EPHESIANS OUTLINE 22 of 34
CHRISTIAN VIRTUES
Ephesians 4
I. Introduction ---
A. In this world there is discord and disunity.
1. Nation divided against nation, man against man
(a) Inside himself there is a unceasing battle
(b) It is God's design that their disunity be resolved in Christ
(c) Jesus Christ has broken down the walls that separate man from man, nation from nation.
(d) This message must be taken to the whole world.
(e) It is the function of the church to take that love to men
(f) The church is the body through which Christ acts and the voice through which He speaks
2. If this church is to succeed with its task those within the church must be a certain kind of people.
II. The Character of The Church
A. When a person enters into any society he takes upon himself the obligation to live a certain kind of life.
1. If he fails to live the kind of life that is necessary he hinders his society and brings
discredit on its name
2. In these verses Paul pictures the kind of life a person is to live when he enters the
fellowship of the Church.
B. Five Basic Christian Quality
1.. Humility (lowliness)
A. The ancient world looked upon humility as something to be despised.
(a) Before Christ elevated this to a virtue. Humility was looked upon as a cowering, cringing. Servile., and ignoble quality.
(b) Yet Jesus sets it foremost among the Christian virtues.
(c) Bernard said of humility - it is when a person becomes conscious of their own
Unworthiness.
(d) True humility comes when we become aware of our weaknesses and our failures.
B. Self satisfaction comes when we compare ourselves other people.
(a) But the Christian standard is Jesus Christ -- His life and His teachings.
(b) How do you fare when you compare your self to Him?
C. Humility is lowliness of spirit which is the opposite of self assertiveness.
(a) It is the refusal to be in the background, the desire is to be in the spotlight.
(b) You have to be in control of the conversation -- you do most of the talking..
(c) If that is the case with you -- This virtue is foreign to you
2. Meekness - some translate it gentleness
(a) Greek word was used of an animal which had been trained to respond on command.
(b) It was completely under control and disciplined to the will of another
(c) A meek person has been trained to respond God's command whether it is negative or positive
(d) Meekness is that attitude of spirit in which we accept God's dealings with us
without disputing
(a) It was that attitude in Jesus which says "not my will thine be done."
(f) It is also that spirit that refuses a revenge for any provocation brought
about by another.
3. Longsuffering
(a) This describes that spirit which never give in.
(b) This spirit refuses to be broken by any misfortune and refuses to be deterred By any disappointment
(c) It is the spirit that bears insult and injury without bitterness or complaint
(d) It is the spirit which can suffer unpleasant people with graciousness
4. Love (agape)
(a) In Greek language there are four words for love
(b) Eros, our word erotic comes from this word. It involves sexual passion
(c) Phileo, a warm affection which exists between those who are near and dear
(d) Storge, this is characteristically the word of family affection.
(a) Agape, this love is one of sacrifice, self-sacrifice to the point of the death
of self (John 3:16)
(f) With this love in our hearts a person may injure us, insult us, yet we feel nothing
but kindness towards him.
(g) Obviously this love is not of the emotions but of the will
(h) Agape is the will to care and take interest in people we do not even like, Ironside has it, putting up with all that is disagreeable in others.
(j) Putting up with one another in love
5. Peace
(a) The first four result in this fifth. Peace only comes as we experience love, patience, meekness and humility.
(b) In a society where our own self interests predominate you can be sure there is no peace.
(c) When we die to our own self interests, the life of Jesus springs to life within us
(d) As a result of His life being lived thru us true peace is experienced in the body of
Christ.
(e) This is the identifying mark of the true Church.
II. The Unity of the Church
A. Seven Basic Characteristics
B. One Body
1. In Eph. 1:22-23 we are told the church is His body.
(a) It is through that body that Christ life is manifested to the people of this world.
(b) No brain can work through a body which is disintegrated and un-coordinated.
2. The oneness of the Church is essential to work of Christ
C. One Spirit -- The Holy Spirit
1. Greek word means both spirit and breath
2. Unless there is the breath of life in the body it is dead
3. There can be no Church, no body, without Holy Spirit
D. One Hope
1. The hope of our calling is final glorification with Christ.
2. This takes place at His coming. The Bible calls it the "blessed Hope" and coming of Christ.
E. One Lord (Jesus Christ)
1. The Greek language had two uses for this word
2. Used of a Master in contradistinction to a slave
3. Used as a designation of the Roman Emperor
4. As believers we are the possession of one Master who is King
F. One Faith
1. That faith is placed in a person the Lord Jesus
2. This faith must be guarded (Jude 3) and maintained at all costs.
3. Nothing should ever come between Jesus and myself
4. That faith is strengthened and directed by hearing and heeding the Word of God
G. One Baptism (Placing into) (acts 10:37 - 47)
1. Water baptism was the logical consequence of trusting in Christ as Savior
2. Baptism has always been our public confession of having received Christ as Savior
H. One God
1. This One God is father of all - in that phase the love of God Is enshrined.
2. The one God is above all - in that phase is enshrined the control. of God
3. The One God is through all - in that phase is enshrined the providence of God. God is sustaining, guiding and directing our world
4. The one God is In All - in that phrase is enshrined the presence of God
5. It is the Christian belief that we live in a God created - God controlled - God sustained, God filled world.