Class Outline:

Sunday July 4,2021

EPH 4:7-8

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,

 

"When He ascended on high,

He led captive a host of captives,

And He gave gifts to men."

 

Paul had written of Christ’s ascension in chapter one and two, and our ascension together with Him. The body of Christ is “the fullness of Him,” meaning that He fills us, and by that wonderful fact, we are a part of the One who fills all things. There is nothing in existence that won’t, by the end of time, will not in some way be touched by Christ, and to us in the church that contact has been made in the form of eternal marriage. How could we ever think that we have a right to complain about anything, fear anything, despair of anything?

 

In order to appreciate the language of this passage we realize that in Eph 3, in three separate places, Paul wrote of the grace given to him in the form of the gift of his stewardship to minister to the church. He makes the point here that as he received his gifts in grace, so does every member of the body of Christ, and like him, we are all to use those gifts “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”

 

Paul only comments on the ascension and the gifts. He does not comment on the captives. The gifts are clearly going to the church age believers.

 

EPH 4:9-10

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

 

Jesus also spoke of His descension and ascension in the Gospel of John.

 

First Paul recognizes the whole of the body of Christ in vv. 1-6 as the starting point for considering the individual parts vv. 7-16. The body of Christ is a unity of diversity.

 

There is a pattern in this section of Ephesians, which same pattern is found in other letters. Doxology (God’s glory) followed by gift giving and exhortation.

 

Look at it here.

 

Doxology:

EPH 3:20-21

Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

 

Exhortation:

EPH 4:1-6

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

 

Gift giving:

EPH 4:7-11

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,

 

"When He ascended on high,

He led captive a host of captives,

And He gave gifts to men."

 

9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

 

Further exhortation:

EPH 4:12-13

for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 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 fulness of Christ. [and continuing …]

 

Naturally, we would find similar patterns in other letters.

 

Paul writes very similarly to EPH 4:1-16 in Rom 12.

 

A doxology is followed by and exhortation.

 

ROM 11:36-12:2

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

 

12:1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

EPH 3:21-4:1

to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

 

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you

 

Then, just like Eph 4, grace is given followed by an appeal to humility on the ground of one body and the diversity of its members.

 

ROM 12:3-6

For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly:

 

The divine mercy was given world-wide to a great number of people, diverse in person and in gift, and yet inclusive as one body. All over the world, as the church grew as Christ said, like leaven in a lump of dough or a tiny mustard seed producing a large tree, each member was gifted, committed to the whole under the one Head, and not as a privilege only, but also as a responsibility.

 

PHI 1:7

For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.

 

All partakers of grace, Paul and the Philippians had a living connection in the defense of the gospel.

 

The glory of God is first revealed to us and then the gifts are given to us from Him and then, and only then, are we exhorted to serve God and men from the position of those who are saved eternally who fear nothing and no one other than God, and who only seek to do His will.

 

In the following oracle from Isaiah, God is promising a future salvation to the remnant in Israel, those who have believed Him.

 

ISA 51:7-8

"Listen to Me, you who know righteousness,

A people in whose heart is My law;

Do not fear the reproach of man,

Neither be dismayed at their revilings.

8 "For the moth will eat them like a garment,

And the grub will eat them like wool.

But My righteousness shall be forever,

And My salvation to all generations."

 

ISA 51:12

"I, even I, am He who comforts you.

Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies,

And of the son of man who is made like grass;

 

Glory followed by exhortation to walk in the manner worthy of our calling. We will not behold the depth of that glory, nor understand the power of the gifts we possess from God until we are convinced that we must walk upright and we do so consistently. Then, the Lord’s exhortation to John and Andrew, “Come and see,” will be true and we will see.

 

We have to go on to the upright walk, which is the life of the believer so blessed by God, without which we will not behold the glory of God.

 

PRO 2:1-5

My son, if you will receive my sayings,

And treasure my commandments within you,

2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom,

Incline your heart to understanding;

3 For if you cry for discernment,

Lift your voice for understanding;

4 If you seek her as silver,

And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord,

And discover the knowledge of God.

 

Knowledge of God (da’at Elohim) refers to knowledge of Him and also involvement of our total personality in His presence through His word and Spirit.

 

God is known through obedience to His revealed will. We cannot know Him academically alone, though it must be included.

Then we are introduced to the Giver. “For” introduces both the reason and the explanation of why a son will know wisdom.

 

PRO 2:6-12

For the Lord gives wisdom [not Solomon];

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright [yasar - righteous, just, ethical];

He is a shield to those who walk in integrity [tom - guiltless, without sin, upright, honest, complete],

8 Guarding the paths of justice,

And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice

And equity [meyshar - moral behavior, righteousness] and every good course [magal - firm path or wagon track].

10 For wisdom will enter your heart,

And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

11 Discretion will guard you,

Understanding will watch over you,

12 To deliver you from the way of evil,

From the man who speaks perverse things;

 

tom (PRO 2:7) - commonly integrity of heart, sincerity, innocence of willful wrongdoing, upright, honest, righteous, complete. To them God stores up wisdom.

 

“The allegiance precedes understanding, not the other way around.” [Newsom]

 

The one who has integrity of heart and a righteous, upright life will understand wisdom, the skill of living life as God wills. Christianity does not consist of academia only, but from the start demands thought, speech, and action in accordance with the truth learned. The way of that life is revealed by Solomon in his book, a life maintained and taught by Christ who made it a reality within all believers through regeneration and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

 

There is a balance of style and thought.

Vs. 5 - you will discern.

Vs. 6 - the Lord gives wisdom.

Vs. 9 - you will discern.

Vs. 10 - wisdom will enter.

 

If wisdom was popular to the masses, to the public, she would not have to stand at the gates of the city pleading a hearing for her sayings.

 

PRO 1:20-22

Wisdom shouts in the street,

She lifts her voice in the square;

21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;

At the entrance of the gates in the city, she utters her sayings:

22 "How long, O naive ones, will you love simplicity?

And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing,

And fools hate knowledge?

Xxx

 

 Isa. 51:9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not You who cut Rahab in pieces, Who pierced the dragon?    51:10 Was it not You who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; Who made the depths of the sea a pathway For the redeemed to cross over?    51:11 So the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.    51:12 "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass,    51:13 That you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?    51:14 "The exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon, nor will his bread be lacking.    51:15 "For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar (the Lord of hosts is His name).    51:16 "I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.' "    

 

ISA 53:1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

 

1CO 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;    11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."    11:25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."    11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.    11:27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.