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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Ephesians Chapter 4 

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Paul
Date Penned: (60 AD)
Overview: Paul Proclaiming Unity in the Body (c 1-6)
Theme: Unity in the Church (c 4-6)
Message: Living as Children of the Light (v 1-32)

Ephesians 4 Commentary

(4:1-16) Unity in the Body of Christ - Here the focus changes from theological to practical. Paul has explained to his readers God’s great mystery and plan for his church, and he has prayed an awe-inspiring prayer that they might know all of Christ’s love and all of his blessings. The remainder of the letter contains Paul’s plea to live out the grace and unity the believers had received through Christ. Verses 1-6 are on unity; verses 7-16 are on diversity in the church. The challenges for churches today parallel the challenges that faced first-century churches like the one in Ephesus. We must remain unified as believers, incorporating our diversity so that we can serve and glorify our Lord.

(4:17-32) Living as Children of the Light - People should be able to see a difference between Christians and non-Christians because of the way Christians live. The section from 4:17-24 appeals to believers to leave behind the old life of sin because they are followers of Christ—which should result in a radical change in their behavior. This change is further detailed in the section from 4:25-32, which lists negative characteristics that have no place in the church and positive characteristics that will reflect Christ’s character.Living the Christian life is a process. Although we have a new nature, we don’t automatically think all good thoughts and express all right attitudes. But if we keep listening to God, we will be changing all the time. We must trust God to change us on the inside—our character, values, attitudes, perspective, and motives.

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Serve Where God Places You

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book ofEphesians with Chapter 4 and in our text we see Paul addressing unity in the Church as he explains that we are one body with many members, each with different gifts and talents given to us through the Holy Spirit. Having these gifts, we are to worth of where the Lord places us being a witness and testimony of your Lord. How About You? Are you walking in unity? Let us learn from our text today and the reminder of Paul that we are a new creation in Christ and are to walk worth of who we are in Christ in Unity of the Body of Christ, in which we serve. 

 

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Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4

 1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

 7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

 8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

 9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

 17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

 18Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

 19Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

 20But ye have not so learned Christ;

 21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

 22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

 25Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

 26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

 27Neither give place to the devil.

 28Let 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.

 29Let 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.

 30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

 31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.