’ avail able to all who will believe (v. 17). In truth Christ Himself is the believ er’s peace. Believers Have Access to God (7) God has provided for believers direct access into His presence (v. 18). They do not have to come through human priests or ceremonies. They come by His Spirit and on the basis of what Christ has done at Calvary. Every believer is a priest unto God (Rev. 1:6) and has the privilege of intimate communion with Him. (8)
JUNE 1953
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