Lesson 524

(Lesson 524)(01-22-13) Ephesians 4:1-16, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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: 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; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 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 lesson demonstrates the importance of each of us within the make up of the Church. Herein, Paul calls on the Ephesians to refrain petty jealousies and to stop attempting to separate out positions of authority within the Church. He explains that each individual member has their own role to play.

He was trying to get the Ephesians (as well as Church members today) to adopt a "we're all in this together" attitude. Some were given the ability to teach, while others would prophecy, others would attend to the needs of the weak among them, each position being of equal importance to the Church.
Paul, in essence, says the sole purpose of the Church membership is to spread the good news of grace through faith in Jesus Christ risen. Diligently maintaining the integrity of the gospel message, and continually uplifting and encouraging one another in our efforts. We are to use whatever individual talent we might have to fill the needs of the body of Christ (the Church), as a whole, whatever that need.~