Resurrection Hope

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.

Last time we considered Paul’ review of things before he prays in verse 14. It was like Paul and the Apostles opened a great big, secret treasure chest (we spoke about that in chapter one) and they got to look in it for the first time. Now we are invited to look into the treasure chest and see all the wonderful things God in His grace has for us. Paul reminds us of THE FORMATION OF THE CHURCH v2-6 It Was Divinely Revealed. v3-5 It Was Not Known in the Past. v5  It Was the Establishment of a New United Family. v6 then, THE PROCLAMATION OF THE CHURCH. v7-9 Paul was Preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles. v7-8 And he was Training Jew and Gentile to Live in Unity. v9 And Paul now continues in verses 10-13 to reveal to us our task, our privilege and our cost as part of this revealed mystery.