3 But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, … Do this so that you stand firm, united in one spirit and mind as you struggle together to remain faithful to the gospel. If he did so, it was not his central intent here. (Read, Consider your reputation. Paul’s desire for his audience is that they will grow into maturity. (Yes. This is an application to “submit yourselves one to another in the fear of God” – Ephesians 5:21. ), If you have a question about sin in your life, ask They are to grow in unity, in love, to be like Christ. The question left for us is:  What is the calling, to which you have been “called?”  Paul does not spell this out as there was no need for doing so. In this section of Paul’s letter he is challenging his audience to change the way they live their lives, the priorities that they set and the way they pursue those goals. I. 1 ahead of time so that he or she can read it smoothly and with expression. CEB. When we are born again, we are partakers of the divine nature. When a person is filled with the Holy Spirit they are humble, gentle, and are submitting. This goal will entail a continual striving toward growing into being more and more like Christ throughout a lifetime. What are some things that you are personally doing to grow into the fullness of Jesus? Even now when we are children of God we must consciously put on Christ’s robe of righteousness – as we will see later in this book of Ephesians (4:24 and 6:14). “Lesson 120: Ephesians 1,” New Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2016) “Lesson 120,” New Testament Seminary Teacher Manual. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. There is no sense of relaxing and taking it easy in Paul’s words. Descents to the underworld are common features in the myths and traditions of many cultures and are often attributed to the gods and heroes of myths and legends.8 Richard Bauckham, “Descent to the Underworld,” David Noel Freedman, ed., The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. 21 I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. Such a perspective totally misses the point. He gives these great gifts in order that His people are properly equipped for their “work of service.”  God’s people are to serve in a manner that works towards the “building up” of the “body of Christ.”  Paul uses this imagery to convey the unfolding of Christ’s working in the world to expand the plan of God more fully into the world. To become like Christ stands at the core of what it means to “walk as worthy” of “the calling.”  Often it is the case that people have viewed becoming a Christian as something that happens instantaneously like the flipping of a light switch, but Paul understands that the reality is that it is more of a process that continues throughout the lifetime of the believer. Phrases that use “from the dead” are used in conjunction with several verbs and nouns having to do with “rising from the dead.”  Building upon the Old Testament cosmology a consistent picture begins to emerge which indicates that the people in the period of the New Testament conceived of the dead dwelling in a place that is “under” the earth. 43-44. 42 (Dallas TX: Word Books, Publisher, 1990), pp. As we come to chapter 4 in Ephesians, we have crossed the threshold into the section of this letter where Paul will now focus on admonition of his audience (chapters 4-6). 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. It is in the midst of this “oneness,” that can only come about through contact with the Spirit, that they can progress toward the goal. Be imitators of God: The idea is simple that we are to make God our example and model. What are some ways that you need to be challenged to mature into the fullness of Christ? The church is to be a building held together and formed by love in such a way that this is apparent to all who see it or encounter it. A third proposal is that Ephesians 4:9 refers to His coming to the church at Pentecost (subsequent to his ascension) via the person of the Holy Spirit. ( K) in the kingdom of Christ and of God. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. 10 The one who descended, He is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. Plato, Republic 1.334c – “Yet this I still believe, that justice benefits friends and harms enemies.” Plato, Plato in Twelve Volumes, trans. His central intent was to convey to his audience information regarding the defeat of the realm of the dead by Jesus. CEB. your actions. Lesson Date: July 9, 2017 Focal Scripture Passage: Ephesians 5:1-14 AIM: To lead students to contrast things Christians should and should not do, and to commit themselves to living as a Christian should. XCIII (Atlanta GA: Society of Biblical Literature, 1998), p. 43. His welfare and comfort were put aside for others. All of this is only possible because of the “favor” (grace) of God and it is given according to the measure of the great gift, Christ. 14 in order that we are no longer children, being tossed to and fro carried about by every wind of teaching in the trickery of humans, in craftiness to the deceitful scheming, …. Our old nature is selfish and builds walls and declares wars. Instead he is seeking to challenge them to continue to pursue the way of Christ, the way of “love,” the way of “oneness.”. He will also challenge them to “arrive” both at unity and at “knowledge.”  13 until all arrive at the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto mature men, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, …. Ephesians 4:1 Therefore, as the prisoner in the Lord, I urge you to walk as worthy of the calling for which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace. What are the six things Christians should not have in their lives according to verses 3 and 4 of Ephesians Chapter 5? He admonished them to “walk” 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace. should be replaced with thanksgiving? 22 I’ve given them the glory that you gave me so that they can be one just as we are one. Christ gave himself up for us as a sacrifice offered to God for its sweet fragrance. (He loves us Richard Bauckham, “Descent to the Underworld,” David Noel Freedman, ed., The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. Despite the fact that the Old Testament in fact lacks a unified and consistent view of the underworld, several important notions can be stated with some degree of confidence. Let's dive Lesson 120. It is understood variously as the earthly ministry of Christ and/or his redemption death and/or His burial in the ground. A man becomes successful is not a child of God as an ambassador of Jesus Christ your of. 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