The Church Is a New Man: The Exhibition and Inhibition of the New Man – Ephesians 4.1-16
(17 questions from with answers following)

For help in answering the questions, you may refer to Outline and Teaching on Ephesians.

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Added on March 25, 2017

Answers at the end, following the questions
Those who disagree with anything please see the note at the end. Reasoned dialogue is encouraged and any Bible or fact based comments, if made in a Christian manner in an attempt to get to the truth will be considered.

1. Ephesians 4.1-6 consider the _______________ of the new man. The only way people can tell if you are a real child of God through faith in Christ is by your _______.
   –
   “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye _______ __________ of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Ep. 4.1)
   –
2. Paul begs believers to walk “With all ____________ and ____________, with __________________, forbearing one another in _______: Endeavoring to keep the _________ of the Spirit in the bond of __________” (Ep. 4.2-3).
   –
   Lowliness is the flagship of all Christian virtues and is the opposite of _________. (See also, Philippians 2.3).
   –
   Meekness means mildness but it does not mean ____________. Meekness is __________ yourself to the will of God. (McGee, Ephesians, p. 111).
   –
   Longsuffering, a ________ of the Spirit, means that we don’t have a ________
   –
   “Forbearing one another in love” means to hold one’s self _______ in the spirit of _______. (See also, Col. 3.13)
   –
3. “Endeavoring to keep the ________ of the Spirit” (See also, Jn. 17.21). There are seven unities to be kept: one _______, one __________, one _______ of your calling, one _______, one ________, one baptism, one _____ and Father of all, who is above _____, and through _____, and in you _____. (Ep. 4.3-6). God is not the _________ of unbelievers.
4. In Ephesians 4.1-6, Paul started with the individual _____________. Then he widens out to the entire __________ which is one _______ and one __________. Then, he brings this passage to a great crescendo, which pictures the imminence and transcendence of _____.
   –

Questions 5 through 17 are based on Ephesians 4.7-16
–

5. In Ephesians 4.7-16, we learn of the ____________ of the new man. (Inhibition = Something that restrains, blocks, or suppresses).
6. God has given ________ to every believer, not that he may develop him spiritually, but in order that each believer may function in the ______ of believers to ____________ and bless the __________. (See Ro. 12, 1 Co. 12.7, 1 Co. 12, 13, and 14). Every member of my body needs to work __________. My eyes, brain, legs, etc. need to work __________. When one member of a body is not exercising his gift, he throws the whole body out of tune.
7. God “led captivity _____________, and gave ________ to men” “when he __________ up on high.” (Ep. 4.8). He first received those ________ for men (Ps. 68.18). Then He came to earth and went back to the Father and is now distributing the ________ among men. “When he ascended up on high” (the ascension) he did two things: (1) He “led captivity ____________” (referring to the redeemed of the ______ _______________ who went to _____________ when they died). (2) When He ascended, He conferred ________ on living believers in the church so that they might __________ to the world. At the day of __________, the Holy Spirit endowed ___________ with certain ________, enabling them to function as members of the _________ (the church at Jerusalem). The Holy Spirit put each of them in a certain place in the _______, and He has been doing that ever since.
8. Christ takes certain men who have been given certain ________ and gives them to the ________:
   –
   “And he [ __________ ] gave some, apostles; and some, ____________; and some, evangelists; and some, ___________ and teachers” (Ep. 4.11)
   –
9. An apostle had seen the Lord Jesus Christ but had also been directly and personally commissioned by Him to be an __________. He enjoyed special ______________. (See Ga. 1.1, 2).
10. “Prophets” refers to New Testament prophets, men with particular insight into the ____________ of faith. (cf. Ep. 3.5).
11. “Evangelists” were traveling missionaries. Paul was an example. They went ________ into new territory with the __________ of ______ who went before them.
12. He also gave “pastors” who were _____________ of the flock.
13. He gave some “teachers” who were to ____________ the flock. (See also, 1 Co. 12.28, 29, and 1 Ti. 3.2).
14. He gave these men to the church for specified purposes:
    –
    “For the ______________ of the saints, for the ______ of the ministry, for the ____________ of the body of Christ: (Ep. 4.12).
    –
15. A church has a purpose which is to complete itself that it might grow up:
    –
    “Till we all come in the unity of the ________, and of the __________ of the Son of God, unto a __________ man, unto the __________ of the stature of the __________ of Christ: That we ______________ be no more ____________, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of ____________, by the sleight of _____, and cunning __________, whereby they lie in wait to __________;” (Ep. 4.13-14).
    –
16. A church is not to make a “nut” of herself before the ________; she is not to appear ignorant before the ________. All these men are to prepare the _________ so that the believers might do the work of _____________ and ____________ up the body of Christ. The pastor has a special ______, a ______ of teaching the Word of God so that his __________, those who are under him, might do the work of the ____________. A __________ or other member of a church cannot be all things. No man has ______ the gifts. The business of the pastor is to ________ the members of the church for the ______ of the ministry. All believers need to be ___________ in the Word of God so they can do the ______ of the ministry. Christ’s purpose in giving men with different ______ to a __________ is to __________ believers from babyhood to full maturity. (See McGee, Ephesians, p. 119-122).
17. The final goal:“But speaking the truth in ______, may ______ up into him in all things, which is the ______, even Christ: From whom the whole ______ fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint ___________, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, _________ increase of the ______ unto the edifying of itself in ______.” (Ep. 4.15-16)

Answers

1. Ephesians 4.1-6 consider the exhibition of the new man. The only way people can tell if you are a real child of God through faith in Christ is by your walk.
   –
   “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Ep. 4.1)
   –
2. Paul begs believers to walk “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love: Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ep. 4.2-3).
   –
   Lowliness is the flagship of all Christian virtues and is the opposite of pride. (See also, Philippians 2.3).
   –
   Meekness means mildness but it does not mean weakness. Meekness is bowing yourself to the will of God. (McGee, Ephesians, p. 111).
   –
   Longsuffering, a fruit of the Spirit, means that we don’t have a short
   –
   “Forbearing one another in love” means to hold one’s self back in the spirit of love. (See also, Col. 3.13)
   –
3. “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit” (See also, Jn. 17.21). There are seven unities to be kept: one body, one Spirit, one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ep. 4.3-6). God is not the father of unbelievers.
   –
4. In Ephesians 4.1-6, Paul started with the individual believer. Then he widens out to the entire church which is one body and one Spirit. Then, he brings this passage to a great crescendo, which pictures the imminence and transcendence of God.

Questions  through  are based on Ephesians 4.7-16

5. In Ephesians 4.7-16, we learn of the inhibition of the new man. (inhibition = Something that restrains, blocks, or suppresses).
6. God has given gifts to every believer, not that he may develop him spiritually, but in order that each believer may function in the body of believers to benefit and bless the church. (See Ro. 12, 1 Co. 12.7, 1 Co. 12, 13, and 14). Every member of my body needs to work together. My eyes, brain, legs, etc. need to work together. When one member of a body is not exercising his gift, he throws the whole body out of tune.
7. God “led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men” “when he ascended up on high.” (Ep. 4.8). He first received those gifts for men (Ps. 68.18). Then He came to earth and went back to the Father and is now distributing the gifts among men. “When he ascended up on high” (the ascension) he did two things: (1) He “led captivity captive” (referring to the redeemed of the Old Testament who went to Paradise when they died). (2) When He ascended, He conferred gifts on living believers in the church so that they might witness to the world. At the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit endowed believers with certain gifts, enabling them to function as members of the body (the church at Jerusalem). The Holy Spirit put each of them in a certain place in the body, and He has been doing that ever since.
8. Christ takes certain men who have been given certain gifts and gives them to the church:
   –
   “And he [Christ] gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Ep. 4.11)
   –
9. An apostle had seen the Lord Jesus Christ but had also been directly and personally commissioned by Him to be an apostle. He enjoyed special inspiration. (See Ga. 1.1, 2).
10. “Prophets” refers to New Testament prophets, men with particular insight into the doctrines of faith. (cf. Ep. 3.5).
11. “Evangelists” were traveling missionaries. Paul was an example. They went alone into new territory with the Spirit of God who went before them.
12. He also gave “pastors” who were shepherds of the flock.
13. He gave some “teachers” who were to instruct the flock. (See also, 1 Co. 12.28, 29, and 1 Ti. 3.2).
14. He gave these men to the church for specified purposes:
    –
    “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ep. 4.12).
    –
15. A church has a purpose which is to complete itself that it might grow up:
    –
    “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: 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;” (Ep. 4.13-14).
    –
16. A church is not to make a “nut” of herself before the world; she is not to appear ignorant before the world. All these men are to prepare the church so that the believers might do the work of ministering and building up the body of Christ. The pastor has a special gift, a gift of teaching the Word of God so that his members, those who are under him, might do the work of the ministry. A pastor or other member of a church cannot be all things. No man has all the gifts. The business of the pastor is to build the members of the church for the work of the ministry. All believers need to be trained in the Word of God so they can do the work of the ministry. Christ’s purpose in giving men with different gifts to a church is to develop believers from babyhood to full maturity. (See McGee, Ephesians, p. 119-122).
17. The final desired result for a church:“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 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.” (Ep. 4.15-16)

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