~~ Ephesians Four ~~

Today is Wednesday, . I am going to do a series of messages on the entire book of Ephesians. This is the first one I am doing. But I will back up and start at the first chapter later.

Eph 4:1- I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

[Paul is telling the Christians to walk worthy of our calling. This is saying we should live a Holy and Godly life in this present evil world. We are to be lowly and meek as was our Saviour, Jesus. We are to be longsuffering and forbearing with each other, thus showing the Love of God. This includes the admonition to forgive from the heart every trespass of man against us. Unless we do this, our own sins will not be forgiven.]

Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

[This is telling us to truly work at keeping a Spirit of unity and peace with other Christians. Forgiveness, true forgiveness is the greatest way of doing this. We are never to seek vengeance toward anyone, not even with our words. Jesus told us to be perfect as your Heavenly Father in Heaven is perfect. Now I want someone to show me the Scripture which tells us to sin after we come to Christ. Where is that? Where did Jesus tell anyone to go and continue to sin? I know of no such teaching in God’s Word.]

Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

[One body, is the entire true Church of the Lord assembled together as one entity. We are all members of one another. Every true Christian. There is no split in the body of Christ. We cannot separate the body into this local church and that one over there. We are all ONE. We are united by one Spirit. This is that spirit of unity. We all have that same one hope.]

Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

[Now I want to show you something here which most churches have taken this above Scripture and ‘slaughtered�?it and made up a false doctrine saying Jesus is God and the only one.

This Scripture is NOT saying all of these things listed here are one and the same thing as in counting. It is NOT saying there is only (1) Lord who is God and he is the same baptism, etc.

We have just established that there is one body of Christ which is made up of MANY members. This is that one Lord. It is Christ Jesus with all of his people. Lord, spelled with only one capital letter this way, refers to Jesus. It does NOT mean the eternal God.

See, next it said there is one faith, one baptism. Now this is NOT saying that this one faith is the same as this one baptism. See? It is speaking of different things down through here. It does not say that the one Lord is this one baptism, now does it?

Then-- it said there is one God. Now this is a total different thing from the one Lord. This is where they have destroyed the true meaning of this Scripture and invented a false teaching of Jesus only.

It said there is one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Now this is God the Father, not Jesus our Lord. God the Father is above all. Read 1Cor. 15. It says that Jesus will some day deliver the kingdom up to God and he himself be subject to God, that he may be all in all.

I will just put that Scripture here so you all may see this truth in connection with the above Scripture:

1co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

1co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

At the very end of time, Jesus will have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father.

Now let someone come in here and answer this and ‘make sense�?how Jesus is going to deliver the kingdom up to himself. See then that this verse completes the thought in Eph. 4 that God is the Father, not Jesus.

Read verse 28-- when all things shall be subdued unto Jesus, then shall the Son himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Now is not this what it said in Eph. 4, that God the Father is to be all in all? Sure it is. It did not say the one Lord is this all in all; it said the one God, the Father is this all in all. He is above all and in you all.]

Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

[Jesus gave these ministers for one purpose. This is for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry and edifying the body of Christ. So who is to say we are not to be perfected? Of course we are. But we will not be perfected with a false teaching; a fake church; a fake, sinning, worldly ministry, which is more interested in fancy buildings and programs than in edifying the body of Christ.]

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

[Now see that this ministry is go on until one particular thing happens; we must all (all true Christians) must come into the unity of the faith. This is that one faith. We must all come to the knowledge of the Son of God. Now this is where the entire church is missing truth, they do not have the true knowledge of the Son of God. All churches teach that the Son is God. This is not the true knowledge.

Jesus is the Son of God; he is not God. he is God’s Son. You must all come to this knowledge to be in this perfect unity which will then come unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, unto a perfect man.

See? One PERFECT MAN. Now this does NOT mean (1) individual. No! It means we, the one body of Christ, in the unity of the one true faith, will become this ONE PERFECT MAN. We, women, men, children will all be one perfect MAN.]

Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

[We will have grown up in Christ. Then we will not be deceived any longer with men’s cunning false teachings and seeking to get your money to build up their programs and fancy buildings. Their false winds of doctrine will be left far behind. See these men who teach the false teachings are cunning and full of craftiness, whereby they deceive the simple.]

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

[The way this will be accomplished is by the entire true church coming into the unity of the one true faith, thus we will be speaking the TRUTH in love and will grow up into Jesus in all things, for He is the head of this one Body.]

Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

[This is saying that this whole body of Christ, (many members) will be fitly joined TOGETHER and compacted by that which every joint, or each member of the body, supplies to the body. Each member will be effectually working to edify this body. No longer will false ‘shepherds�?stand in the way of the teachers God sends, from coming in and feeding the flock of God. No longer will men’s own personal agenda stand in the way of God working as He sees fit with His true Church. The members of this one body will then GO out into the Word, to teach everyone, as Jesus commanded his body to do.

The ‘church�?of today, opened up ‘business�?and sits as a spider with her web, and waits for the world to COME UNTO THEM.

But is this what Jesus told His Church to do ? No! He said you, GO, you go out into all the world and teach every creature. Do not sit and wait for the world to come to you; you go out to them.

This is the working of the true Church of Jesus. They go out and teach EVERYWHERE.

This is the very reason nothing is being accomplished by the church. Oh sure, they have paying members. But I mean the works of faith. The converting of souls. The healing of the sick. The raising of the dead, The casting out of devils, etc.]

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

[Here we are told not to live as the unsaved live. Most people today claim the Christians sins just as everyone else. This is not true. Those who live in sin, have their understanding darkened, and are alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance of truth; their heart is blind. This is the Laodicean Church. Blind.]

 

Eph 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

[See these perpetual ‘sinners�?have no feeling and have gone over to all uncleanness with their own greediness. The fake church is known for her greed. Give to us. Help us. They spend their whole time coming up with more money schemes, with which to extract all the money they can from the community around them. What a shame and a disgrace they are to God and His true Church. The Church was told to give to those who are in need. Help the fatherless and the widows. We were never told to take from them.]

Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

[Now here is the true way of Christianity. We did not learn Christ in the way of those who continue in their sins and greed. We are told to put off our former conduct in our old man nature, because this is corrupt with lusts. Then we are to be renewed and put on the new man, which is created in righteousness and true holiness. Holiness. Righteousness. No sin. This is in God. This is a holy new man, which all true Christians have put on.

Those who tell you this cannot be done are liars and the enemy of your soul. Those who love sin are of the devil and have not known the Lord.

1jo 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1jo 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

...he that commits sin is of the devil. Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin. Now this is the Word of God. Where does it say we all still sin after conversion? I want someone to find me that verse and show it to me.]

Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

[We are to quit lying and speak truth to everyone. This is what God has always required of his people, “speak truth�? Yet most ‘Christians�?think they can just lie anytime it suits them and be alright. See again it confirms that we are members of each other.]

Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 4:27 Neither give place to the devil. 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

[Now this says even when you are angry, still do NOT SIN. So where are these false teachings coming from which say we all must still sin? Where is even one Scripture saying this lie?

He said do not give place to the devil. How are you going to sin and not give place to the devil? If we cannot accomplish this, why did Jesus tell us this? Is He saying to do something He knows we cannot do? What kind of God and Saviour would do this to us?

Steal no more, if you were a thief. Can you not live without stealing? I have never stolen in my life, so why can’t others live without stealing? I speak truth, so why can’t other speak truth? I have been asked to tell how I live without sinning. So here it is.

By the fullness of the Holy Ghost, we are given a new nature = a new man. This new man, or mind, loves righteousness and Holiness. We do not wish to sin. We are given power to live a clean, holy life by the Spirit He has given to us. If that Spirit cannot change our lives, what purpose is it? If He cannot take us into a holy life, what good is it?

We now have a desire to GIVE to the needs of others. Giving is the mark of God.

Let no corrupt words come out of your mouth. Why cannot we speak good and truthful words and leave off filthy talk? I have never liked filthy talk, so why can’t others get above this? Because they do not have the Holy Spirit.]

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

[ Now those who do not receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost are not sealed. This Spirit is our seal, waiting until the day of our full redemption, which is the resurrection of our bodies into immortality.]

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

[Here we are told to get rid of any bitterness we may have; get rid of wrath and anger, speak no evil and do not harbor any malice toward anyone.

Now I ask you, is this impossible to obey? If so, why did God tell us to do this? This is ‘fine-tuning�?your Christian walk. Better get to obeying this. It is commands from God. Do not listen to these false brethren who say you cannot live a Holy and Godly life in this present world. We are commanded to do so. We are given the power of the Spirit with which to do so.]

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

[Now he ends with telling us to be kind to each other. Is that too hard? We are to be tenderhearted and forgive each other as God has forgiven you.

Unless you forgive from the heart every trespass of man against you, your heavenly Father will not forgive your sins.

So, in conclusion of this chapter, I see no place in here which tells us to continue in sin that grace may abound. It is just not taught in God’s Word.

There is nothing commanded to us in this chapter, or the rest of God’s Word which He does not give us the power to obey. If you do not obey, it is because you do not want to. If you pray and ask God for deliverance of everything wrong in your life, God will deliver you and make you clean and whole and Holy.

By: Jo Smith