Eph 4:7-10 

 

Paul has spent three chapters teaching about things we have in common to cause unity

Eph. 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

Eph. 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,

Eph. 4:3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eph. 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;

Eph. 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph. 4:6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

now he switches gears and talks about unity strengthened by diversity

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

(gift/gifts given to each of us differing according to Christ’s portioning)

think of the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30   5, 2, and 1 talent given)

Each gets the gifts that Christ has to bestow for his special case. 

Rom 12 and 1 Cor 12 are the two main “go-to” sections to read about gifts

1Cor. 12:4 ¶ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1Cor. 12:5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

1Cor. 12:6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

1Cor. 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Rom. 12:4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,

Rom. 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Rom. 12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;

notice that each section starts by saying each member has different gifts 

then says those gifts serve a purpose

what is the purpose ?

The Message translates this as:

Eph. 4:7 ¶ But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift.

So we are expected to have unity because there is one:

• body
• Spirit
• Hope of Calling
• Lord
• Faith
• Baptism
• God & Father

but within the unity created from these 7 things

there is such diversity that each member is uniquely gifted

according to the generosity of Jesus Himself

Jesus gives us each varying gifts (Eph 4:7)

according to the Father’s will (John 5:28-30; 8:28)

sends the Holy Spirit (John chpts 14, 16)

(our gifts are sourced and empowered by the Spirit)

natural talents are not spiritual gifts 

(but can compliment them)

5 points to consider:

• keep growing in the Word
  • source of wisdom
  • fuel for the fire
• Ask the Lord to reveal your gifts
  • ask the giver what He ha given, what to do with it
  • what he has not given
• serve where there is a need 
  • remember, the gifts are meant to serve others, not one self
  • get involved, and discover what you can and cant do
• note your passions/burdens
  • they could be “indicators”
  • “path” God wants you to follow
  • gifts are not the end, they are a means to an end
• be patient

too many people start trying to discover their gifts for their own glory and fame or to be noticed

overlooking the fact that all the gifts given are designed to serve others, love others, unify the body

so if you are not seeking to serve the body in a greater way, why would the Lord reveal or amplify your gift

if all you want to do with it is to elevate yourself ?

James 4:3 You ask and ^ado not receive, because you ask ¹with wrong motives, so that you may spend it ²on your pleasures.

Eph. 4:8 Therefore it says

WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, 

HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, 

AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.”

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 1

The text for this is,

“When he ascended on high,

he took many captives

and gave gifts to his people.”

psalm 68:18

note that the psalmic source indicates leading captivity captive ?

how does Jesus lead captives into captivity ?

(there are two main opinions)

1. Paul is foremost describing the death and resurrection of Christ by which he descended to lowest parts (place of the dead) and on the third day, he rose again with power and glory. 1 Corinthians 15:4 says of Christ “he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”
2. descended simply is describing his incarnation (descending to earth), dying, resurrecting and ascending again

In Luke 16, we have the story of Abrahams bosom, a place of rest within the greater place called Hades (place of the dead)

there is a place of torment and a place of rest with a gulf between them

1. 1 Peter 3:19 Christ coming in spirit preached to those spirits that were in prison, which had some time been incredulous.
2. Zech 9:11: Thou also by the blood of Thy Testament hast sent forth Thy prisoners out of the pit.
3. Colossians 2:15: Despoiling the principalities and powers, He hath exposed them confidently.
4. Is. 44:23  ^aShout for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! 

Shout joyfully, you lower parts of the earth; 

^bBreak forth into a shout of joy, you mountains, 

O forest, and every tree in it; 

For ^cthe LORD has redeemed Jacob 

And in Israel He ^dshows forth His glory.

when Our Lord Jesus suffered, bled and died on the cross (Matthew 27:52) these saints held captive went with Him to paradise. In another sense, it means that all who believe in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection are freed from the condemnation of their sins because they have been washed by His blood and have the gift of salvation. This being done, now we are to use our gifts, talents as you might call them, to work and bring others to God.

Old Roman Creed (3rd Century)

I believe in God the Father almighty;

and in Christ Jesus His only Son, our Lord,

Who was born from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,

Who under Pontius Pilate was crucified and buried,

on the third day rose again from the dead,

ascended into heaven,

sits at the right hand of the Father,

whence he will come to judge the living and the dead;

and in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Church,

the remission of sins,

the resurrection of the flesh,

[life everlasting].

Nicene Creed (3rd Century)

I believe in one God,

the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried,

and rose again on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead

and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Constantine became sole Roman emperor in 324. Constantine was also the first emperor to claim to adhere to Christianity. 

He issued an edict that protected Christians in the empire in 337

unfortunately, his ideas of christianity drove the true church underground as a false one grew above, 

it started at the Holy Roman Empire

which was soon to be known as the Roman Universal Church (Catholic means universal)

in the midst of this conflict, another creed appears (based upon the old roman creed

Apostles Creed (4th – 7th century AD)

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit

and born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead.

He ascended to heaven

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic* church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

the problem with this single addition, is how the doctrines developed 

(many catholic teachings included Jesus suffered additional turmoil in Hell  _ where John 19:30 conflicts)

and lead to the doctrine of people also suffering in temporary holding until all sins are paid for = purgatory , where both John 19:30 and Eph 2:8-9 conflict with this idea)

10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

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

five leadership gifts to establish and build up the church 

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.