Ephesians 4 - Are You A Fully Devoted Follower of Christ?

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Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

In chapter 4 Paul transitions from theology to practical application. Chapter 4 has some of the most significant passages about what Christian maturity is all about. Note Christian maturity is a response to what God has done for us in Christ. And Christian maturity also leads to unity in the body of Christ, because pride, division, and gossip are all a result of spiritual immaturity in the church. 

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1

This is the goal for every Christian and should be your primary motive for you living the life you've always wanted. We have all been given a calling, not just ministers or missionaries. We are all called to represent Jesus to the world. We will find out in a few verses, we are all given gifts for ministry. The question is will we live a life "worthy of our calling". This is the "due north" for a Christian. 

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. -  Ephesians 4:4-6

Note all the "ones" in these three verses. Christianity is not a "solo sport", it is a "team sport". An isolated Christian is in a precarious position. The bible does not know of discipleship apart from being part of a local church. We need each other. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 

One of the consequences of COVID was that people got isolated from their church. Though watching online is better than nothing, there is nothing like the face to face connection one gets in church, a life group, or serving together. 

Note it is says, "one baptism". This is why a child baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit does not need to be re-baptized. Baptism is God's work, so to say someone needs to be re-baptized is to say God didn't do what he said He would do. 

There is also one body. Churches are myopic when they only focus on their own church. We are one church in Christ. Though we need to carry on ministry in our locality, we are always part of something much bigger. 

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:7,11-13

These verses are used to teach us about our spiritual gifts. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are all functions in the body of Christ. Some call this the five-fold gift of ministry. But each of these functions have the corresponding spiritual gift. I.e. A teacher has a spiritual gift of teaching. 

Each of these functions of the church are essential to it being a healthy church that makes "disciples who make disciples". Apostles are usually those who start new ministries in the church or outside the church, including new missions. Prophets speak God's Word and truth in a timely manner. They often call out a church that is straying from God's Word. Prophets also help the church not drift into false teaching and also can discern a false prophet in the church. Evangelists have a gift to lead people to Christ either individually or working with groups. Pastors and teachers feed the flock, care and nurture the flock. Importantly they equip the saints for the work of ministry. 

A lot of pastors and teachers get so busy doing ministry, they don't prioritize equipping others to do the work of ministry. A church won't grow beyond a pastor's letting go of ministry and equipping others to use and take responsibility for their spiritual gifts. You can see the balance of these five functions in a healthy church. A church is functional as they discern, train, and put to work each of these functions of the church. To the extent one or more of these functions are missing a church can be dysfunctional. 

Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:13

This is one of my foundational verses for discipleship. This should be the goal for every church for its members.  The church I was grew up in the 80's in Chicago had a seven step process for leading their members to Christ-like maturity. The seventh step was a "fully devoted follower of Christ!"  This is the goal for every believer. To become a fully devoted follower of Christ.  

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

This is a very helpful verse in terms of language. We hear unwholesome talk coming out of people's mouths all the time. Sometimes it comes out of my own mouth, I'm sorry to admit. It is easy to get caught up talking the way the world does, even if we think it is in jest. We don't have to be legalistic about this but words do matter to God and should matter to us. 

Words matter, as we live in community together. Do your words build people up or bring them down? Are you a critic or cheerleader? Do you utter words of judgment, or words of grace? Do your words glorify God? 

Before you speak it is good to stop and ask the question are my words wholesome and will they build up my brother or sister in Christ. 

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

To grieve someone is to make them sad. We see that the Holy Spirit is a PERSON of the TRINITY. The Holy Spirit lives inside of us and is sanctifying and setting us apart to be the person God wants us to be. The Holy Spirit communicates things to us from God's Word, helps us to pray, and warns us when we are going down the wrong path.

Think of the Holy Spirit as the warning light that goes off  trying to deter us from walking down the wrong path. Either we can listen and obey the warning, or blow it off and do what we want to do. When we deny and quench the Holy Spirit, it makes the Spirit sad. It makes God sad. The Holy Spirit is a gift! Let's not quench the Spirit, who is our deposit assuring us we are going to heaven!