BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 4:17-32

As we continued in chapter 4 of Ephesians, we see that Paul spells out five behavioral changes of the new man. These changes are the cornerstones of successful relationships. Why?

1. The old man is filled with vanity (futility), darkened understanding, and ignorance.

2. There is, even in the believer, a strong, indwelling disposition to do what we want rather than what God wants.

3. No two people are compatible.

4. You are going to have conflicts.

We looked at a number of factors that lead to conflicts: different backgrounds and experiences; different habit patterns; different convictions and values; different perspectives and ways of thinking as men and women; different goals; etc. When coupled with our sin nature, you have the "perfect storm" for conflict(s).

The solution to conflicts in marriage relationships and relationships with others is found in Paul's five behavioral changes of the new man.

1. The new man replaces falsehood with truth (4:25).

2. The new man replaces indifference with proper anger (4:26-27).

3. The new man replaces selfishness with giving (4:28).

4. The new man replaces destructive speech with constructive speech (4:29).

5. The new man replaces improper anger with kindness and forgiveness (4:31-32).

And the key that unlocks all five of these behavioral changes is the Holy Spirit (4:30) that resides in all those who are "in Christ".

Next Sunday we will unpack these five behavioral changes and look at some scenarios for application.

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 4:7-16

We now live, as you well know, in the most narcissistic, self-absorbed, self-centered society that America has ever known, and it is becoming increasingly more so, if that is possible. Churches have become preoccupied with meeting people’s needs and satisfying their wants. Contemporary churches today are no longer fellowships of sacrificial saints; those who want to give their lives away. Instead, attending church has become a spectator experience; a place where one goes to watch what happens.

Regardless of the current state of modern contemporary churches, the church is still called to be a fellowship of people selflessly and humbly giving their lives away sacrificially to one another and to those outside. This is Paul's message as we dig deeper into chapter 4.

Our lesson today opened with one of the greatest passages on fellowship in all of the New Testament; the mutual life of the church (4:7-16)

 "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." (4:7) "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." (4:12)

What this passage is saying is that we are all to be engaged equipping the saints for the work of ministry--to build up the body of Christ.

The saints are equipped to do the work of ministry. The body is built up, and in the building up of the body of Christ, we reflect Christ’s likeness. The message of the truth which we speak in love is under-girded by our lives, putting Christ on display.

Motivating reasons for you to use your God-given gift(s) in service within the body of Christ are:

1: THE SOURCE of the gift that you have; it was given by God.
2: THE COST of the gift; it was purchased by the death of Christ and His suffering.
3: THE IMPACT of that gift; it is necessary for “the building up of the body of Christ, till we all come to the stature of the fullness of Christ,” because every joint, every individual part is doing what it is designed to do to build the body up in love.
4. THE ETERNAL REWARDS of the use of the gift(s) you have been given.

According to the measure of the gift of Christ, He has poured out to you grace and faith--measured--enough grace and faith for you to fully exercise the gift(s) He has given you. "...according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)

He increases our faith as we do three things:

1: Surrender all to Him
2: Obey His Word
3: Trust in His promises

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 4:1-6

We began the second half of Ephesians as Paul transitions from doctrine to duty, from principle to practice, from theology to life. Doctrine is always the basis of duty--duty always flows out of doctrine. In the first three chapters of Ephesians, we learned of the incredible resources and riches that God has given all who are "in Christ". Rightly does Paul tell us, beginning in chapter 4, to walk worthy to our calling. To live up to what God has given us.

"Do you walk worthy of God?"

People will do anything to conform to principles of an organization in order to satisfy their desperate need to be accepted and valued. So much so that their deep need to be accepted becomes obsessive. In Luke 9:1-23 there is an example of such obsession by the parents of the blind man healed by Jesus. The blind man's parents were so constrained by their desire for acceptance in their society that they wouldn't give credit to Christ for their son's miraculous healing. The things people identify with can become so binding that they become blind to reality. In this case, the parents were blind to the glory of Christ.

In order to grow in wisdom we must "mine" the scriptures to find the gold and silver that lies within.  In Job 28:1-12 we read about the lengths people will go to mine treasures from the earth. In Proverbs 2:4-6 Solomon says that when you put as much effort to know the wisdom of God as people exert to find gold and silver, then you'll know God's wisdom. Until you know God's wisdom, you won't know how to live.

Hebrews chapter 11 is were we read about many who did walk worthy of God. It is the great chapter on giants of faith.

Lastly, I revisited an old topic: stewardship. The acid test of a Christians faith is found in his/her relationship to money. The complete transfer of ownership of ones material and financial lives to God is often the last stronghold before arriving at a place of absolute surrender. I suggested to those who are living outside of God's will in regard to their relationship with money (owners not managers) to take a step of faith and simply give $1/week as acknowledgement of God's ownership. Increase the amount until it hurts, then back off $1. God loves a cheerful giver. Remember, it's not about the money; it's about your heart (Matthew 5:8).

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness therof; the world, and they that dwell therein." Psalm 24:1

God already owns it all, He is just waiting for you to agree with Him. Then we can move on to more important things.

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 3:1-21

Today we crossed the "bridge" that connects the first section of Ephesians (Chapters 1-3) to the second section (Chapters 4-6). The key passage that builds the bridge is Ephesians 3:14-21. It is the ignition that releases the energy that God has already given to those who are "in Christ".

So far, everything Paul has been writing about deals with our inheritance and the glorious riches we have in Christ (the resources of the believer). If you are "in Christ" you have all the potential, all of the power, all of the riches, all of the energy. All of these resources that are ours in Jesus Christ are outlined in the first three chapters. Next, in chapters 4 - 6, Paul is going to show us how to apply these resources to the matter of living.

The takeaway from today's lesson is our need to focus on the "inner man". You will never get your ignition on until you focus on the inner man. You will flounder and wander around in impotence until you do. In order to know what verse 3:20 means, you must start with verse 3:16.

Your spiritual muscle grows when it becomes a daily routine for you to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit--to obey what you know is right before God--and not give into temptation. When you exercise your spiritual muscle, your inner man is renewed day by day. Though your outer man grows older and weaker, your inner man grows stronger. Gradually, you grow away from the mundane and further and further away from the things of this world that don't matter and have less and less preoccupation with them.

We all need to echo the prayer of Paul (3:14-21) and pray that we might be strengthened by His Spirit in the inner man. We do this by pouring the Word of God into the inner man so that the Holy Spirit can direct us into His will. As we are strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, we are ready to take the next step. And we'll see what that is in our next lesson.

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 2:11-22

In today's lesson we completed Chapter 2 in Ephesians by looking at Ephesians 2:11-22. In this section Paul addresses being "One in Christ". At one time the Jew and the Gentile lived without peace between them, but because of the blood of Christ, as Paul states... "He is our peace,who hath made both (Jew & Gentile) one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." (2:14)

This passage of scripture presented a natural segue to launch us into a discussion of "DEALING WITH FOOLS". Practically everyday we encounter situations with spouses, family members, friends, and even church members who are acting like fools. Having recently been under the attack of fools, I saw a need to search the scriptures and see what God had to say. Here is what I found:

We will continue our lesson next Sunday on "DEALING WITH FOOLS".

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 2:1-10

In this lesson, Paul describes the process, the act, and the miracle of salvation. In the first ten verses of Chapter two he outlines the six aspects of SALVATION:

1. From Sin...
2. By Love...
3. Into Life...
4. With a Purpose...
5. Through Faith...
6. Unto Good Works...

In verses 2:1-3 Paul refers to our "old condition" (Dead to God) as being "...dead in trespasses and sins." John Eadie, a Scottish theologian and biblical critic, said: "It's a case of death walking." Before salvation, we are alive physically but dead spiritually--we are "death walking".

The modern art sculptures below gives us a visual idea of what "death walking" might look like. People mindlessly walking through life engulfed by zeitgeist (the spirit of the age). Paul said those dead "...walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience;" (2:2)

In verses 2:4-10 Paul refers to our "new condition" (Alive to God). Because of God's mercy and great love we are raised up to sit in the heavenly places that He might show His exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "In Christ, I am a new creation." No longer are we "death walking".

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 1:15-23

In this lesson Paul prays that we would understand the meaning of being "in Christ". He prays:

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his mighty power." (Ephesians 1:18-19)

In his "Prayer for Revelation", Paul addresses the future aspect of God's Eternal Plan: "...glory of his inheritance in the saints...". The three aspects of God's Future Plan include: 1) The Grounds for our inheritance; 2) The Guarantee of our inheritance; and 3) The Goal of our inheritance.

Our "...understanding being enlightened..." is only possible through God's Word and His Holy Spirit. Once we are "in Christ" we become enlightened when we walk in surrender, confessed of our sin and desiring God's will and the fulfillment of His purpose for our lives.

Understanding our position in Christ is the foundation of our Christian life, but our Christian growth is all about us practicing (living-out) the Christian life.

"...for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to our faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love." (2 Peter 1:5-7)