Ephesians 4
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Paul is captured for his calling. What has The Lord called you to do? What's your gift to those that need you in this world?
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Use those gifts with humility, then let the power of God work. You can't force anything, so just do the work The Lord has called you to do. God will do the rest.
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
"Endeavouring" = σπουδάζω spoudázō, spoo-dad'-zo; from G4710; to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest:—do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study. Keep studying! 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Christ Jesus is our Lord and our belief in Him brings eternal life. By His sacrifice, His death, His blood we are washed clean.
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
God created everything and is in control of everything. Exodus 3:14And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Don't ever be jealous of those gifts given to your brothers or sisters in Christ. We have all been shown favor, so see your gift for the blessing it is.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
The biggest gift to the world is Christ Jesus. Your heart is taken captive when you accept that gift.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Before Christ ascended to heaven, He went to all those that had died since the beginning, until His death. So they too would have the same choice as you and I today. The gift of life through Christ. Our Father is fair to everyone.
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
"Fill all things", every soul must be "born of water" = born from that sack of water of the womb, then given the choice of the world and satan or Christ Jesus and a renewing of that inner human which is your spirit or soul through His sacrifice. John 3:5-7 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. [Born from above] John 3:12-13 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. Christ tells Nicodemus if you can't understand the earthly, you can't understand the spiritual. The Holy Spirit is how we gain any understanding. Christ is The fulfillment, that gift of God in Christ. John 3:16-17 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Through Christ, we are given gifts.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
"Evangelists" today, give worldly speeches with very little substance, very little of God's Word. They're full of worldly feel good messages. The "pastors and teachers" should be pretty much one in the same, but here again, today you're blessed to find one that teaches God's Word as its written. Chapter for Chapter and verse by verse. You better believe, God makes sure there are "some" great "apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
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:
Only when we become an adult in Christ, will we become "perfect" or in other words complete. There is only one way to become an adult in Christ. You MUST STUDY HIS WORD. You can't grow on milk your whole life. You must start on that milk, but there comes a time you need that meat of The Word in order to grow, or to mature. "Perfect" = τέλειος téleios, tel'-i-os; from G5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness:—of full age, perfect, full grown, adult, of full age, mature.
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;
Adult Christians = those in the meat of The Word. Those that study DAILY, can't be fooled by those fakes, those that don't get what's being said, those that refuse The Truth. Today's world is full of people that call themselves "Christians" but just don't have time for study. They're those children being "tossed to and fro" swaying with whatever they hear from their so called "pastors." Believing whatever people tell them to believe. Joining in with the crowds because they believe they follow a "winner" but instead follow deception. Hence the religious, educational, economic and political world today.
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
True love is feeding others The Truth regardless of the outcome others may fear. Feed The Truth for their own good, for their correction. Living right can Only be done in Christ.
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.
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,
Stop walking around thinking about those matters of your flesh. Focus on what is real, what is truly important. Once you start in The Word, something within you opens your mind to The Truth. That's The Holy Spirit! Staying in The Word, brings us to a clear understanding of what's going on and what's important. Without God, there is no true understanding.
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:
Reject God, you reject true understanding of everything.
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Without Christ, satan fills the void.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Christ didn't teach anyone to live in that darkened state.
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
We have been given The Way, but we must open that door and let Him in.
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Let go of that old person and become new in The Lord.
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
[IF] you study His Word, it WILL change you in the way you think and react. It changes the way you see and hear. You'll wish you had turned to Christ long ago. The Word will change you.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Be an example to others. Who Christ is, become who you are. Zechariah 8:16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: It isn't wrong to be angry, just don't let that anger become who you are. It's part of forgiveness and wisdom that you show control in your words and actions.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Learn to let things go. If they weigh on your mind, you'll have a rough night's sleep. Don't let those things control you, you have control of those things. Use righteous indignation and common sense.
27 Neither give place to the devil.
Don't let evil overtake you.
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.
You do what's right and God will supply all your needs, even to the extent that you'll have more than enough and therefore can help others. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
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.
"Corrupt" = σαπρός saprós, sap-ros'; from G4595; rotten, i.e. worthless (literally or morally):—bad, corrupt. Compare G4190. of poor quality, bad, unfit for use, worthless. We should edify, build up those in our lives. We don't want to cause others to fall. At the same time, don't conform to that which goes against God. We are to be salt, not sugar and most of the church has fallen into those traps. Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Don't disappoint our Father. He is counting on us to hold to His Truth. The day of The Lord is fast approaching and when that 7th trump sounds you want to have a smile, not gnashing your teeth. Matthew 24:50-51 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Stay in The Word everyday and it will build your strength to stay in control of your actions.
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.