Sunday School Lesson

1. Ephesians 4:11-16
Walking Together
October 20, 2019
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The Glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of
God.
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2. References
• Lenski, R. C. H., The Interpretation of St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians,
Ephesians and Philippians, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis,
Minnesota, 1937
• Mullins, E. Y., Studies in Ephesians and Colossians, (Sunday School Board,
Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, TN, 1913)
• Lloyd-Jones, D. Martin, Christian Unity: An Exposition of Ephesians 4:1-16,
Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, 1980
• New American Standard Bible, (A. J. Holman Company, Philadelphia, 1976)
Setting and Date
• Conservative scholarship would have Paul writing Ephesians, Philemon, and
Colossians at roughly the same time.
• Lenski suggests the same day.
• We believe they were written in the late summer of 62 AD during Paul’s first
imprisonment in Rome.
• Philippians was likely written about six months later during the same
imprisonment.
Outline of Ephesians
• From the Lesson on 10/13/19.
• Chapters 1-3:
▪ Emphasis on doctrine of Christianity.
- What we are in Christ.
- Our position in Christ.
• Chapters 4-6:
Our duty and responsibilities of Christian behavior.
- Our response to Christ living in us.
- Believers are to walk in unity.
Outline of Ephesians
• Very simplified by Mark A. Copeland in “A Harmony of the Life of Paul.”
• Chapters 1-3: Doctrine: Our riches in Christ.
• Chapters 4-6: Duty: Our responsibilities in Christ.
Outline of Ephesians
• Very simplified by R. E. Glaze.
• Chapters 1-3: Unity in Christ.
• Chapters 4-6: Unity in the Church.

3. Unity in Christ
• Ephesians 1:10 NASB
10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that
is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on
the earth. In Him
• Ephesians 1:22 NASB
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head
over all things to the church 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills
all in all.
• Ephesians 2:4-6 NASB
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He
loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive
together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up
with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Unity in Christ - Unity in the Church
• Ephesians 2:11-3:20
• Gentiles are brought into unity with Jews.
• Ephesians 4:1-3 NASB
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy
of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and
gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,
3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
• While Paul does not specifically mention them in chapters 1-3, his
discussion of them in 4-6 leads us to understand that Christ also brings
unity among:
• Husbands and Wives - Ephesians 5:22-33
• Parents and Children - Ephesians 6:1-4
• Masters and Slaves (employers & employees) - Ephesians 6:5-9
• Last week’s lesson began chapter 4, which deals with unity within the
body.
• The formal and informal church.
• Paul may be addressing the challenge of unity within the church first
because, by comparison, unity within marriages, families, and the
workplace is easy.
Pride
Insecurity
Selfishness
Distrust
Shame

4. Unity in Christ - Unity in the Church
• Ephesians 4:4-7 NASB
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope
of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of
all who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s
gift.
“according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”
• Why would Paul draw attention to “the measure of Christ’s gift,” unless it was
to remind us that, as with everything else about Jesus, His gift would also be
perfect, complete, lacking in nothing.
• There is nothing lacking in the grace you received.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NASB
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as
evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints
for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain
to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man,
to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result,
we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried
about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful
scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into
Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and
held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of
each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in
love.
Conclusion
• The unity that is worth pursuing is the unity that comes from and exists in
Christ.
• Our ability to find peace, fulfilment, success, etc., depends on our
maintaining unity with Christ.
• Working with others in the church depends on our connection to the head
of the church, Christ.
• As a final exhortation, look at what Paul wrote a few months after his letter
to the Ephesians in Philippians 2:1-4.

5. Conclusion
• Philippians 2:1-4 NASB
1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation
of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and
compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind,
maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do
nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard
one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for
your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16-17 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not
send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him
might be saved.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.”
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to
pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death” explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with
fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation 21:8,
will experience the “second death,” if they do not repent.
• To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn
away from sin and to come to Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.

6. Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be
My son.”
• In Romans 10:9-10 it is explained to us how to become overcomers.
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one
believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/