Absolute Victory
Absolute surrender comes before absolute victory. Moses, a prince, became a shepherd before leading Israel to freedom. Joseph, a favourite son became a slave and prisoner before ruling Egypt. Paul the pharisee became an outlaw before leading the Church. The list continues but is headed up by our Lord Jesus Christ who put aside His glory and became flesh before being seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. Every Christian is uniquely gifted to glorify God and serve the Church, when we follow the same path from surrender to victory.
Scripture
Ephesians 4:7-11 ESV But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
Bible Study
One way, absolute unity.
What is the main point of the first six verses of the fourth chapter of Ephesians, and why do you think the passage mentions, One Father, One Lord and One Spirit in making this point?
Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
One God, One Lord, One Holy Spirit - Different gifts, common good
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are different Persons of the One True God. God’s Nature is the model for our unity as the Church. We see this reflected in 1 Corinthians. How does the giving of different gifts to different individuals in the Church reflect God’s nature?
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 ESV Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 ESV For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
Absolute unity is not absolute uniformity.
Ephesians 4:7 ESV But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
The phrase “each one” contrasts the complete unity of the Body of Christ with the individuality of the components that make up the body. What does it tell us about the value and purpose of every member of the Church?
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 ESV For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
The Gracious Victor.
God tells us through Paul to look at Psalm 68 and think about how we are given individually apportioned gifts, by His grace. Psalm 68 speaks of a military parade celebrating victory over an enemy, a host of captives and a champion who gives gifts. In what way does Jesus fulfil the prophecy of Psalm 68, how did He ascend, what victory did He win, who did He take captive and what gifts does He give?
Ephesians 4:8 ESV Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
Romans 6:17-18 ESV But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Colossians 2:13-15 ESV And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
He came down
How did Jesus “descend” before He ascended?
Ephesians 4:9 ESV (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
Philippians 2:5-8 ESV Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Far above all things
How did Jesus ascend after His descent to “fill all things”?
Ephesians 4:10 ESV He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Philippians 2:9-11 ESV Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We are given
What does it tell us that God has rescued people and then given them to the Church? How should our attitude be like that of Jesus who humbled Himself and was given for us?
Ephesians 4:11 ESV And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
John 3:16 ESV “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Peter 5:6 ESV Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,