Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19931107.htm
EPHESIANS: THE BUILDING AND COMPLETING OF THE CHURCH
Part III: The Construction of God's Church, Ephesians 2:1-6:20
C. God's Church Organization for Christian Unity, 4:4-16
1. "Truthing" in Love about Personal Holiness, 4:17-5:18
(Ephesians 2:1-6:20, 4:4-16, 4:17-5:18)
- Introduction
- As we learned from our last lesson, unity in the Church is based on following the organizational structure that God has for the local church--a structure in which the teaching overseer(s) present God's Biblical truth in love, and the h earers respond by fellowshipping with Christ and using their respective spiritual gifts to help one another, Eph. 4:4-16.
- But WHAT truth is to be given, and HOW it is to be given in LOVE needs to be established.
- Accordingly, Paul provides us a model on such truth in Ephesians 4:17-6:20, addressing personal holiness first, church music, marriage relations, the home, business relations, giving, and success in the angelic conflict in that order.
- We begin with what it means to "truth" in love regarding personal holiness.
- "Truthing" in Love about Personal Holiness, Ephesians 4:17-5:18.
- By supplying a strong inferential phrase to begin verse 17, Paul begins a long section that presents the very truth that he has just stated that church leaders must present to the congregation, cf. 4:13-15a.
- He begins that teaching with the following information on personal holiness, Eph. 4:17-5:18:
- The believer must be instructed on living by means of the Holy Spirit's power instead of by means of his sinful nature, Eph. 4:17-24, 5:18b in light of Gal. 5:16-22.
- ONCE HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED THE ADJUSTMENT NECESSARY TO LIVE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT'S POWER THROUGH CONFESSION OF SIN AND DEPENDENCE ON THE SPIRIT, THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL DIRECTIVES ARE IN ORDER, Eph. 4:19-5:18a.
- The believer is to put of lying and speak the truth, Eph. 4:25.
- The believer is to become angry at sin but not harbor that anger, getting rid of it in time as he should do, Eph. 4:26. Otherwise, Satan can influence him to great sin, Eph. 4:27.
- The believer must not steal anymore, but rather produce by his own efforts what others need as well as what he needs both to teach him the RIGHT way to obtain what he does not have, and to look on the needs of others rather than those of just himself, Eph. 4:28.
- The believer must stop grieving the Holy Spirit by sinning through his speech, but rather speak only what will build others up and not tear them down, Eph. 4:29-31.
- The believer needs to put away revenge, and put on a spirit of conciliation and forgiveness, 4:32.
- The believer must have absolutely nothing to do with immorality in his speech, thoughts or actions, Ephesians 4:19,5:3.
- The believer must live separated from evil, even exposing evil that can harm others, Eph. 5:8-14.
- The believer must live with frugality as follows: (a) he must walk circumspectly, or order his life so as to anticipate trouble and to WALK AROUND IT, Eph. 5:15; (b) he must take advantage of time so as to use it for godliness and for fulfilling God's will with his spiritual gift, Eph. 5:16; and (c) he must define the will of God and perform it as God reveals that will to him for his life, Eph. 5:17.
- The believer must not be controlled by substances, but be controlled by the Holy Spirit, Ep. 5:18a,b.
Lesson:One who teaches the truth in love in the church must wisely address personal holiness as follows: He needs to address the believer's need to walk by means of the Holy Spirit as opposed to the sinful nature, and THEN address specifics of hol iness (telling the truth,handling anger properly, overcoming stealing, sins of the speech, a revengeful spirit, immorality, unholiness, alcohol abuse etc., and the misuse of time, etc. etc.). OTHERWISE, (a) ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES WITH NO INSTRUCTION ON HOW ONE OVERCOMES THEIR VICES BY DEPENDENCE ON THE SPIRIT OF GOD WILL FRUSTRATE, OR (b) NOT ADDRESSING THEM AND CALLING THEM SIN WILL LEAD TO MASS SIN IN THE CHURCH BODY! The wise teacher will make note!!