November 27, 2022
Ephesians 4:7-16
“Christ’s Gifts”
Advent, Week 1, Hope: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
Service Overview: The first Sunday of Advent and we’re already talking about gifts! But these aren’t your average Christmas gifts, these are gifts from Christ himself; given to the church for a divine mission and purpose.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10 (NIV)
Background Information:
- In verses 9-10, which function like a parenthesis, Paul speaks of Christ’s descent and ascent. Paul sees the incarnation (descent) and ascension of Christ as evidence that Christ is Savior and King. Therefore, Christ is our ascended Lord. He came all the way down (Phil 2:5-8) and has now gone all the way up (Phil 2:9-11). Christ is above all. Christ fills all. Christ gives gifts to all. Marvel at His generosity and authority! (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians, 101)
- The exact number of gifts listed by Paul is a matter of debate. In the Greek, each gift is made distinct by using the direct article the, except for the gift of teaching. Teaching appears to be attached to pastors as a combined gift. Thus the list would be apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers. However, in other passages Paul refers to teaching as a separate and distinct gift (see Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28). Perhaps Paul viewed them as overlapping in activity. (Mark A. Holmes, Ephesians, Kindle Location 2283)
- Psalm 68:18 pictures God as conqueror when the ark of the covenant was being brought up to Zion in triumph by David (2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 15). It had been removed in battle. As David returns the ark to Jerusalem, he also brings the tribute of war extracted from the captured foes. Some of the spoils was given to the temple, and some was distributed among the warriors. Paul used that picture to refer to Christ’s ascent into heaven. (Bruce Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: Ephesians, 80)
- 4:11. “Apostles” were literally commissioned messengers carrying out their sender’s mission; as such, they were backed by the sender’s authority to the extent that they accurately represented that commission; in the New Testament, the term applies to commissioned agents of Christ authorized in a special way (more authoritatively than others) to declare and propagate his will. (Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 284)
- Paul is simply borrowing the imagery of Psalm 68 and applying it to Christ’s incarnation and ascension. The fact that he “ascended” implies that he “descended” in the incarnation to the “lower regions,” which is another way of indicating the humiliation of coming to earth (cf. John 3:13). (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Ephesians, 155)
What’s important to understand about the gifts Christ has given to his church?
- Their function: to equip for building.
(v.12 | Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 6:40; Acts 6:4; Romans 15:2; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 4:10)
Although the church is one unified body, each of its members has a special ability to be used for the good and growth of all. No one is overlooked; everyone is important to building up the community. (Bruce Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: Ephesians, 79)
Gifts are not toys to play with. They are tools to build with. And if they are not used in love, they become weapons to fight with, which is what happened in the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 12—14). (Warren Wiersbe, Be Rich: Ephesians, 93)
- Their goal: foster unity in faith and knowledge.
(v.13a | Proverbs 18:15; 1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 2:2; Col. 1:9; 3:14; 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Pet. 3:8)
I believe that one major reason that the church of Jesus Christ in the United States is very close to being in sheer chaos today is because so many people think themselves as individuals rather than as part of the body of Christ. Christianity is not “every man for himself;” it’s every man together for Christ. (Wayne Mack, To Be or Not To Be a Church Member, 58)
God’s call to unity does not come as the result of our being the same, as if we were clones, but from our diverse natures working toward one unified goal. (Mark A. Holmes, Ephesians, Kindle Location 2204)
Paul’s vision of the body of Christ is of a unity which consists in diversity, that is, a unity which is not denied by diversity, but which would be denied by uniformity, a unity which depends on its diversity functioning as such – in a word, the unity of a body, the body of Christ. (James Dunn, The Theology of Paul the Apostle, 564)
- Their benefit: health, wholeness, and maturity.
(vv.13b-14 | John 10:10; Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:9; 1 Timothy 4:15; Heb. 6:1-3; 1 Pet. 2:2)
A growing church is one in which each member is experientially sound, evangelistically active, and doctrinally informed. That is the reason why these ministries are given to the Church. (Willard H. Taylor, Beacon Bible Expositions, Volume 8, 176)
Christian living moves from what God has freely done for us in Christ to what we should freely do for others. (John Piper, Exposing the Dark World of Abortion, Sermon: January 26, 1992, www.DesiringGod.org)
Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of the years, but by obedience to the will of God. (Oswald Chambers, Bringing Sons into Glory and Making All Things New, 56)
Conclusion… What should Jesus’ church do about a text like this today?
A. Joyfully receive what Jesus has given.
(v. 16 | Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 27; Col. 3:17 ; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Peter 4:10)
God is not so much interested in our being the star of the show as he is in our doing our best with the part he has given us. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Ephesians, 158)
Like a painter who is able to create an infinite number of colors by mixing any combination of the ten or so colors he carries in his palette, so the Spirit of God blends a little of one gift with a little of another to create the perfect combination within you. As a result, you have a unique position in the Body of Christ, with an ability to minister as no one else can. (John MacArthur, The Master’s Plan for the Church, 165)
B. Don’t cut your head off.
(v. 15 | Ephesians 1:22; 2:20; 5:23; Colossians 1:18; 2:9-10; 2:19; 2 Timothy 4:5)
It is not great gifts that God blesses so much as it is great likeness to Christ. (Robert Murray McCheyne)
That Christ will fill the whole universe refers to his power and control over all of his creation. Christ is Lord of the whole universe—past, present, and future. He fills all things with himself as their sovereign Head, yet he fills the church, his body, with the blessings of his Spirit, grace, and gifts (see also 1:10, 23). (Bruce Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: Ephesians, 81)
C. In all matters, be about the business of truthing in love.
(v. 15 | John 1:14; 3:21; 8:32; 1 Corinthians 13:6; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Ephesians 4:2; 4:29; Colossians 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
literally “truthing in love.” Our text renders it in verse 15 as “speaking the truth in love,” but it is the participle aletheuontes, which means “truthing.” This carries the idea of not only speaking the truth but doing it. This is the medium through which growth is maximized. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Ephesians, 159)
One never errs more safely than when one errs by too much loving the truth. (Augustine)
Rarely do we find the truth and love coupled together in our experience. There are many who are faithful to speak the truth, but they do so in such a way that they harm whomever they share it with. They become candles attracting moths. The light is there, but, if encountered too closely, only serves to destroy. (Mark A. Holmes, Ephesians, Kindle Location 2380)
Gospel Application…
The good news of Jesus falls on deaf ears when the truth of it comes from any other place than that of love.
(Proverbs 10:12; John 3:16; 15:13; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; 16:14; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:8)
Truth becomes hard if it is not softened by love; love becomes soft if it is not strengthened by truth. The apostle calls us to hold the two together. (John Stott, God’s New Society: The Message of Ephesians, 172)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- Why is unity and growing toward maturity so important for the church?
- What is the relationship between unity and the diversity of gifts that make up the church?
- According to today’s text, what are the chief responsibilities of those in church leadership? In what ways can we work to make sure those in various leadership positions are able to focus on their purpose?
- What responsibilities do you have as a member of a local church?
- What is your ministry? How are you being equipped for it? In what ways are you using and honing your gift(s) for the building of the body?
Quotes to note…
Truth can be harsh. It can tell us things we would rather not hear, or reveal things we would rather not see. There can be a negativity with truth that encourages us to downplay it in favor of love. But love without truth is an empty sentiment. It has no base or strength. Truth without love is a tyrant. Love without truth is a lie. (Mark A. Holmes, Ephesians, Kindle Location 2380)
The balance between truth and love is often difficult to maintain. Some of us are good at truth. We can spot the smallest inaccuracy in a person’s theological expression and have no fear of pointing it out. In our zeal for preserving the integrity of the Scriptures, however, we can easily hurt others by failing to show them love in the process of correcting them. Others of us have the opposite problem. Desiring to keep peace, we let false teaching go uncontested or allow lies to go uncorrected. We just can’t bring ourselves to rock anyone’s boat for fear that we’ll cause too many waves in the church. But God wants us to be neither abrasive nor timid. He wants us to show both strength and love. (Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights: Galatians & Ephesians, 295)
But the greater [a person] appears to be; the more humble he ought to be, and the more ready to seek the common good in preference to his own. (Clement, Clement’s First Letter, 48:6-49:1)
Christians are not assembly-line productions, with every unit being exactly like every other unit. Consequently, no Christian can replace another in God’s plan. He has His own individualized plan for each of us and has individually gifted us accordingly. We are not interchangeable parts in Christ’s Body. (John MacArthur, Ephesians, 137)
When we exercise the gifts which Christ has given us we are really saying to our fellow Christians and others: See how much the Lord Jesus Christ loves you and cares for you; He has sent me to serve you in this way; He is using my hands and feet, my lips and ears, to show His love. It is a tragic mistake if we think that the message is: See what a superb Christian I am; see the wonderful gifts I have… Gifts are for service, not self-advancement. (Sinclair Ferguson, Grow in Grace, 69)
It’s possible to be so nice in an effort to show grace that we in reality keep people away from receiving grace themselves. The most loving thing we can do is speak truth both to unbelievers and believers. Our primary goal is not to help each other feel good, but help each other be good. Without truth there can be no grace! (Randy Smith, Full of Grace and Truth, John 1:14, December 25, 2016)
Unity is only part of the picture. Paul also insists that unity is not the same as uniformity. Harmony is not monotony. Instead, the perfect picture of the church is diversity in unity—each person working in his or her unique capacity toward a common goal. (Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights: Galatians & Ephesians, 284)