BIG IDEA:
IN HUMILIY AND LOVE, PROMOTE UNITY IN A CONTEXT OF DIVERSITY WITH THE GOAL OF MATURITY
MAJOR TRANSITION:
(:1) THEME OF CHAPS. 4-6 — THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH — HOW WE SHOULD WALK IN CHRIST
Paul has spent 3 chapters describing our high calling;
Now he “entreats” the believers to Walk Worthy in Chaps. 4-6
A. Example of the Apostle Paul
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord”
B. Entreaty of the Apostle Paul
1. Tone
“entreat you”
2. Substance = Walk Worthy
“walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called”
I. (:2-6) UNITY — PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THE UNITY OF THE ONE BODY OF CHRIST
A. (:2-3) HOW?
1. Practicing the Fruit of the Holy Spirit in our Attitudes and Relationships
a. “with all humility and gentleness”
b. “with patience, showing forbearance to one another”
c. “in love”
2. Working Hard at Preserving the Unity of the Body
“being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”
B. WHY? — God Has Called us to a Unity of Oneness (outline here from Wood)
1. Realization of Unity in the Spirit
a. “One body”
b. “one Spirit”
c. “one hope of your calling”
2. Focus of Unity in the Son
a. “one Lord”
b. “one faith”
c. “one baptism”
3. Souce of Unity in the Father — “one God and Father of all”
Significance — 3 Different Modes of Action:
a. “who is over all”
b. “and through all”
c. “and in all”
II. (:7-12) DIVERSITY — PROMOTE AND APPRECIATE THE DIVERSITY OF THE VARYING SPIRITUAL GIFTS FOR THE EQUIPPING OF THE BODY
A. (:7) Christ has Gifted Each Member of the Body in a Unique Way
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift”
B. (:8-10) This Gift Giving was in Fulfillment of Prophecy in Conjunction with the Victory of His Ascension
1. (:8) Prophecy of the Spoils of Victory
“When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.”
2. (:9-10) Aside: Reality of Ascension with its Majestic Glory contrasted with Corresponding Reality of “Descension”
C. (:11) List of Some of the Leadership-Related Gifts — “He gave some as”
1. “apostles”
2. “prophets”
3. “evangelists”
4. “pastors – teachers”
D. (:12) Purpose of Christ Gifting Such Leaders
1. Immediate Goal: “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service”
The vision is Not for the leaders to do the bulk of the ministry
2. Ultimate Goal: “to the building up of the body of Christ”
III. (:13-16) MATURITY — KEEP FOCUSED ON THE GOAL OF THE MATURITY OF THE ENTIRE BODY
(WHICH REQUIRES MUTUAL LOVE IN WORD AND DEED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS)
A. (:13) 3 Marks of Maturity — “to a mature man”
1. Unity — “until we all attain to the unity of the faith”
2. Knowing Christ — “and of the knowledge of the Son of God”
3. Christ-likeness “to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ”
B. (:14) Resulting Doctrinal Stability
“As a result, we are no longer to be children”
1. Descriptions of Instability
a. “tossed here and there by waves”
b. “and carried about by every wind of doctrine”
2. Strategies of Instability
a. “the trickery of men”
b. “craftiness in deceitful scheming”
C. (:15-16) Mutual Love Centered In Christ Makes for a Healthy, Growing Body
1. Mutual Love in Ongoing Communication of the Truth
“speaking the truth in love”
2. Mutual Growth of the Body Centered in Christ
3. Corporate Maturity Achieved by Mutual Love and Mutual Growth