Explanation: In Ephesians 4, Paul asks the Ephesians to walk worthy of the vocation (their life in Christ) to which they are called. Their lifestyle should exhibit lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, love, unity, and peace. They all partake of one body, one Spirit, one hope, one calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is above all, through you all, and in you all (1-6).
     All of us have received grace from Christ who descended into the lower regions of the earth, but then he ascended far above the heavens. And he gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building p Christ's body, so that we might attain to the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God -- to maturity, to fullness in Christ. This will prevent us from being children who can be misled by false doctrine, and by the cunning of others. Instead, they will speak the truth in love and grow to be like Christ in whom the body is equipped, works properly, grows, and builds itself up in love(7-16).
     Therefore, we must not walk as the gentiles do, having futile minds, with darkened understanding, alienated from the life of God through their ignorance and hardness of heart, calloused, sensual, and impure. But we have learned Christ differently. We have been taught. We have the truth. So we should put off the old self and be renewed in the spirit of our minds, putting on the new self which was created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (17-24).
     We must put away falsehood, and we should speak the truth with our neighbor, because we are members of one another. If we are angry, the sun should not go down on our wrath so that we give no opportunity to the Devil. Former thieves should stop stealing and work so that they may have something to share with anyone in need. We should speak edifying words which give grace to the hearer, not corrupt words. We must not grieve the Holy Spirit. Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice should put away. We should be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (25-32).
     [Sermons: Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Various. ]
     [Illustration: Today's painting illustrates the descent of Christ mentioned in verse 9 of today's chapter. According to many interpreters, it has particular reference to Christ's descent into the grave and may have additional reference to his ascent from heaven to earth in the womb of the virgin Mary and to his time on earth. Some interpret this descent as a visit to limbo or to hell to liberate trapped souls. But this idea is not found in Scripture. ]

     ¹ I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, ² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; ³ Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ One Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. ⁷ But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ⁸ Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. ⁹ (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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 fulness of Christ: 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; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ¹⁶ From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. ¹⁷ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, ¹⁸ Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: ¹⁹ Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. ²⁰ But ye not so learned Christ; ²¹ If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; ²³ And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; ²⁴ And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. ²⁵ Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. ²⁶ Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: ²⁷ Neither give place to the devil. ²⁸ Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth [having need]. ²⁹ Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. ³⁰ And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: ³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

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