Bible Studies

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Part 3 continues with the discussion under Eph. 4:16.

I'll quote part of what Richard J. Erickson said regarding unity when discussing Eph. 4:7, 16 ("Evangelical Commentary on the Bible" [Baker, 1989], pages 1027, 1028). "Only on this foundation of unity, ultimately to be found in the unity of God, can the unity of the family possibly come to reality. By the same token, the members of the body, unified in theory but fragmented by nature, could never see themselves brought to union, as God wishes them to be, without the needed tools and enablement. God has therefore given grace to them all (v. 7), to each one differently as Christ has seen fit liberally to apportion (no sense of stinginess is to be associated here with the word apportion [measure]). ... This section [Eph. 4:1-16] closes with a metaphorical model of unity. Like the human body, held together by design, the church grows through the coordinated and cooperative work of its many members, who out of love for the whole contribute their individual efforts toward the good of the whole. But the plan and energy are drawn from the head who watches over and provides for his body. Indeed he lives his own life out through it (v. 16)."

I'll quote part of what Klyne Snodgrass said on Eph. 4:1-16 under the subheading "The responsibility of the individual" ("Ephesians" [Zondervan, 1996], page 212). I recently learned that Snodgrass is a Southern Baptist. Thanks be to God for all the good fruit that comes from that segment of the body of Christ.) "... While it is true that some have a special responsibility to teach and preach [etc.], Paul stresses that every Christian is responsible to build up the church. We have all received grace for ministry [using the word "ministry" in a very full sense] .... ...only as each person fulfills his or her calling is the church truly strong."

I'll also quote part of what Snodgrass said on pages 217, 218. "So often Christianity is presented as if nothing is required of believers. We place so much emphasis on human weakness, on our inability to do anything profitable, and on the necessity of God's actions in salvation that no room is left for human responsibility. The New Testament never gives this impression! ... This [to live like God enables and requires us to live] requires an act of the will and a determination to follow through. ...

... None of this suggests we accomplish anything by ourselves, but life with God and by his help is a life of discipline and effort. ...

... We protest that no one can actually live worthy of this calling and express our fears of perfectionism. The text is anxious about neither; its concern is only that our lives are shaped by God's salvation. Right theology should lead to right conduct. [One major problem is that much of the theology isn't right, very much including the teaching that Christians will necessarily continue sinning until they are glorified.] ... Our understanding of our call must be sincere and honest, going to the depths of our being. ...."

When we think of the growth of the body of Christ, we can also think of the growth that comes with the continual adding of new believers to the church. It doesn't seem that that type of growth is considered in Eph. 4:15, 16, but that type of growth (along with other factors) ensures that the five-fold ministry will be needed until Jesus returns. Since the body of Christ is under constant attack from the world, the flesh, and the devil, one major need is for us to be very careful we don't go backwards and lose any part of what we have attained in Christ (cf., e.g., Phil. 3:16). We can't be passive or static; we must always press on in Christ (cf. Phil. 3:12-15). It causes major problems when those in the five-fold ministry fall backwards (or never get on the straight and narrow path to begin with); they often take many Christians with them.


A Discussion on the Overall Teaching of the Book of Ephesians
Regarding How Long It Should Take for Christians to Become Holy/Spiritual (by the Spirit)/(Relatively) Perfect

It fits the epistle of Paul to the Ephesians (and it fits the entire New Testament) to speak of Christians being, or very quickly becoming, what they (by God's definition) can, and should, and must be as Christians. I bring this up here for two reasons. First, there's a very widespread viewpoint in the body of Christ that it's unrealistic, even unbiblical, to think in terms of Christians abiding in a state of holiness or (relative) perfection. This is, nevertheless, the dominant viewpoint presented in the New Testament. On this topic see my book, "Holiness and Victory Over Sin." For a start see pages 169-171.

The first paragraph starting on page 171 is especially relevant to the viewpoint presented in Eph. 4:12-16. I'll quote that paragraph here, "Several verses that I have listed do not quite fit the ideal pattern, but they help demonstrate that this pattern does exist. [I'm speaking of the ideal pattern that Christians, even those who are young in the faith, are actually to be set apart from sin and to live for God in an abiding state of holiness/(relative) perfection. The New Testament doesn't present this as an unrealistic or unattainable ideal.] These verses deal with situations in which some Christians were not yet adequately set apart from sin. Four such verses are 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Tim. 2:21 (both are listed and discussed on pages 178, 179 of "Holiness and Victory Over Sin" under "hagiazo") and 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Thess 3:13 (both are listed and discussed on pages 182-185 under "hagiosune"). In all four of these verses, the apostle Paul was concerned that this inadequate situation be soon rectified and these Christians become sanctified."

A second reason I mentioned what I did in the first sentence of the first paragraph is that what Paul said in Eph. 4:12-16 (like the four verses just mentioned in the quotation; but unlike the dominant viewpoint presented in the book of Ephesians and throughout the New Testament) doesn't fit the ideal pattern. The fact that many Christians fall short of what we are called to, including quite a few Christians spoken of in the New Testament, doesn't change God's ideal for Christians. Let's set our sights on God's best; let's not try to find out how much fleshiness/worldliness we can get by with and still make it to heaven. That's a dangerous way to think. Furthermore, the Bible doesn't back up the idea that all that really matters is that we squeeze into heaven - we're going to have to answer to God, and there will be rewards, and loss of rewards.

Let's look at what the book of Ephesians says regarding the issue we're considering: We are called, and enabled, to be "holy and blameless before [God]" (Eph. 1:4); "we have [the] redemption through His blood" out of the kingdom of sin, Satan, spiritual death, and darkness (Eph. 1:7); "we have been sealed in [Christ] with the Holy Spirit," the mighty Spirit who dwells in us, who makes us alive, makes us righteous and holy, etc. (Eph. 1:13); the same great power - the resurrection power - that raised Christ from the dead has been made available to us, which enables us to live in/with Christ (Eph. 1:19, 20); God the Father "put all things in subjection under [Christ's] feet

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