Ephesians 4:7-16 ~ Rooted in Christ
v7)
- We have all been given a portion of grace - it is a gift
- Some of it may be 'common' grace - something that we're all given, namely the salvation of our souls through Christ
- Some grace can be seen as 'special' grace - something that is individual, it usually refers to our special callings and talents that God has blessed us with
v8-9)
- Jesus ascended - this means that he mustve descended first
- God, who was so mighty and powerful, would come down to earth to live with his sinful, dirty and worthless humans such as myself
- God is one of love of mercy as well as humility - as shown through Jesus in the form of a man
v11-13)
- Paul is telling us what God blesses us with and what it is for - namely, it is so that the body of Christ may be built up
- The end goal is: Unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God
- We are to strive to attain the whole measure of the fullness of Christ
v14-16)
- When we are rooted in Christ like this, we won't be moved and phased by the false teachings and attacks that this world brings
- Instead, we will speaking the truth (of the Gospel) in love
- Christ is the head of the body
- However, we (all our brothers and sisters included) are parts of the one body
- We are to grow and build one another up and we all have a role
Application:
- I don't love my brothers and sisters enough and this is shown in my lack of prayer for them
- The goal in loving others is unity in faith so that we might attain the fullness of Christ in us