Ephesians     Chapter 4

Verse 1 – 3

Paul says that he is a prisoner of the Lord. He tells the Ephesians to walk (live) in a way that honors the Lord. Be humble, gentle, patient, be longsuffering. Longsuffering means be willing to be patient with other people’s faults and weaknesses because of their being human. Be willing to share in other people’s burdens and show love.

Try very hard to get along with everyone in peace. Make an effort to try to do things and say things that will help peace—don’t do and say whatever you want knowing that you make people mad or hurt them.

Verse 4

As Christian people we are of one body in Christ—we are joined together in Christ–so we are parts of one body. There is one Spirit, the Holy Spirit, that one Spirit leads us all. If we are obeying that same Spirit we should be able to get along with one another.

We have all been called to follow Christ. We all have the same hope of heaven for our future.

Verse 5 – 6

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.

He is above us all watching and leading. His Spirit is in us all. He lives through us all as we show His Spirit to others.

Verse 7

Each one of us has been given grace and abilities–as God has decided to give us.

Verse 8 – 10

Paul talks about when Jesus died and went to the place of the dead in the lower parts of the earth.

Jesus’ death and resurrection has changed things for people who die.

Paul says that when we die as believers in Jesus—we go to be with Jesus when we die. In II Corinthians 5: 6-9 Paul talks about being here in the body we are absent from the Lord. In verse 8, he says that if we are absent from the body–we are present (with) the Lord.

After Jesus died and was raised from the dead, He broke the power of sin and death. Now when we die we go to heaven to be with Jesus.

Before Jesus died, people who were godly and obeyed —when they died—they went to a “waiting” place —it was in the lower parts of the earth.

After Jesus died, He went down to those who were waiting–they were like “captives” caught in death waiting—Jesus took them up to heaven.

The person (Jesus) who came down to this earth, is the same person who went down to the lower parts of the earth. He is the same person who went up into heaven. Jesus has done all the things that God promised He would do.

When Jesus led these “captives” into heaven, He gave gifts to men.

Psalms 68: 18 “You have gone up on high, you have led those who were in captivity–You have captured them to lead them up on high. You have received gifts for men,”

Acts 2:32-33 “Jesus was raised up, we all saw him. He is now at the right hand of God, He has been honored, and He has received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit. He gave this Holy Spirit that you have now seen and heard.”

Paul is explaining that after Jesus led those waiting in death to heaven. Then the Father gave the Holy Spirit to come down to men.

Jesus told the disciples “It is best for you that I go away (to heaven), because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you. If I go away, I will send Him unto you.” John 16: 7

The Holy Spirit coming to live in men was the “big gift” that was given to us. The Holy Spirit gives the ability and skill to do different kinds of things that serve others and help them understand about God.

 

 

Verse 11

Jesus gave the “gift” of being an apostle, of being a prophet (one who tells what will happen in the future), of being an evangelist (one who travels around preaching about Jesus) , or being a pastor (one who stays in one place teaching) or a teacher.

Verse 12

The reason God gave these gifts was to show the saints (believers) how to be more like God—to build up the body of Christ—to teach them and encourage them.

Verse 13

Until we all come together —joining together as one in the faith.

Having the knowledge of Jesus, becoming perfect and full of the Spirit like Jesus was.

Verse 14

We should stop being like children in the faith. We should have deep roots in God and we have spiritual understanding. We should not be pulled away by men who preach things that are not the truth. Some of them preach their own ideas. They sound good. They have clever things to say. They may be exciting and try to get people to follow them. But what they say is not the truth and if we follow them we will be fooled.

Nowadays with TV we need to be careful. There are preachers who have very big churches. They need lots of money. There are thousands of people who follow them. But you need to listen carefully and see if what they say is what the Bible says. You need to know the Bible for yourself so you know when someone is saying the wrong thing!

Verse 15 – 16

We need to speak the truth–in love—so we can all grow up spiritually in Christ. Sometimes it is hard for us to hear the truth. Remember that when you talk to others and make sure you say it in love.

Christ is the head. Each of us are a part of the body. We each have our part to do and give. As we each give our part then we will all receive blessings and information and we will all grow more like Christ.

Verse 17 -19

Do not live like other Gentiles live. They are very sure in their minds that they are right and do not need Jesus. Their understanding is dark. Their not knowing God makes them not have understanding. Their hearts are blind. They have given themselves to sinful living so much that they do not think it is wrong. The more they sin—the more they want to sin.

Verse 20 – 22

You know better. You know that Christ does not want us to live in that way.

You have learned from Christ what is the truth. So put away the things you did before you believed in Jesus. Your old way of living and speaking is finished.

Verse 23 – 24

You need to think new thoughts. Let your mind and spirit be a new person in Christ.

You need to become a new person—after Christ—made new in righteousness and be holy.

Verse 25 – 26

Put away telling lies, always say the truth. Do not sin by letting anger control you. Do not go to bed still angry. Make things right with that person before you go to bed.

Verse 27

Do not allow the devil to have a place in your life. Letting yourself be angry can give the devil a chance to make you lose control and do something that is worse. Anger leads to hurting others. Anger leads to making us do things we would not do if we were in peace.

Forgive. Forget. Let it go. Find an answer to the problem.

Do not let anger be with you long. Soon fix the problem. Pray. Ask God to give you the “mind of Christ”, so you can be at peace.

Do not let the devil have a place in your life in other ways. A little sin gives the devil a “foothold”. He sees a little place open because of sin, so he comes in more and more. Little sins open the door for the devil to bring in stronger sins. Be careful about little sins. As soon as you do wrong, Confess it and ask for forgiveness. Do not continue with unconfessed sin.

Verse 28

Stop stealing. Stop taking things that do not belong to you. Work to get the money you need to live. Work so you have what you need, and so you can be generous and help others.

Verse 29

Do not use words and language that is dirty, swearing, bad words. mean words. Let your words build up and be helpful, cheerful, kind, encouraging. Let your words have grace and build up—-not take down.

Verse 30

Do not make the Holy Spirit sad and have sorrow because of what you do and say—or what you think. It is the Holy Spirit who keeps us day by day as we go through this life until we get to heaven.

The Holy Spirit lives in us as believers. He knows what we think. He knows what we say. He knows what we do. Do not dishonor Him. Show Him respect and love and obey—the Holy Spirit is your best friend—He is the One who will teach you and lead you and protect you. Do not hurt Him.

The Holy Spirit will not continue to stay where someone continues to sin.

If you decide to sin again and again—and ignore the Holy Spirit in you—He will finally leave you alone.

God and sin do not go together. If you want God/Holy Spirit—you need to stay away from sin.

The Holy Spirit knows we are human and weak. He warns us and tries to have us not sin. He will tell us when we are doing wrong.

But if we know it is wrong and we decide to do it again and again–the Holy Spirit will let us do as we choose—but He will not be part of it.

Finally we will learn like Samson in the Old Testament, that the Holy Spirit has left us. That was a sad day for Samson, and it will be a sad day for us.

Samson asked for forgiveness and meant it. When we ask for forgiveness and mean it—the Holy Spirit will come back. But the Holy Spirit does not play games.

The Holy Spirit will not be fooled—He will know if we are not truly sorry and if we intent to stop sinning.

Verse 31

Put away bitterness. (anger that makes us hard and anger because we will not forgive). Put away anger. Put away arguing and fighting. Put away evil speaking. Put away being mean and hurting others.

Verse 32

Be kind to others. Have a tender heart. Forgive others because Christ has forgiven you.