The Church Will Be a Bride: The Engagement of the Church – Ephesians 5.1-17
(13 questions with answers following)
Added on March 28, 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.
These are open book quizzes. Refer to your Bible for answers.
- The emphasis on this chapter is the __________. The church will be a ________.
- Today the church is not a bride. The church is a _____ ______ walking in the world; and the church is espoused (engaged) to _________, but is not wedded to ______. On earth, we are to _______ as a future ________.
–
Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” Revelation 21: “2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
–
- 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 “For I am jealous over you with godly __________: for I have __________ you to one ________, that I may present you as a chaste ________ to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the ____________ that is in Christ.”
–
In 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, Paul is speaking to the church at ________. The only representation of the institution of the church until the marriage of the lamb is the local, autonomous, New Testament _________.
–
- According to Ephesians 5.1-18, the future bride espoused to the Lord Jesus Christ is to _______ in a prescribed manner. This manner of walk parallels the proper walk of a woman who is espoused to a _________. This manner of walk is an __________ of _______. Before becoming a believer, the children of God walked on a very ________ worldly plane. After salvation they are called “________ children” and are lifted to the plane of the __________ which Christ exhibited when He loved us enough to give Himself as an offering and a _________ for our sin.
–
Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a ________ to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
–
- Ephesians 5.3-5 describes sins prevalent among _____________. Paul is saying that the child of God cannot ____________ engage in these. Even a slight indulgence brings about a revulsion and agony of ______. If you can get into_____ and not be troubled or bothered by it, you are not a child of God.
- List the sins pointed out in Ephesians 5.3-4.
- Rather than partaking in those sins, the believer is to give _________.
- The _____________ man who practices these sins has no portion in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. God will pour out his ________ upon the children of ____________. If you are a child of God and do these things, God will __________ you.
- In Ephesians 5.8-10, Paul reminds believers of their former state: they “were sometimes ____________,” but now are “_________ in the Lord.” They are to “walk as children of _________.” For the fruit of the spirit is all ____________ and _______________ and _________. They are “proving what is ____________ to the Lord.”
- In Ephesians 5.11-13, Paul speaks of the “unfruitful works of __________.” The believer is to have “no ______________ with them,” but “rather to reprove” “It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in __________.” The ________, by __________, makes those things manifest.
- In Ephesians 5.14-17, Paul tells believers to ________ and _________ from the dead. Only ______ can _________ us from our spiritual stupor. He again instructs us to walk circumspectly, “not as _________, but as _______. We are to _________ the time, because the days are _______. He again, in verse 17, urges us to be ______, knowing the ______ of the Lord.
- Thus, we are instructed, to ______ a certain way during our engagement leading up to our marriage to the Lamb of God.
- These verses, in the context of this chapter and Ephesians as a whole, is speaking to the members of body of the church at __________ and to the members and bodies of all New Testament ___________.
Answers
- The emphasis on this chapter is the future. The church will be a bride.
- Today the church is not a bride. The church is a new man walking in the world; and the church is espoused (engaged) to Christ, but is not wedded to him. On earth, we are to walk as a future bride.
–
Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” Revelation 21: “2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
–
- 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
–
In 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, Paul is speaking to the church at Corinth. The only representation of the institution of the church until the marriage of the lamb is the local, autonomous, New Testament church.
–
- According to Ephesians 5.1-18, the future bride espoused to the Lord Jesus Christ is to walk in a prescribed manner. This manner of walk parallels the proper walk of a woman who is espoused to a man. This manner of walk is an imitation of God. Before becoming a believer, the children of God walked on a very low worldly plane. After salvation they are called “dear children” and are lifted to the plane of the love which Christ exhibited when He loved us enough to give Himself as an offering and a sacrifice for our sin.
–
Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
–
- Ephesians 5.3-5 describes sins prevalent among unbelievers. Paul is saying that the child of God cannot habitually engage in these. Even a slight indulgence brings about a revulsion and agony of soul. If you can get into sin and not be troubled or bothered by it, you are not a child of God.
- The sins pointed out in Ephsians 5.3-4 are: fornication (both earthly and spiritual—a church can commit fornication by, for example, having a relationship with the civil government); all uncleanness (all forms of immorality); covetousness ( a grasping and desire and not just for material wealth; a church, for example is covetousness when it desires big buildings, wealthy members regardless of their spiritual condition, position, power beyond that provided by God, etc. ); this is a rotten sin “not to be once named among you.”); filthiness (the utmost in depravity); foolish talking (to gloat or brag about sinning); jesting (this does not include good, clean, humor).
- Rather than partaking in those sins, the believer is to give thanks.
- The unregenerate man who practices these sins has no portion in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. God will pour out his wrath upon the children of disobedience (Ep. 5.5-7). If you are a child of God and do these things, God will chasten
- In Ephesians 5.8-10, Paul reminds believers of their former state: they “were sometimes darkness,” but now are “light in the Lord.” They are to “walk as children of light.” For the fruit of the spirit is all goodness and righteousness and truth. They are “proving what is acceptable to the Lord.”
- In Ephesians 5.11-13, Paul speaks of the “unfruitful works of darkness.” The believer is to have “no fellowship with them,” but “rather to reprove” “It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” The light, by reproof, makes those things manifest.
- In Ephesians 5.14-17, Paul tells believers to awake and arise from the dead. Only God can awaken us from our spiritual stupor. He again instructs us to walk circumspectly, “not as fools, but as wise. We are to redeem the time, because the days are evil. He again, in verse 17, urges us to be wise, knowing the will of the Lord.
- Thus, we are instructed, to walk a certain way during our engagement leading up to our marriage to the Lamb of God.
- These verses, in the context of this chapter and Ephesians as a whole, is speaking to the members of body of the church at Ephesus and to the members and bodies of all New Testament churches.
Should you disagree with an answer given, please explain why you disagree in the comment section below the article. All reasoned comments will be published, perhaps with reply. The purpose of this website is the Glory of God. God cannot be glorified by shutting out honest disagreement in the search for truth. The author would be interested in your explanation. The comments are required by the website to be approved or disapproved. The author is very busy with many matters and may or may not immediately notice your comment. He will address it as soon as he notices it. He almost always approves comments presented with a godly spirit. He never alters comments. Sometimes, he replies to comments.
The Church Is a New Man: The Exhibition and Inhibition of the New Man – Ephesians 4.1-16
(17 questions from with answers following)
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.
- 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)
–
- 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 ________
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“Forbearing one another in love” means to hold one’s self _______ in the spirit of _______. (See also, Col. 3.13)
–
- “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.
- 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
–
- In Ephesians 4.7-16, we learn of the ____________ of the new man. (Inhibition = Something that restrains, blocks, or suppresses).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
–
- 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).
- “Prophets” refers to New Testament prophets, men with particular insight into the ____________ of faith. (cf. Ep. 3.5).
- “Evangelists” were traveling missionaries. Paul was an example. They went ________ into new territory with the __________ of ______ who went before them.
- He also gave “pastors” who were _____________ of the flock.
- He gave some “teachers” who were to ____________ the flock. (See also, 1 Co. 12.28, 29, and 1 Ti. 3.2).
- 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).
–
- 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).
–
- 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).
- 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
- 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)
–
- 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)
–
- “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.
–
- 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
- In Ephesians 4.7-16, we learn of the inhibition of the new man. (inhibition = Something that restrains, blocks, or suppresses).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
–
- 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).
- “Prophets” refers to New Testament prophets, men with particular insight into the doctrines of faith. (cf. Ep. 3.5).
- “Evangelists” were traveling missionaries. Paul was an example. They went alone into new territory with the Spirit of God who went before them.
- He also gave “pastors” who were shepherds of the flock.
- He gave some “teachers” who were to instruct the flock. (See also, 1 Co. 12.28, 29, and 1 Ti. 3.2).
- 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).
–
- 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).
–
- 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).
- 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)
Should you disagree with an answer given, please explain why you disagree in the comment section below the article. All reasoned comments will be published, perhaps with reply. The purpose of this website is the Glory of God. God cannot be glorified by shutting out honest disagreement in the search for truth. The author would be interested in your explanation. The comments are required by the website to be approved or disapproved. The author is very busy with many matters and may or may not immediately notice your comment. He will address it as soon as he notices it. He almost always approves comments presented with a godly spirit. He never alters comments. Sometimes, he replies to comments.
The local church sanctified and cleansed by the washing of water by the word——————–A ministry of Charity Baptist Tabernacle of Amarillo, Texas led by Pastor Ben Hickam. "Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:1-3). ————————————Jerald Finney, a Christian Lawyer and member of Charity Baptist Tabernacle, having received this ministry in the Lord, explains how a church in America can remain under the Lord Jesus Christ and Him only. "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:10-11; See also, Ephesians 4::1-16 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-25). "Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it" (Colossians 4:17). "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church" (Ephesians 1.22; See also, e.g. Colossians 1:18).
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