Ephesians 4:7-16 (Part 2)

I. Christ gives gifts for the edification of the body.
a. To be equipped to serve.
-equipping = katartismos = equip, train; medical term for setting a bone
b. To build up the body
-building up = oikodome = build, building, build up
c. To come to the unity of the faith.
-O'Brien "Christian growth or progress does not occur in isolation."
-Heb. 10:25
d. To gain knowledge of Christ.
e. To come to maturity.
-stature = helikia = age, fullness of age, span of years

II. Christ gives gifts for the establishing of the body.
a. Adhere to sound doctrine.
-children = nepios = infant, baby, immature
-trickery = kubeia = dice playing, cunning
b. Proclaim sound doctrine in love.
-I Cor. 13:1-3

III. Christ gives gifts for the enabling of the body.
-being fitted together = sunarmologeo = fit together
-held together = sumbibazo = bring together, unite
-Phil 2:12-13

Ephesians 4:7-16 (Part 1)

I. Christ gives gifts to all believers.
-gift = dorea
a. Christ measures out gifts to each one.
-measure = metron = measure, measurement, standard
b. Christ's victory demonstrates His authority to give gifts.
-Ps. 68:18
-John 6:33, 38, 50-51; Is. 44:23

II. Christ gives gifts to the body.
a. Apostles and prophets
Three purposes
1. To lay the foundation of the church.
2. To receive and proclaim the Word of God.
-Acts 21:10-11
3. Give confirmation of God's word through signs and wonders.
-II Cor. 12:12, Heb. 2:3-4
Two qualifications.
1. Chosen by Christ.
-Mark 3:13, Matt. 10:2
2. Be a witness of the resurrected Christ.
-Acts 1:22-24
b. Evangelists
c. Pastor/teacher
-pastor = poimen = shepherd
-I Pet 5:1-2; I Tim. 5:17

Ephesians 4:1-6

I. Walk worthy of our calling
-implore = parakaleo = urge, plead, beseech
-worthy = axios, be of equal weight, balance the scales

-How?
a. In humility
-humility = tapeinosphrosune = to think or judge lowly
b. Being gentle
-gentleness = prautes = meek, gentle; "free from malice and desire for revenge
c. Extending patience
-patience = makrothumia = longsuffering, long-tempered
d. Showing tolerance in love
-showing tolerance = anechomai = bear with, bear up, endure, put up with; idea is endure or putting up with provocation until it has passed.
e. Guarding unity
-being diligent = spoudazo = be zealous or eager, take pains, make every effort

II. Reflect the unity of our calling.
a. Unity in the Spirit.
-O'Brien "The one Spirit brings unity and cohesion to the body by His indwelling and animating activity."
b. Unity in the Son.
c. Unity in the Father.

Ephesians 3:14-21

I. Prayer for the saints.
a. Empowered by the Holy Spirit.
-strengthen = krataioo = to fortify, to brace, strengthen
b. Continual presence and rule of Christ.
-dwell = katoikeo = live in, settle down
c. Insight into the love of Christ.
i. Established in Christ's love.
-rooted = rhizoo = to cause to take root, to be or become firmly rooted
-themelioo = to lay a foundation, to establish
ii. Understanding the matchless love of Christ
-able = exischuo = fully able
-comprehend = katalambano = to grasp mentally, lay hold of
d. Filled with the fullness of God.
-MacArthur "There is no way, this side of heaven, we can fathom this truth. We can only believe it and praise God for it."

II. Praise to the Lord.
a. His infinite accomplishing power.
-more abundantly = huperekperissou = superabundantly, more than ever; "stresses an extraordinary degree, involving a considerable excess over what would be expected
b. His glory revealed through the church in Christ.