Following Jesus

Paul is going to tell us, from chapter 4, verse 17, to the end of this book, how to get rid of that old coat and how to accommodate new clothes for the new man. We have learned what the new man is in the first three chapters.  Now we’re going to learn how the new man lives in the last three. He talked about the new nature and all treasures that are ours in chapters 1 to 3, and now, Pual is going to teach us to put on the new man and put off smelly, external, old man. Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk.

In verses 7-10 Paul challenges us to recognize that we are all gifted to serve the church and to remember what it cost Jesus to make those gifts available to us. One of God’s gifts to the church is leadership. In verses 11-16, Paul describes the leadership gifts and then expounds upon the purpose and plan for church leadership.

In the first three verses of chapter 4, Paul challenges us to be one, a united body in Christ and he shares the qualities that are necessary to achieve this: humility, gentleness, patience and tolerance, qualities that can only be lived out by the power of the Holy Spirit. In verses 4-6, Paul gives us the seven elements that are the foundation of unity. Now in verses 7-10, Paul turns his attention to the individuality of believers in the church, each gifted for the purpose of strengthening the church and bringing glory to God. In this passage, Paul challenges us to recognize that we are all gifted to serve the church and, remember what it cost Jesus to make those gifts available to us.

As Paul begins to challenge us in chapters 4-6 to live a balanced Chrisitan life that involves equal commitment to both the profession of what we believe and the practice of what we believe, he begins with the subject of unity. Unity is at the top of the list. We noted in chapter 4 verse 2-3 that unity requires the Holy Spirit’s power in practicing specific qualities: Humility, Gentleness, Patience and Tolerance. Unity takes diligence and vigilance. Now in verses 4-6, Paul continues with the challenge to unity by declaring seven elements that are the essence of our unity.

There is no greater display of the doctrines of the Christian faith than that found in the first three chapters of Ephesians. But having done that, the Apostle now moves on to the practical application of his doctrine; he goes on to show how it is related to daily life and living. The Apostle Paul, when he used the word ‘therefore’, makes the connection between faith and practice quite clear. He has laid down the doctrine; now it must be applied.

In verse 1 of Ephesians chapter 3, Paul is about to pray as he declares “For this cause” but before he prays, he is impressed to give a review of the things he had written in chapter 2 with some additional thoughts. Now in verse 14 he returns to begin his prayer and he again repeats “For this cause” letting us know that his prayer is based on everything he said in chapter 2 and in 3:1-13; so, let us consider a quick review of the foundation of his prayer and then consider the content of this precious, inspired prayer for us from the Apostle Paul. I say us, because although his prayer is for the Ephesians, these truths and promises are ours as well.