“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
The Church of Christ
(A Study in Ephesians)
Lesson 14 - Tools of Unity, Continued:
Remember that in this chapter and continuing through the remainder of the epistle, Paul is exhorting these Christians (and because this is a general essay, he is exhorting all Christians) to walk in a manner worthy of their calling (vocation). Additionally, remember that the concept of a walk is a motif for a person's life.
Paul's first plea was that all Christians walk in unity! Paul would describe the unity of the Spirit by divulging the facts of unity as described by the word of God. These facts of unity are the only true product of God's word through Christ Jesus. In addition to this, we began, in our last lesson, to discuss the tools of unity, that Christ gave His church following His ascension to heaven. In our last lesson we focused on ‘Spiritual Gifts'. In this lesson we want to take up where we left off and additionally look at certain offices that Christ gave to the church, which were designed to bring the body of Christ to maturity.
Text:
Ephesians 4:7-11
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."
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.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,”
- A Quote.
In verse 8 , Paul indicates that A quote is about to be recorded. It is a quote from Psalms 68:18 , and it is a prediction of the ascension of the Christ to heaven. Paul denotes that although this Psalm was written by David, it is credited to the Savior, as speaking for Himself.
Why is the quote given? Paul is denoting the true origin of these ‘Spiritual Gifts'. In addition (In a parenthetic statement), Paul is indicating that although He ascended, He first descended. This is significant in light of two others who ascended to heaven (Enoch, Genesis 5:24 , and Elijah, II Kings 2:1; 11 ). These men who previously ascended to heaven are contrasted against the Christ by the concept of first descending, thus denoting His deity verses their humanity. This would be best described in a different epistle by the Apostle Paul, note:
Philippians 2:5-11 “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. 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.”
Paul would finish this parenthetic statement by noting that Christ has filled all things, that is provide all necessary parts for the success and growth of His church (The church being God's eternal purpose in Christ Jesus, Chap. 3:10-11 ).
With all this in mind, let's revisit what we know about Spiritual Gifts and due to this context, let's back up and look at the first steps in the chain:
I. Jesus was given ‘all' authority by the Father ( Matthew 28:18-20 ; Ephesians 1:22 -23 ; Colossians 1:18 ).
II. On the night of His last Passover with His chosen disciples, Jesus would relate to them that He would send to them the Holy Spirit in a measure that no one else would receive. The Holy Spirit would be for them (the Apostles, sent by Jesus into the world) a comforter; teacher (that would reveal ‘ all ' truth), witness, a pronouncement of sins to the world, guide, revealer, and a foreteller of things to come ( John 14:15 -18 ; 26 ; 15:26 ; 16:7-8 ; 13-15 ).
III. These Apostles would begin their commission on the day of Pentecost after the ascension of Christ into heaven, in fulfillment of what Christ instructed them. As the church grew, they began to impart measures of the Holy Spirit (Spiritual Gifts) to men (Since the gifts came to the Apostles by the Spirit, sent By Christ, it is said in the quote that “Christ gave gifts to men”). They were the only ones with this ability to pass these gifts on.
IV. Not everyone received a measure of the Holy Spirit, but everyone would benefit from them.
V. There were nine specific gifts.
VI. No one individual was given them all.
VII. They existed in a time of the church prior to the written word (infancy).
VIII. When the written word came into existence for ‘all' Christians, the gifts would cease (adulthood).
IX. They were only to be used to edify, exhort, and comfort Christians for proper living (That which the word does for us now).
Finally, in addition to the Spiritual Gifts, Christ would give specific offices in the church, that would act with the Spiritual Gifts to bring the church to maturity.
Apostles: The word Apostle simply means, ‘one sent'. There were Apostles of the various churches that were chosen and sent on various errands (Barnabas, Acts 14:12 ; the men chosen to deliver the specific gifts for the suffering saints in Judea , Acts 20:4 ). These however, had not been specifically chosen by Jesus and sent by Him for the purposes of the kingdom. The Apostles of Jesus was the designation Paul is referring to here. These were those who were first in the church ( I Corinthians 12:28 ), and given the special role of establishment, education, and correction in the early church.
Prophets: A prophet was simply, ‘a mouth piece for God'. Just as God had given all authority to Christ over His church, Jesus also bestowed through the gifts of the Spirit, God's will for man in the new kingdom. Prophets were those who made known this will along side of the Apostles, and it was this gift that Paul would say was the most desired of all the gifts (because of the benefit of the tutelage of the will of God). Notable New Testament prophets: Luke, Mark, Agabus, James, Jude, etc…
Evangelists: A preacher of the Gospel, one who proclaims glad tidings, one who makes clear the message of God. The purpose of an evangelist can be best described by Paul in his commission of young Timothy (an evangelist), in II Timothy 4:1-5 . Notable New Testament evangelists: Timothy, Titus, Phillip, etc…
Pastors: A shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks. A pastor was to guide as well as feed the flocks, to exercise oversight, to stop false teaching and those who would divide the sheep. All of this involving tender care and vigilant supervision (see: Acts 20:28 ; I Timothy 3:1-7 ; Titus 1:5-9 ; I Thessalonians 5:12-13 ; Hebrews 13:7 , 17 ; I Peter 5:1-4 ).
Teacher: A distinct difference between a teacher and a prophet is that a prophet makes known that which is previously unknown; where as, a teacher makes known that which has already been revealed. A teacher edifies based on their specific understanding (During the time of Spiritual Gifts, this was done through the gifts of wisdom and knowledge, wisdom and knowledge are now imparted through study of the written word).
We will discuss the length of service for some of these offices when we discuss verse 13 . However, suffice it to say that Christ gave every tool necessary for the successful establishment, growth, and permanence of His church. These tools were also designed to restrain human wisdom and corruption, thus maintaining unity to all who allow Christ to rule His church, Amen!
Next: “ The Work of the Church ”