In Ephesians 4 the Apostle Paul pulls his message to the Church of Ephesus together into three compact statements that, if taken as one singular entity, would become a miniature Bible.  In 4:4-6 he destroys the entire concept of Catholicism and Protestantism, as well as the Protestant denomination system, each one a supposed improvement to God’s Gospel.  Here he makes clear the Truth that there in ONE AND ONLY ONE church, one Holy Spirit, one hope of salvation, one Lord Jesus Christ, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is in all of His true saints in the form of His Holy Spirit.  Only those who are led by (obey) that indwelling Spirit are His people (Rom. 8:14).  All others are counterfeit Christians.  As Jesus made clear to the rich young ruler, breaking even one of the Ten Commandments disqualifies the believer relative to salvation (Mk. 10:17-22).  As James tells us, to break one commandment is to break them all (2:10).  This includes commandment #4.  The rich man was much wiser than the modern church in that he believed Jesus and went away sad, knowing that because he broke one commandment he was disqualified for salvation.  The church goes away glad, believing that Jesus lied to them.

When Jesus left the earth to return to the Father following His resurrection He did not leave His people without instructions and instructors.  Ephesians 4:11-16 tells us that as long as the world stands His church will have apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers–all of whom He would call, anoint and assign.  There is reason in everything God does; equipping HIS (one and only) church is no exception.  Verses 12-16 tell us that He equipped her with leaders: “for the PERFECTING of the saints” until all in her come to the unity (oneness) of THE (one) faith and THE (one) knowledge of Christ by which we must come to be a PERFECT “MAN” (church), to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (vs 13).  Because people make the church, each person in the church must individually mature into that status and remain there until the end of his/her life in order to be saved (Mat. 10:22).

Verse 14 speaks of Christian maturity which comes only through studying the Word of God, believing and obey it.  We are not to base our knowledge of Him and His way on the teachings of an individual or group of individuals.  It is for this reason that I provide book, chapter and verse for everything I say or write.  My hope is that the reader/hearer will study the references that I provide, for there, and only there, will one receive the Truth necessary for salvation.  Paul speaks to this issue, stating: “(so) That we are no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried away with every wind of doctrine by the cleverness and cunning craftiness of men by which they deceive people.”  In verse 15 Paul tells us to speak to each other in love, meaning that we are to tell the Truth even when it hurts.  Truth is essential if we are to come together as one in Christ so that those outside the church see Christ in us as a church and as individuals.

In verses 22-24 Paul tells us to deliberately and personally remove all of the trappings of the “old man”–the pre-converted person we were when we were alienated from God and were His enemies.  This is a mental process by which we realign our personal spirit to receive the things of God and to reject the things of Satan and self.  This is called “putting on the new man” which God will have “created in righteousness and holiness.”  Romans 5:21 and 6:22 tell us that the end result of this change from old man to new man is eternal life.  Without the total and permanent change from old man to new man there can be no salvation.  Sinners saved by grace claim to be a combination of both “men,” meaning that they are “tossed to and fro and are carried about by every wind and doctrine of the sleight and cunning craftiness of men by which they deceive the religious masses” (vs 14).  Satan’s success in this regard is plainly seen in that 99% of professing Christendom claim to be “sinners saved by grace.”  And their god smiles.

In chapter 5 verse 8 Paul summarizes his entire letter with one short sentence directed at the church then and the church now: “For you were in times past darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  WALK IN LIGHT AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT.”  Jesus tells us that, just as He was the light of the world while He was in it, His true saints are the light of the world as long as they are in it (Jn. 9:5/ Mat. 5:14).  To be His light they must “walk even as He walked” (1 Jn. 2:6).  Otherwise, they are darkness posing as light.  Such religious darkness is condemned by the Lord who calls it “great” darkness (Mat. 6:23).  Notice that we do not merely walk in either light or darkness, WE ARE EITHER LIGHT OR DARKNESS.  WE CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS.  WE PRESENT OURSELVES TO THE WORLD AS EITHER GOD’S LIGHT OR SATAN’S DARKNESS.  SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING, WE ARE EITHER ALL IN OR ALL OUT.   L.J.