THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS, CHAPTER 4 – Unity of the Spirit, The Christian’s Walk

 

THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS, Chapter 4

Unity of the Spirit, The Christian’s Walk

Paul now moves from the fundamentals of the faith to the bedrock upon which they are firmly rooted. If there ever was a prime directive for the believer and follower of Jesus, this is one.

Every word, phrase and paragraph are expressive of God’s deep spiritual truth, brought into the light for us so we may conduct our lives in way that reaps the greatest rewards of God’s plan, purpose and promises.

This Word of God, These Words spoken by Paul, by way of the indwelling and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, are for our immediate consumption – eat this Body, His Word, The Logos of God; drink deeply from the well of His spirit, His life-giving Blood and live in His life forevermore.

Unity of the Spirit

Ephesians 4:1,Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, verse 2, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, verse 3, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Verse 4. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; verse 5, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, verse 6, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

(Commentary Break): Paul, like Jesus, is leading by example. He is a voluntary prisoner of Christ Jesus, in total submission to Jesus. Being held captive in the bonds of Christ allows him the will to restrict the desires of his flesh, reflecting the enigmatic idea that true freedom, and true unity within The Body in humility, gentleness, patience while bearing with one another is only found – is only truly possible – in servitude to God. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 7. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

(Commentary Break): Grace is central, representing unmerited (unearned and unearnable) favor from God, a gift. this idea of grace is a sharp contrast with the transactional nature of the hedonistic pagan worship then and now. This grace empowers believers for service and spiritual growth. This indicates that the grace given is not uniform but varies according to God’s sovereign will. It suggests a tailored distribution of spiritual gifts, aligning with the needs and purposes of the church. And, this measure is not based on human merit but on divine wisdom, ensuring that each believer is equipped for their specific role within the body of Christ. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 8. Therefore it says,

“WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,

HE LED CAPTIVE THE CAPTIVES,

AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO PEOPLE.”

(Commentary Break): This introduces a quotation from the Old Testament, specifically Psalm 68:18. The Apostle Paul often uses Old Testament references to connect the teachings of Christ with the Hebrew Scriptures, showing continuity in God’s plan. (This method of teaching was common in Jewish tradition, where rabbis would cite scripture to support their teachings.) The imagery of ascending on high is associated with victory and triumph. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a king or military leader would ascend to a high place after a victory, symbolizing authority and dominion. This phrase is understood to refer to Christ’s ascension into heaven after His resurrection, signifying His victory over sin and death. It echoes the ascension of a victorious king returning from battle.

This part of the verse suggests a triumphal procession, where a victorious leader would lead captives as a demonstration of their conquest. In the context of Ephesians, it is interpreted as Christ leading spiritual captives—those who were once bound by sin and death—into freedom. This imagery is consistent with the Roman practice of triumphal processions, where captives were paraded as a sign of victory.

The giving of gifts is a reference to the distribution of spiritual gifts to the church. In ancient times, a victorious king would distribute spoils or gifts to his people. Here, it signifies the spiritual gifts given by Christ to believers, empowering them for service and building up the body of Christ. This concept is further elaborated in the subsequent verses of Ephesians 4, where Paul discusses the various gifts and roles within the church. (This foregoing comment is excerpted from BibleHub.com). (End Commentary Break).

Verse 9. (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? Verse 10. He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

(Commentary Break): Paul’s reasoning here is that Christ descended in humility; He died and was buried; He rose from the dead; He ascended in victory; He now reigns over all things; Therefore, Christ has the authority to distribute gifts to His people.

The focus of the passage is not primarily on the details of Christ’s descent, but on the fact that the One who humbled Himself is now exalted above all things and actively building His church.

The practical application of Ephesians 4:9-10 is to remind believers that Jesus fully entered our human condition, and no depth of suffering or humiliation was beneath Him. His exaltation followed His humiliation and He now reigns as the victorious Lord. The gifts and ministries within the church come from the risen and ascended Christ.

The same Savior who came down to rescue sinners is now enthroned over heaven and earth, governing His church and accomplishing His purposes until all things are brought into complete submission to Him.

This is remarkably similar to Jesus’ statement to the thief on the cross when He said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (see Luke 23:43 and 

Ephesians 4:8–10), Christ “descended into the lower parts of the earth” and then “led captivity captive.”

“Paradise” before Christ’s resurrection as the blessed compartment of Sheol/Hades where Old Testament believers awaited the completion of Christ’s redemptive work. This is often connected to Jesus’ description of “Abraham’s bosom” in Luke 16:19–31.

Jesus died on Friday and His spirit entered Paradise. Between His death and resurrection, He proclaimed His victory over sin, death, and Satan. At or immediately following His resurrection, He brought the redeemed saints into the direct presence of God in heaven. Since that time, believers who die go immediately to be with Christ. This is why the Apostle Paul said, “To be absent from the Body is to be present with Christ”. See 2 Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1:23). Paradise was “emptied” sometime between Christ’s death and His ascension, most commonly associated with His resurrection. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 11. And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, verse 12, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; verse 13, until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

(Commentary Break): The Apostle describes the distribution of Gifts of the Holy Spirit here and more completely in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. Importantly, however, Paul describes the purpose of the Gifts: they are for (1), the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, (2), and for the building up of the Body of Christ until (3), we all attain the unity of the faith, (4), (and) the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Somewhere along the way, the teaching and paradigm of pastors and church leaders preparing the saints to do the work of ministry shifted. They began preparing the fewer of those who felt “called to ministry”. Some went, some sent but the majority made it into a job and a career. They pandered to the church. They became ‘leaders’ and ‘C.E.O.s – ‘radio preachers’, televangelists and conference speakers. The church became a congregation, then an audience and a source of income for power and influence. But the Bible is clear: Pastors and Elders are to equip the saints for the WORK OF MINISTRY. They are to lead by example, not by edict. The twenty-first century Church must return to the model of the first century model of Jesus or it will continue to fade into obscurity as a religious relic of the past. (The Good News, however, is that God is preparing a Remnant that won’t shrink back, but will carry the Message and the fight and will crash the gates of hell for the rescue of the saints and the Glory of God. He has Spoken. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 14. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; verse 15, but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, verse 16, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

(Commentary Break): Paul’s words here should encourage all followers of Jesus, in any age. He is speaking present tense and future tense: As a result of having Gifted and empowered us for the work of ministry; as a result of having matured us and united us, we are no longer children tossed about by every wind of doctrine, by trickery, craftiness, deceitful scheming. We are growing up in all aspect to Him, Christ, fitted and held together in love. Take your place brothers and sisters. Arm yourself with the full Gospel of Christ and begin to pull down the strongholds of darkness. The victory is ours if we will only follow and obey! (End Commentary Break).

The Christian’s Walk

Verse 17. So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, verse 18, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; verse 19, and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. Verse 20. But you did not learn Christ in this way, verse 21, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, verse 22, that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, verse 23, and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, verse 24, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

(Commentary Break): Paul says, “affirm this in the Lord”. This is a formal, weight-bearing testimony. More than a casual speech, it is an oath-like affirmation delivered in the hearing of God and people, biding both the speaker and the audience to the truth declared. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Say it aloud. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 25. Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, because we are parts of one another. Verse 26. BE ANGRY, AND YET DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, verse 27, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Verse 28. The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather he must labor, producing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. Verse 29. Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Verse 30. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Verse 31. All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. Verse 32. Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (End Chapter 4).

The reborn, regenerated person in Christ will undertake, endeavor and practice these words of the Apostle. Anything less is falling short.

Please. Let’s pray for one another as believers that we are made able and each of us will hear the words, “Well done good and faithful servant”.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Next: (coming soon) – THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS, Chapter 5, Be Imitators of God, Marriage Like Christ and the Church.

Previous: THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS, Chapter 3, Paul’s Stewardship.

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