Ephesians 4:1-16

Major Themes in the Book of Ephesians

• The glorious position of Christ
  
• The holy calling of God’s people
  
• The equipping of God’s people to do what God has appointed them
  
• God’s general purpose for the church and the believers
  
• The means God displays His glory
  
• The transition between the Old and New Covenants
  
• Paul’s authority to speak the Gospel
  
• The meaning and implications of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
  
• The Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of His people
  
• The innate sinful nature of mankind
  
• The nature and means of salvation
  
• The transformation that takes place in His people (from sin)
  
• The unique lifestyle of God’s people
  
• Unity among God’s people
  
• The ability of God’s people to withstand Satan and his forces
  
• The importance and style of prayer needed for the welfare of the church

Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ
4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope[Lit called in one hope] at your calling— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 For it says:

When he ascended on high,
he took the captives captive;
he gave gifts to people.[Ps 68:18]

9 But what does “he ascended” mean except that he[Other mss add first] also descended to the lower parts of the earth?[Or the lower parts, namely, the earth] 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. 11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. 16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.

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