10 December

Bible In 365 Days                          

Ephesians 4-6

Ephesians 4

The Apostle at once proceeded to apply this great doctrine to the present life of the Church. From the heavenly calling he passed to the earthly conduct. The matter of first importance is maintenance of the unity of the Spirit. The fact of that unity is then declared. 'There is one body, and one Spirit"; the function of the instrument so described is revealed in the words, "one hope of your calling." He then showed how the unity is created: "one Lord," the Object of faith; "one faith," centered on the one Lord; "one baptism," that of the Spirit. The great result is "one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all."

The ascended Christ received gifts, and bestowed them "for the perfecting of the saints unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ."

Having referred to the ascension of Christ, the Apostle linked that ascension to His descent. These Christians are called to the maintenance of unity, and how each one is equipped for such obedience is then declared. Grace sufficient is supplied to each until all shall attain to the fulness of the stature of Christ.

In order to realize these things there must be an absolute turning away from the old manner of life in accepting the new. In a series of eight remarkable contrasts the apostle showed the difference between the old and the new. In order to fulfil these injunctions, it is solemnly charged, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God." Putting away all these things of the old is the work of the Holy Spirit, as is also the realization in life and character of the things of the new. If we will let the Spirit have His way, we shall find these evil things wither and die, and it will be possible, in the power of the new life, to obey the positive injunctions. If, on the other hand, we cling to, and indulge in, the things condemned, we shall cause sorrow to the great Indweller.

Ephesians 5

All that the Apostle had been saying was emphasized by the statement of their relationship to God as he called them to be "imitators of God." Again he urged them to put off the old and put on the new. In the old are things of darkness. Believers are to walk as children of the light. That light is found in Christ, "Christ shall shine upon thee."

In the final movement the Apostle makes a contrast between false excitement and true enthusiasm, between being "drunken with wine" and being "filled with the Spirit." The whole teaching here is emphasized by the words, "Walk worthily of the calling." In order to do this, we find two principal injunctions: "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 4:30), and "Be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).

Dealing with the Christian household the apostle first revealed the divine conception of the sacredness of the marriage relation. The ideal is presented as conformity to the pattern of the relationship existing between Christ and His Church. The wife yields her complete allegiance to an absolutely self-sacrificing love. Therefore, in his relationship the husband is mastered by a self-emptying devotion. Thus the heads of the household are called on to bear such relation to each other as is worthy of the high calling of the Church, made possible by the glorious union existing between her and her Lord.

Ephesians 6

The teaching now turned to the next relationship of importance in the Christian household - the relationship of parents and children. Children are to yield obedience, and thus be set free from all care and anxiety. When the period of childhood passes, obligation does not cease. They are still to honor father and mother.

The responsibility of parents is referred to only with regard to the father. Thus the Apostle emphasized that the chief responsibility for training a child should rest with the father. In the exercise of parental authority there must always be the principle of reasonableness, that the obedience of the child may be constrained by love.

The next relationship in the Christian household is that between servants and masters. Service is to be rendered, ever remembering that the final standard must come from the Lord Himself, and is to be rendered as to Him. Masters also are to rule always from the standpoint of loyalty to Christ. The master's relation to his servant will depend on his relation to his own Master in heaven.

The Apostle now turned to the subject of conflict. Life on earth after the pattern of the heavens is bound to bring the soul into conflict with all the forces that are opposed to God. He recognized that behind all the opposition of man is the more terrific opposition of spiritual powers. If, however, there is the revelation of a terrible conflict, there is no room for cowardly fear. Perfect provision is made for the saint. Concerning this armor the Apostle has two injunctions. First, "Put on the whole armour of God"; second, "Take up the whole armour of God," indicating equipment and actual conflict. Then the saint is "to stand," and "to withstand," and, "having done all, to stand." The letter ends with personal matters, every one of which is interesting and suggestive, and, finally, the benediction.