Ephesians 4, Mark 1-5

Through the New Testament Reading - Mark 1-5

(see more notes on Ephesians 4)

Ephesians 4 (NIV 1984)
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men.”

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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I highly recommend also reading my other notes for Ephesians chapter 4, written a few weeks ago.

My Reflection:

Chapter four begins the second half of the book of Ephesians, turning sharply from the theology of who we are in Christ to the practice of living out our faith in community as the body of Christ. What we do is a reflection of who we are. The two cannot be separated.

The first direction given to the newly formed multiethnic community is that they would be in unity. If we truly believe that God has removed the wall of hostility between us and him through Jesus, and between each other through our mutual faith, we will live this out in our humble and mutual respect and love for one another.

We are a community of the good news of the Kingdom of God. Our relationships of service and mutuality are a reflection to each other and the world of our faith in God's forgiveness, grace, and love. It is no surprise that the very first appeal to our practice of the gospel would be that we remain in unity.

The second half of the chapter contains the second major appeal to the practice of our walk of faith. To the old religious insiders, the letter urges unity and patience. To the new members in community, the letter warns us that life in this community of faith will mean living differently than we did before. We are free to live in community and grace and love. We are not free to sabotage our new community with our old selfish behaviours.

Every effort is to be made to offer grace, patience, forgiveness, and respect for those who are new or weak in faith. Every effort is made by new members to grow in faith and leave those immature, weak, and selfish ways behind. With both sides of this practice given full honour and attention, in and through faith, unity and peace in the body is the result.