Ephesians 4:7-10 says...
Today's verses are Ephesians 4:7-10, which read,
v.7 -But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Paul has just spoken of the unity of the body of Christ in practice and in doctrine. We hold the unity of the "ones," one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. We walk in daily conduct of humility and gentleness with each other. Now Paul looks from the group to the individual.
Each one of us has received grace and with that grace or salvation came a gift from Christ. Grace can be used as a one word description of the salvation of Christ through the cross and the grave. Part of the plan of grace that we receive as a gift is another gift given by Him of service to be used for His glory. You receive salvation but you also receive a Holy Spirit gift for use within the body. You can't say, "I'm a Christian and received the gift of salvation but I don't have a spiritual gift." The two come together which in turn helps the unity of the body of Christ.
v.8-10 - Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men." (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
Is Jesus able to give these spiritual gifts to His believers? The answer is yes. He was not conquered by the grave but rather rose and ascended on high to the right hand of the Father. With that ascension came fulfillment of all the prophecies and with that came a host of believers who saw Jesus truly as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
A king leaves his home and goes into battle and is victorious and he brings home the benefits of the victory and shares that with his people. Jesus did this and therefore is able to share with His believers the spiritual gifts we have received.
For that to happen, Jesus had to descend first from that heavenly place to this earth below to do battle with Satan and his demons. Jesus won the battle and now is home with His Father and continuing to give out the spoils of the battle by handing each believer a spiritual gift to use within the body of Christ. What we have from Him has been paid for through His death and resurrection. What Jesus did was for the fulfillment of the plan of God's grace through the cross and spiritual gifts are a part of that plan.
"Lord, You gave salvation by giving of Your very life but You also gave us unique spiritual gifts to use within the body of Christ. You paid for these gifts with Your very life. May we not neglect to use what You have given us to see unity within the body of Christ, Your church. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.7 -But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Paul has just spoken of the unity of the body of Christ in practice and in doctrine. We hold the unity of the "ones," one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. We walk in daily conduct of humility and gentleness with each other. Now Paul looks from the group to the individual.
Each one of us has received grace and with that grace or salvation came a gift from Christ. Grace can be used as a one word description of the salvation of Christ through the cross and the grave. Part of the plan of grace that we receive as a gift is another gift given by Him of service to be used for His glory. You receive salvation but you also receive a Holy Spirit gift for use within the body. You can't say, "I'm a Christian and received the gift of salvation but I don't have a spiritual gift." The two come together which in turn helps the unity of the body of Christ.
v.8-10 - Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men." (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
Is Jesus able to give these spiritual gifts to His believers? The answer is yes. He was not conquered by the grave but rather rose and ascended on high to the right hand of the Father. With that ascension came fulfillment of all the prophecies and with that came a host of believers who saw Jesus truly as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
A king leaves his home and goes into battle and is victorious and he brings home the benefits of the victory and shares that with his people. Jesus did this and therefore is able to share with His believers the spiritual gifts we have received.
For that to happen, Jesus had to descend first from that heavenly place to this earth below to do battle with Satan and his demons. Jesus won the battle and now is home with His Father and continuing to give out the spoils of the battle by handing each believer a spiritual gift to use within the body of Christ. What we have from Him has been paid for through His death and resurrection. What Jesus did was for the fulfillment of the plan of God's grace through the cross and spiritual gifts are a part of that plan.
"Lord, You gave salvation by giving of Your very life but You also gave us unique spiritual gifts to use within the body of Christ. You paid for these gifts with Your very life. May we not neglect to use what You have given us to see unity within the body of Christ, Your church. Amen."
Pastor Adam
Comments
Post a Comment