Ephesians 4:7-16

Ephesians 4:7-16 Verse 7: "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and the measure of faith and gifts in Romans 12 differ for each person.However, it is not important to receive a lot, but to fill the amount you receive.Five-fifths is one, and two-half is one. Verse 8: Wherefore he said, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. This is a quote from Psalm 68:18: "You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive: you have received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them." Verse 9 and following explain this. Verse 9: "But when it is said, 'He ascended,' what does it mean but that He descended into the lower parts of the earth?" The Lord ascends and descends.John 1:51 says, "Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."In Genesis 28:12, Jacob saw the angels of God ascending and descending on it.Therefore, Christians receive salvation (being saved) by following Christ's way in the Lord. Verse 10: "He that descended is the same that ascended up far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things." "Descent" refers to Christ's self-abasement.It is the incarnation, God coming in the flesh."Ascending" means that he took us up into heaven.And then he says that this was to fill all things.We were born from this earth, died through Christ, and were raised to life again through Christ, becoming heavenly beings.The spiritual dimension has changed.We ascended with him (Ephesians 2:6). This is the true rapture.Is there a separate rapture?If Christ took us captive and ascended to heaven, isn't that the rapture? Verse 11: "And he gave some, apostles; and some as prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." The grace in the measure of gifts in verse 7 is precisely the position.So in Romans 1:5, Paul stated that he was “given grace and apostleship.”Therefore, position is given by grace.It cannot be purchased, and it cannot be withheld when given.Position was given to fill all things. The phrase "given" does not mean that he established them, but that he gave them as expendable items.Therefore, those in positions of authority should not act as if they are the masters of the community.It's like a punching bag to a boxer.It needs to be replaced when it wears out.Among these positions, an apostle is one who is sent, acting as a vanguard, like Paul.A prophet is one who prophetically delivers the words that will be fulfilled.An evangelist is one who correctly interprets the gospel that has been preached (1 Corinthians 15:1).The gospel has now been preached throughout the world, but evangelists with the spirit of revelation are needed.A pastor is one who make the word into bread and interprets the word of God, like Timothy, and provides the word.A teacher is one who trains and sends out others.This is the so-called disciple training, but what is important is whether the teacher, as someone who has been called by Christ and seated in heaven, knows the gospel of the complete truth and trains others.It would be a great mistake to call discipleship simply educating people with biblical knowledge.Like Paul, we must train ourselves to follow Christ's way, having been seated with him in heaven through his coming, death on the cross, being raised, and ascension. Verse 12: "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."  This is the purpose of the position.Verse 13 outlines its goals and limitations.To be perfect means to be perfectly suited to a specific purpose.The goal is to create people who are perfectly suited to God's will.And to equip them for the work of ministry, that is, for serving, and to edify the body of Christ (the church).To edify means to raise up and fulfill.Therefore, those in the position must know the mystery of Christ. Verse 13: "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." God has given us this position so that we may attain perfect faith and knowledge of the Son of God.The goal is to become equal to Christ.So, like Paul, you do not know the mystery of the church, that is, the mystery of the prototype church in Ephesians, and yet you do the work of an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, and a teacher?That would be acting. Verse 14: "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,  whereby they lie in wait to deceive." If you understand Ephesians, you are no longer children.The problem is that the church today turns its members into children and puts on a show from the pulpit, which makes me furious."Not to be tossed" means not tossed to and fro like a boat on the waves.Aren't you  flocking to the merchants' play?Isn't that what you're doing now?Foolish Christian merchants, ignorant of the truth and driven only by prosperity, are completely oblivious to the fact that their customers are now struggling in Sheol, or the depths of hell. (Proverbs 9:18). Every wind of doctrine is human trickery and deception, like playing dice.Picking out Bible verses, applying only one Bible verse to life, and so on - these are just dice games that have nothing to do with your own salvation, and they are just a way of making faith a play.Cunning craftiness is a very crafty organization.It's an attitude of willingness to do anything, regardless of the means, as long as it makes money.The Word of God becomes corrupted when manipulated and tailored to suit human tastes. Verse 15: "But speaking the truth in love, may grow upto him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." A minister must be able to speak the truth so that he may grow in love upto him.We must know the mystery of reaching Christ, the Alpha and Omega, and teach and testify to that truth.That is the true church and true ministers.This is the essential mission of ministers.They must ensure that all members are connected to the head, Christ.But woe to those who only feed their members with milk, he says. Verse 16: "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of body unto the edifying of itself in love. As the whole body grows, so I too grow within it.What greater blessing can there be for a minister than for the flock entrusted to him to grow brighter and brighter as they draw closer to Christ?God, in his love, causes each part to grow in its own measure, according to his own self-establishing will.God is the source of supply, and through Christ, He supplies and works through each joint.In Him, we become one, growing as what is yours is mine, and what is mine is yours.This is the function of the church, the body of Christ, and the mission of ministers. Written by Ptr. Yohan KimTranslated by missionary Nancy KimCOME AND SEE WORLD MISSIONTO GOD BE THE GLORY