EphesiansLesson 7

Ephesians 4:7-16• Contrast: But• All believers, now “individually” • Grace to each believer• Gifts to each• “Gift” – doreas: a free gift, hence, not acquired by

merit or “entitlement”. Expresses a brand of giving that highlights the beneficent desire of the giver.

• John 7:37-79 AFTER Jesus was glorified, the Holy Spirit came to permanently live in every believer

• I Cor. 12:4-11 Holy Spirit gives the gifts for the common good

Ephesians 4:8-10• “He ascended” “He descended”• Ps. 68 “You have ascended on high, You have led

captives.• Military term: The Captor brings back the spoils• Eph. 4:8 He gave gifts to men• Hades: Act 2:22-36 Jesus was not abandoned• I Pet. 3:18-22 Put to death in the body, made alive

by the Spirit. Preached to those in prison• I Pet. 4:6 For this is the reason the gospel was

preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

Hades• Hades: the unseen world – referring to the invisible

realm in which all the departed – dead- reside• Matt. 16:18 The gates of Hades will not overpower

the church• Luke 16:23 Seems to be a place for the unrighteous

dead• Rev. 1:18 Jesus has the keys of death and Hades• Rev. 20:13-14 It will be thrown into the Lake of

Fire – the second death – at the Final Judgment

Gifts• He gave some as:• Apostles• Prophets• Evangelists• Pastors/Shepherds and Teachers• Why? Ephesians 4:12-15• To equip the saints for the work of service • To build up the body of Christ• So that we are no longer children, tossed about by

every wind of doctrine• So that we GROW UP in all aspects

Gifts• Apostle: apostolous – a divinely appointed

representative, one who is sent with a commission• Prophet: propheteia – the speaking forth of the mind

and counsel of God• Evangelist: evangelistes – a messenger of the good

news • Pastor/Teacher: Poimen – not only a teacher of

God’s word, but also a shepherd of the flock he teaches. “The Word is the staff that guides and disciplines the sheep” W. Weirsbe

I Cor., Romans and I Peter• Every believer has a spiritual gift• All believers do not have the same gift, nor do they

have all the gifts• All gifts are needed• All gifts are for the common good of the body• Two categories: Speaking and Serving• Eph. 4:12-16 • Equipping: katartismon – a bringing to a condition

of fitness, perfecting. To make fully ready• Mature: teleion – having reached its end, wanting in

nothing, full.

Maturity• Trickery: kubeia – dice playing, gaming, implies the

use of trickery and cheating. ONLY in Eph. 4:14• Men’s trickery leads the immature to false doctrine• Instructions in verse 15• Speak the truth in love• Grow up• Speaking the truth of God’s Word to one another in

love leads to maturity

The Body• Colossians 2:18-19 Do not let anyone who delights

in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.