Sunday School Lesson

1. Ephesians 4:1-10
Walking Together
Unity in the Body of Christ
October 13, 2019
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. What’s the number one thing?
https://www.allenschool.edu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/number-1.jpg

3. The Glory of God!
http://www.thecitychurch.org.uk/sites/default/files/glory-god.jpg

4. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God.
http://www.nmnewsandviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/glory-of-God.jpg

5. References
•MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible
(Nashville, Nelson Publishing, 1997).
•Palmer, Edwin H., The NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids,
Zondervan, 1985).
•Missler, Dr. Chuck, Ephesians, Session 6, Koinonia
House Ministries, YouTube Channel.

6. Introduction to Ephesians
•Paul’s letter to the churches in Ephesus and in Asia
Minor.
•Written while Paul was in prison 60-62 AD (Acts 28:16-
31).
•The Gospel was brought to Ephesus by Priscilla and
Aquilla about 50 AD (Acts 18:26).
•Paul was pastor at Ephesus church for 3 years (Acts
19).

7. The Ephesus Church
•Church had been formed for about 10 years.
•Jews and Gentiles, who had become Christians, were
worshipping together.
•There was conflict in the church with false teachers
(Judaizers) and false doctrine.
•Because Jews and Gentiles came from such different
backgrounds, unity was a real problem in the church.

8. Outline of Ephesians
•Chapters 1-3:
▪ Emphasis on doctrine of Christianity.
- What we are in Christ.
- Our position in Christ.
•Chapters 4-6:
▪ Our duty and responsibilities of Christian behavior.
- Our response to Christ living in us.
- Believers are to walk in unity.

9. Introduction to Ephesians 4
•Paul’s approach reflects the “indicative/imperative”
principle of the Christian life.
•“Indicative” verb ‒ An action that is already true.
•“Imperative” verb ‒ An action that has not taken place
yet; a command.
•The walk of the believer should express the new life
he or she has received in Christ.

10. Contrasts of God in the Old and New
Testaments
•Old Testament – “Obey me and I will bless you.”
•New Testament – “I have already blessed you. Now, in
response to my love and grace, obey me.”
•We respond to His love in obedience and not for a
blessing.

11. Contrasts of World Views
•Secular Worldview – Do something and you can be
somebody.
•Biblical Christian Worldview – Be somebody and then
you can do something.
•If you are not a believer, you are on the sidelines.

12. Ephesians 4:1 NKJV
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk
worthy of the calling with which you were called,
• “therefore” – Marks the transition from doctrine to duty,
principle to practice, position to behavior.
• “prisoner” – Paul is reminding them that a faithful walk can
come at a considerable personal price.
• “beseech” – At God’s urging.
• Romans 12:1 NKJV
12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

13. “to walk worthy of the calling”
•“walk” – Frequently used in the NT to refer to daily
conduct.
•“worthy” – Living to match one’s position in Christ.
•“calling” – God’s sovereign call to salvation.
•Paul urged his readers to be everything the Lord
desires and empowers them to be.

14. Ephesians 4:2 NKJV
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering,
bearing with one another in love,
•“lowliness” or “humility” – A term not found in the
Latin or Greek vocabularies of Paul’s day; the Greek
word was apparently coined by Christians, possibly in
Paul’s day to describe this quality for which no word
was available.
•“humility” – Not prideful.

16. “Humility” is the most foundational Christian
virtue.
• James 4:6 NKJV
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
• James 4:10 NJKV
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
• Matthew 5:3 NKJV
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
• “poor in spirit” – Humble: those who know they need God.

17. Christ is our example of humility
•Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it
robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of
no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and
coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and
became obedient to the point of death, even the death
of the cross.

18. Humility!

19. Secular Worldview of Humility – HUMOR!!
Song by Mac Davis
•“Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble
When you're perfect in every way
I can't wait to look in the mirror
Cause I get better lookin' each day
To know me is to love me
I must be a heck of a man
Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble
But I'm doin' the best that I can!”

20. “with all lowliness and gentleness”
•“gentleness” – meekness; mild-spirited; power under
control
•Matthew 5:5 NKJV
5 “Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.”
•Matthew 11:29 NKJV
29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls.”

21. Meekness and Gentleness in Christians:
• Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
• Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on
tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness,
longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving
one another, if anyone has a complaint against another;
even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

22. “with longsuffering, bearing with one another
in love,”
•“longsuffering” – long tempered or patience.
•Patience is an outgrowth of humility and gentleness.
•Loving one another is the outward manifestation of all
these traits.
•Loving one another is more than just “being nice.”
•It is a true concern and devotion to another.

23. Ephesians 4:3 NKJV
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace.
• Ephesians 4:3 NIV
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through
the bond of peace.
• The bond of peace is the spiritual cord that surrounds and
binds God’s people together.
• Matthew 5:9 NKJV
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.”

24. Ephesians 4:4-6 NKJV
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were
called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith,
one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all, and in you all.
•Paul uses the word “one” seven times in these verses
to emphasize the unity in Christianity.
•Note the unity of the Trinity: one Spirit, one Lord, one
God and Father.

25. “one body, and one Spirit just as you were
called in one hope”
•The church, the body of Christ, is composed of every
believer since Pentecost without distinction, by the
work of the “one Spirit.”
•The “one hope” is our eternal inheritance given each
believer and sealed by the “one Spirit.”

26. “one Lord, one faith,”
•The “essentials of the faith” are identified in great
lengths in Ephesians 1-3 and other letters.
•The deity of Christ – John 10:30.
•Salvation by grace – Ephesians 2:8-9.
•Salvation through Christ alone – John 14:6.
•The resurrection of Christ – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
•The gospel – 1 Corinthians 1-4.

27. The theological concepts Paul addressed in
Ephesians 1:3-14 for “one faith.”
•Blessings: Riches in Christ
•Election
•Predestination
•Redemption
•Adoption
•Will of God
•Mysteries
•Dispensationalism
•Forgiveness
•Inheritance
•Sealing

28. Paul warns against those who want to divide
the faith.
• Galatians 1:6-8 NKJV
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who
called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you
and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or
an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than
what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
• 1 Corinthians 1:22-23 NKJV
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling
block and to the Greeks foolishness,

29. “one baptism;”
•Probably refers to the physical act of water baptism
after one becomes a believer to identify with the
church.
•Some believe the reference is to the baptism of the
Spirit when one becomes a believer.

30. Introduction to Ephesians 4:7-10
•Paul shifts gears from unity in the church to spiritual
gifts given to each member of the church.
•He presents the power and authority of Christ to give
spiritual gifts and the purpose of those gifts.
•He uses the analogy of a King returning from a battle
victory and giving gifts from the spoils of war.

31. Ephesians 4:7 NKJV
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the
measure of Christ’s gift.
•In Christ’s grace, each believer has been given spiritual
gifts (talents, desires, opportunities) to serve each
other and the church.
•In verse 12 Paul describes the use of the spiritual gifts
to edify or build up the body of Christ (the church).

32. Ephesians 4:8 NKJV
8 Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”
•Paul paraphrases Psalm 68:18.

33. Paul’s example of Christ’s ascension after
victory.
•Psalm 68 is David’s victory hymn of conquest of
Jerusalem and God’s ascent for worship to Mt. Zion.
•Psalm 68:18 NKJV
18 You have ascended on high,
You have led captivity captive;
You have received gifts among men,
Even from the rebellious,
That the Lord God might dwell there.

34. Ephesians 4:9-10 NKJV
9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but
that He also first descended into the lower parts of the
earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who
ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill
all things.)

35. Christ descended from heaven to become a
human and our sacrifice and Savior.
•Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it
robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of
no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and
coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and
became obedient to the point of death, even the death
of the cross.

36. “He who descended”
•Christ descended to the earth to take on human flesh
and to die for our sins (The Incarnation).
•Between Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, He
descended to the abyss to proclaimed victory over
the demon spirits who were bound at the time of
Noah, and to proclaim victory over sin and death.
•Colossians 2:15 NKJV
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made
a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

37. Peter describes the descent.
•1 Peter 3:18-20 NKJV
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the
unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to
death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by
whom also He went and preached to the spirits in
prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once
the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah,
while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that
is, eight souls, were saved through water.

38. Peter describes Christ’s ascent back to heaven
and His position.
•1 Peter 3:21-22 NKJV
21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—
baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but
the answer of a good conscience toward God),
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has
gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God,
angels and authorities and powers having been made
subject to Him.

39. Paul describes Christ’s ascension and position
in victory.
•Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given
Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in
heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the
earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

40. “that He might fill all things.”
•Christ ascended back to heaven after He fulfilled all
prophecies and all His divinely appointed redemptive
tasks.
•Christ gained the right to rule the church and to give
gifts as He was filling the entire universe with His
divine presence, power, sovereignty and blessing.

41. What’s next???
Jesus is coming back!!!
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 NKJV
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow
as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those
who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we
who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will
by no means precede those who are asleep.

42. What’s next???
Jesus is coming back!!!
•1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 NKJV
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18
Therefore comfort one another with these words.

43. Jesus is Coming Back!!!

44. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16-17 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His
Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world through Him might be saved.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me.”

45. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this
life to pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death”
explained in Revelation 21:8.

46. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns
with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation 21:8,
will experience the “second death,” if they do not repent.
• To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn
away from sin and to come to Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.

47. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will
be his God and he shall be My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explain to us how to be overcomers.

48. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

49. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900
or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/