EPHESIANS: 4:1-16

Business analyst Francis Evans once studied 125 insurance salesmen to find out what made them successful. Surprisingly, competence wasn't the key factor. Instead, Evans found customers were more likely to buy from salesmen with the same politics, education, and even height as them. Scholars call this homophily: the tendency to prefer people like us.

Homophily is at work in other areas of life too, with us tending to marry and befriend people similar to us. While natural, homophily can be destructive when left unchecked. When we only prefer "our kind" of people, society can fracture along racial, political, and economic lines.

In the first century, Jews stuck with Jews, Greeks with Greeks, and rich and poor never mingled. And yet, in Romans 1 6:1 -16, Paul could describe the church in Rome as including Priscilla and Aquila (Jewish), Epenetus (Greek), Phoebe (a "benefactor of many," so probably wealthy), and

Philologus (a name common for slaves). What had brought such different people together? Jesus—in whom there's "neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free" (Galatians 3:28).

It's natural to want to live, work, and go to church with people like us. Jesus pushes us beyond that. In a world fracturing along various lines, He's making us a people who are different together—united in Him as one family.

As believers, we are faced with a world that thinks very differently than we do. Our attitudes are dramatically different than the world. This could pose some real uncomfortable situations.

School

Work

Neighbors / friends

Activities

How are we supposed to manage our lives when we are so different then the world around us?

Maybe a better question would be; how is the world around us going to react to the way we live?

We are called to be a part of this world while also living a separated life in Jesus Christ. We must realize that we are not alone as we face the world around us.

This is also a similar start to Paul's letter in chapter 3. Here he is reminding the Ephesians that his PRISONER status is for them. (Gentiles) or anyone that is not a Jew. Ephesians 3:1

For this reason l, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— Paul started chapters 2 and 3 with the similar statement.

This is an important statement.

Tucker covered Paul's imprisonment quite well

Paul was in prison because of his desire to get the gospel to the Ephesian Gentiles. (Non Jews) This letter is to the Gentile believers.

Ephesians 4:1-3

As a prisoner for the Lord. then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. [2] Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. [3] Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Question: What is the calling we have received?

To follow the example of Christ, who suffered for us.

Jesus paid our price of death. (God's judgement for sin.)

Jesus gave us life through His resurrection. (God's gift to us for believing that Jesus's death covered our sin.) Believers are no longer living under the penalty of death for our sin.

Paul lists 4 characteristics which believers must exhibit in order to "live a life worthy of our calling Humility

2. Gentleness

3. Patience

4. Love

Each one a characteristic of Jesus. Question: what is the unity of the Spirit?

It is our bond with each other. A bond of peace. Opposite of peace

Irritation, agitation, conflict

Question: What is the best way to accomplish this PEACE? 2 Timothy 2:14-15

[14] Keep reminding God's people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. [1 5] 1 5 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Know God's WORD!!!

Ephesians 4:4-6

[4] There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

THE 7 ONE'S

One body

Ephesians 1:22-23

[22] And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, [23]which is his body...... Jesus is the head and we are the body. He lives in us and directs us.

2. One Spirit

The Spirit of Jesus (Holy Spirit) lives in every believer.

3. One hope.

Eternity with God/Jesus in heaven.

4. One Lord

God is the only God. He is the only (one Lord)

5. One faith

Only faith in the resurrected Christ Jesus results in salvation.

6. One baptism

Romans 6:3-4

[3] Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. One God and Father of all.

We are all born with only one father. When we trust Jesus we are reborn. God becomes our adopted Father.

Ephesians 4:7-10

[7] But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. [8] This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people." [9] (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions ? [1 0] He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe .)

Ref: [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE!

Out of all God's resources He gives each on of us special gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:4-10

[4] There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. [5] There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. [6] There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. [7] Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. [8] This is why it a says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people ." b [9] (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions ? [1 0] He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe . )

This reminds us that God / Christ is the giver. Ephesians 4:11-13

[1 1] So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [1 2] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [1 3] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Question: What are the responsibilities of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers?

All are showing people how to have a relationship with Jesus.

All are equipping the believers to live a life of service. The goal is to achieve unity and know Jesus intimately.

Maturity

We should desire to be completely filled with Christ in everything. Ephesians 4:14-16

[14] Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. [1 5] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. [1 6] From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

We will become strong, mature followers of Jesus.

Not easily fooled by false teaching.

We will truly love each other as God loves us.

POINTS TO PONDER

We are on a journey to become more like Jesus.

We have His Spirit in us.

We have each other.

Jesus keeps us together as one body. We are the BODY OF CHRIST!!!!!!