The Twenty Third Sermon, the Third on the Fourth Chapter - Ephesians 4:6-8
"One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." - Ephesians 4:6-8
We have seen here too, that God, do not forget any means that might unite us in true concord and brotherhood, for He has dedicated us all to Himself by baptism, wherein we put on Christ, as we come together into the church. Just as we are called to one selfsame life, to be ears all together on the kingdom of heaven. So we ought to know who is the master with authority over us; for God is our Father, and we are His children. He does not desire discord among us, for it would be like setting trouble in His own house and church. Since we are members of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is fitting that we should unite in true unity, or else we shall tear His body apart. Nonetheless, to understand this unity better, St. Paul teaches us that God, being the Father of all the faithful, bestows His power and grace upon them and is above all things, gathering them into one. In short, He dwells in them by His Holy Spirit, and they must be one body unless they wish to turn away from Him. Therefore, you can see that the reason why God is our Father is not merely that He created us or that He has not forsaken us through His gospel. It is because He has bestowed His grace upon us and, as I mentioned earlier, because He is above all. Thus, the means by which God binds us to one another is like casting His beams, as if sunbeams from heaven, upon us. Therefore, we must come together as one, knowing that the things belonging to our spiritual life come from God's gift to us. This is not to scatter us apart, but rather to gather us into one body. In these final words, St. Paul further clarifies that God is within us. So, if each of us knows that God has bestowed such grace and honor upon him as to make him a dwelling place, there is no excuse for us to be in variance and hatred, each separated from the other, living for himself, leading to the complete disruption of the order God has established, if it were possible.
Therefore, when St. Paul speaks here, he is not referring to the grace that is common to all men; he is speaking of the church. He shows that we ought to unite because God has adopted us and taken us into His household. It is true that God has made it clear that we have no strength or life apart from Him, and for this reason, St. Paul says that in Him we have our life, movement, and being. However, this applies to all things in general. In this context, it is also said in the first of St. John that our Lord Jesus has been the life of all men since the creation of the world. Nevertheless, because humans have a more excellent privilege than brute beasts, it is said that He is their life and light. But here, the issue concerns the spiritual state of the church.
Whereas all Adam's descendants are corrupted and cursed by nature, God has separated us from this state by shaping us to choose Him. This separation is meant to bind us to Him in a holier and more profound bond than the rest of humanity who follow their earthly birthright. This unity is discussed in John 17, where it is said, "Holy Father, sanctify them, as I have sanctified myself for them, that they may become one in us, as you and I are one." Our Lord Jesus emphasized that He spoke not of the world or those not in His following and heritage. He allows others to go astray, but He desires His church to be truly united. How can this be achieved? It may not seem so when we are scattered, each focusing on themselves. However, if we consider how God has transformed us through His Holy Spirit, giving us a special life that demonstrates His grace, we should understand that even though we may be dispersed in the world, we should be united under our Lord Jesus Christ. None of us should be attached to our own profit, and none of us should love ourselves so much that we despise our brethren. Instead, we should allow ourselves to come together under the guidance of our God, for He dwells within us. We must demonstrate, through our actions, that we desire to be one in the power of His grace, which He has spread everywhere. Therefore, we see that the apostle Paul encourages us to help one another attain the perfect unity that God has already initiated within us. To achieve this, he advises that we should detach from the world and dedicate ourselves wholly to our God.
As I mentioned before, since God is the Creator, He must infuse life into all things, both above and below, as it is stated in the Psalms, "When you withdraw your spirit, all things are troubled and finally turned into nothing." This means that no beast, tree, bird, or fish exists without its being and continuation being sustained by the secret power of God. He not only gave them their initial existence but also maintains and upholds them. However, we have even more, for we not only live in this world and enjoy the benefits God has provided, such as the ability to see, hear, and use our senses, but God's Spirit dwells within us. It gathers us to Him and helps us understand that we are not just mortal beings, recipients of this temporary life from Him. He has marked us as His children and governs us, allowing His righteousness to dwell within us since we are inherently corrupt.
Thus, you see that the first thing we need to remember is that since God has drawn so close to us, dwelling not only among us but within us through His Holy Spirit, making us His temples, as I explained earlier, we must separate ourselves from the defilements of the world. However, it is not enough for each of us to acknowledge the grace we have received; we must also strive to live in unity and brotherly love. In doing so, we can help our neighbours navigate the journey we have embarked upon.
It is a woeful situation when someone separates themselves from the body of Christ, renouncing fellowship with others. Therefore, we should offer ourselves to God in such a way that He may govern each of us individually, while also striving to unite ourselves and work together in harmony. In this way, we can collectively demonstrate that we are the true body of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Him as our head, all aiming towards God, desiring nothing more than to be one with Him.
To reinforce this point, Paul mentions that each of us has received grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. This reveals that God employs a unique method to draw us closer to Him—by distributing His gifts in a way that compels us to rely on our neighbours. Left to our own devices, we are naturally self-centred, but necessity binds us to others and to God. To humble our pride and presumption, God has distributed His gifts in a way that clearly demonstrates our need for each other. There is no one among us so perfect that they can do without the help of others. Therefore, we must be willing to share what God has given us for the benefit of our brethren, and equally, we should be open to receiving help and support when we find ourselves in need. This mutual service reinforces the importance of humility and meekness, which are essential for fostering unity among us.
Paul's analogy in 1 Corinthians 12 compares the church to a human body, illustrating how absurd it is for each member to despise the others or be solely focused on itself. In the body, individual limbs do not possess separate understandings or private interests; rather, they work together harmoniously. Just as the hand willingly serves the rest of the body without hesitation, and the feet support the body without complaint, so too should we, the members of the body of Christ, collaborate in unity. God calls us to be one in Jesus Christ, not isolated individuals. Thus, He has distributed His gifts among us to create a bond of concord, preventing us from becoming prideful and self-sufficient. God intends for us to function together, like various body parts, each fulfilling its role to support the whole body.
First of all, let me emphasise that if we possess any excellence, it should not lead to pride, for we are indebted to God for it; we have nothing of our own. As we have previously discussed, Paul used this reasoning to prevent anyone from becoming overly presumptuous, urging humility and sobriety while attributing all glory to God. Therefore, he reiterates that no matter how excellent someone may be, they have no reason to exalt themselves above others, as everything comes from God. The manner in which we acknowledge this is by confessing that it is a freely bestowed gift. This is Paul's intention in the first place: to caution against the vice of excessive self-exaltation, which tempts all of us to assert our mastery over others. However, St. Paul reminds us that we are all utterly dependent on God's free gifts and should lower our heads, recognising that preeminence belongs to God alone. We must learn to submit to Him and be content with our respective roles. We should labour and strive to serve our neighbours and the entire community or body of the church.
Furthermore, it is essential to understand, as I have previously explained, that according to the measure of Christ, we will not find perfection in any living person. Every individual requires assistance, not only in the context of our everyday lives, but also in our spiritual journey. Our Lord has forewarned us of the need to stay connected because we are inclined to drift apart. Not everyone can be a baker, farmer, or cutler, and therefore, we all rely on one another. Without communication and cooperation, we would not survive a single day in this world.
Our Lord has given us this advance notice because He knows we can be quite fickle and prone to disunity. However, in this context, He is addressing spiritual gifts, which serve to remind us that God is our Father and we are the members of His church's household. A perfect person who examines themselves will recognise that their possession of more than others is measured, and no one should presume to have everything. When we have our measure, we must consider the two points I mentioned earlier: first, that those who receive a larger measure are more strictly obligated to use it for the common benefit of the church, and second, that they must seek help from their neighbours, as they cannot do without them. Therefore, they should peacefully conform to others and aspire to be a functioning member of the body, allowing all of us to hold on together, with our ultimate desire being that Jesus Christ has preeminence over us, leading us to God the Father. Thus, you can see how Paul refers to this measure as being "in Jesus Christ" because it is through Him that we are bound together, as previously explained. Our spiritual kinship, though originating from God as the source of all goodness, could not flow to us without Jesus Christ among us, uniting us through His means.
In line with what we've seen in the first chapter regarding Christ's role in gathering all things together, both in heaven and on earth, that were previously scattered, let us understand that since God has not granted us such perfection that each of us can sustain themselves in isolation, we must unite in peace and harmony. It's evident that God could have created us as perfect beings from the start, lacking nothing, and He is certainly not selfish in enriching Himself with His gifts, as far as He knows it's for our wellbeing. However, considering our inherent weaknesses, God has not immediately bound us to Himself. Instead, He wants us to learn to live with vigilance and awareness, recognizing that it's our responsibility to see through what He has initiated. In this journey, we should also exhibit humility and gentleness towards one another, avoiding the pride that leads to disdain or isolation from others. We must acknowledge that even the humblest person in God's Church possesses something to offer to their fellow believers.
As we've discussed before, if we ever think that a seemingly unlearned person has nothing to teach us and that we can gain nothing from them, we must be cautious not to underestimate God's grace. It's important to remember that anyone who has a taste and understanding of the gospel has the presence of God dwelling within them through His Holy Spirit, for faith is a unique gift from God. Thus, wherever we witness an appreciation and knowledge of the gospel, we can be sure that God resides in that person. Additionally, every drop of God's grace, no matter how small, is valuable and worthy of esteem. Therefore, there is no reason for pride to hinder our unity, or for us to forget that we are all part of one body.
On the other hand, each of us must also examine ourselves closely, for we will be held accountable for the benefits God has bestowed upon us. The more we have received, the more we will be blamed if we do not fulfil our duty of serving our neighbours, as mentioned earlier. Ultimately, the purpose of God's gifts is always to edify one another, allowing God's temple to flourish among us and reach its full perfection. This is how we should use the spiritual gifts given to us by God.
For this reason, it is also stated that those who understand the gospel should reflect the fact by the way they conduct their entire lives, demonstrating that they are children of light and not blind wanderers in darkness. Therefore, let us learn to use God's gifts in a way that brings glory to Him. This is why the concept of "measure" is emphasised, so that we cannot excuse ourselves by pointing to the poor example of others. When it comes to commendation, each of us tends to hold themselves in high regard and tries to persuade the world that they are truly exceptional.
Yet, in the meantime, we fail to recognise that God has doubly obliged us, not only to bestow His abundant blessings upon us but also to place us in a higher position than our neighbours. Therefore, let us consider ourselves blessed both collectively and individually. Collectively, because we have the gospel freely preached among us, and we should serve as a shining beacon to guide the way to salvation. Individually, we should discharge our own responsibilities, ensuring we do not give our neighbours any reason to stumble. Instead, we should strive to draw those who are distant from God and His truth closer to us, as well as support and encourage those who are already on the right path. Unfortunately, many fail in this regard. Those with exceptional gifts often seek to dominate others and crave worship like idols. As a result, the unity among us is often shattered.
Nonetheless, as I mentioned earlier, it is impossible for us to achieve true brotherly harmony without conforming ourselves to those within the church as we would to our own body parts. Without this conformity, genuine unity remains unattainable. Yet, we often witness everyone aspiring to be esteemed as the head. Furthermore, when it comes to edifying others, we often act contrary to what St. Paul tells us here. In Romans 14 and 15, he instructs us to act as if a strong man were to see a weaker one. Instead of using our strength to crush our neighbour, we should support and uplift them. It is akin to a strong man carrying a small child – he should not break the child's arms and legs by rushing ahead. If a stronger person seeks to outdo another merely to prove their superiority, it does not mean the weaker one should be defeated by force. Therefore, we must be cautious in our interactions with our brethren, ensuring that the strong do not overpower the weak but rather support them. It is like the analogy used by the prophet Ezekiel, where those who misuse their strength to oppress the weak are like goats butting their horns against defenceless lambs whose only intention is to be meek. This is the conduct we ought to exhibit, but sadly, we often fall short of it.
It is certain that the city of Geneva is meant to serve as a shining beacon, illuminating the path for those who are still distant from the gospel. However, I must address the current state of affairs, as witnessed in recent events, including those that transpired just yesterday. It is clear that the public is well aware of these happenings, both from what I share in the pulpit and what is discussed in the streets. If I were to remain silent in light of such circumstances, especially when even children sing about it, would I not be failing God and His people? Should I and my colleagues be like dumb dogs, not speaking out?
When a goldsmith creates a cross or a chalice, they are held accountable for their actions. If others produce items that serve superstitious practices of the papacy, it should not be tolerated. When a merchant sells goods, they receive due punishment if they deserve it. However, if someone sells chesticles, orbs, and other trinkets related to the Mass, it is somehow permitted and tolerated. These actions have indeed taken place, and they were carried out in the name of those who should be enforcing discipline and punishing wrongdoers. Moreover, they occurred in a place consecrated to God for the administration of justice.
Some may argue that it was done inadvertently, but I believe that if the individual had considered their actions carefully, they would have refrained from such a blatantly unlawful and inexcusable deed. Therefore, let us be vigilant, and I emphasize, let us be vigilant, not allowing ourselves to be deceived by Satan and lulled into a state of complacency, failing to heed the admonition presented here. That admonition is that if we have received any grace or gift from God, we must hold it in high regard and use it in a manner that brings glory to God and furthers His church. Otherwise, we will have to answer for causing offence, and it would have been better for the offensive items to have been consumed by fire a hundred times than to have been displayed openly in front of those who watch us from afar.
Indeed, we are well aware that there are many who observe us and are eager to find any reason to speak ill of us, not just to mock our efforts, as we may deserve, but to blaspheme the name of God. Therefore, if someone has erred, it is beneficial for them to be rebuked, so they may learn and improve. We must recognize that God has bound us deeply to Him, exalting us and honouring us more than we deserve by making us His people and entrusting us with the pure doctrine of His gospel. We should take this to heart, be cautious, and avoid becoming so careless as to act according to our own desires. God can indeed take away what He has granted us and dispossess us of His blessings at His discretion.
St. Paul explains here how God's generosity is evident in Jesus Christ, yet He bestows the gift of His Holy Spirit on each person in varying measures, not uniformly, but as He sees fit. Paul mentions that this was made possible through our Lord Jesus Christ ascending into heaven. At that moment, Jesus attained supreme authority, and the Father bestowed upon Him a name above all names, so that every knee should bow before Him, as stated elsewhere in Scripture.
Our Lord Jesus Christ received the fullness of grace for the world, as St. John noted in his first chapter. We all received from Him so that we may be satisfied with the good things we lacked before. This is why the Spirit was given to Him without measure, as also mentioned in the same text. The faithful, being members of the Church, have received their share, according to the measure of His only Son.
However, for Jesus Christ, God did not limit the giving of His Spirit. Why? Because He is the head, and from Him, every individual must draw their spiritual life. He holds complete authority over us. Therefore, let us be content with the portion allotted to each of us, walking in reverence before God. Moreover, let us understand that perfection is found in Jesus Christ, for God's Spirit rests in Him. Both the great and the small must approach Him humbly, acknowledging their spiritual poverty, and they should not be ashamed to receive from Christ's abundance, recognizing their need for His blessings.
Furthermore, even though our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated Himself as the only Son of God during His time in this world, confirming this through His miracles, wonders, and gifts, when He ascended into heaven, He revealed Himself as the one who had been commissioned by God the Father to provide all that we need. This is why it is stated in the seventh chapter of the Gospel of St. John that the Holy Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus Christ had not yet been glorified.
It is evident that our Lord wrote by the power of His Holy Spirit, for when Peter confessed Him as the Son of the living God, the response was, "Flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father." To be certain, we understand that there is nothing good in us, and the goodness God grants us is through His Holy Spirit. All things have been entrusted to our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is His responsibility to impart His teachings to us, as it has been revealed in His role, with the Father granting Him special authority to bestow His gifts upon us. This is also why the prophet Isaiah states that God's Spirit rested upon Him, signifying that we would perish, as if through drought and emptiness if we were separated from Him.
Regardless of the circumstances, we must always return to this point: the Holy Ghost was poured out upon all the faithful when our Lord Jesus Christ was exalted, as stated in another passage. Therefore, let us recognize that when our Lord Jesus Christ departed from the world and ascended into His heavenly glory, it was for the purpose of allowing us to enjoy His goodness even more. This is the reason He told His disciples, "It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I remain with you, the Holy Ghost will not come." Indeed, our Lord Jesus could have granted them His Spirit while visibly present with them just as He did after He had departed from the world. However, we must not speculate on this matter according to our own understanding. We must understand that our Lord Jesus humbled Himself for a time, as we will explore further later, but He was received into His heavenly glory to establish His supreme authority, causing all creation to bow before Him.
As a result, we see how our Lord Jesus Christ, in His wisdom, chose to be absent from us in His physical form so that we might better sense His presence through His indwelling in us by His Holy Spirit. This is what St. Paul addresses here when he mentions that for this reason, it is said that He ascended on high and gave gifts to men, having first led away His enemies as prisoners. The text cited from the sixty-eighth Psalm reveals that God is highly exalted in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Indeed, in that song, David praised God for being established as the king of Israel, representing our Lord Jesus Christ. He had established the worship of God in its purity, corrected the numerous disorders that had occurred during Saul's reign, and achieved many victories. It was evident that God had shown His grace upon him, making it clear that his kingdom was not merely that of a mortal and temporary man, but rather that God intended to reveal His glory there. That is David's primary message. When he begins by saying that God has gone up, he employs a common scriptural manner of speaking. During Saul's time, everything seemed to be in disarray. It appeared as though God had been inactive. Religion had been suppressed, and there was a great deal of wickedness with excessive liberty to do evil. David signifies a remarkable change when he says that God has gone up. In other words, he shows that through His actions, God had displayed His care for His church, His intention to protect it, and His desire to make His Majesty known there. That's one point.
Furthermore, he adds, "You have led captivity captive," meaning that God had subdued His enemies, of which there were many who sought nothing but the ruin and desolation of the people. David suggests that as soon as God went up, He immediately broke and crushed the heads of His enemies so that they no longer troubled His people. All their efforts, force, and attacks proved futile. He adds that God received gifts from men, signifying that those who had been conquered had offered tribute to God as their Sovereign King. While this was done in David's person, God intended His glory to shine forth in the man He had chosen, anointed by Samuel. In short, we see what David intended to convey in that verse.
St. Paul, therefore, applies the same to our Lord Jesus Christ, and rightly so. Whatever was prefigured in the person of David must be attributed to Jesus Christ, as He is the truth and substance of all these shadows. In Him, we find a much more royal fulfilment of the things mentioned in that psalm. St. Paul did not misappropriate that text when he attributed it to the only Son of God, stating that He was exalted on high. As he will explain later, Jesus Christ was first humbled and then exalted. Thus, we see that God took possession of His sovereignty, not over the entire world, but over His own people, intending to govern them according to His good pleasure. Subsequently, He asserted His sovereignty over His enemies. He didn't just receive tribute and gifts so that all would honour Him, but He also subdued the rebels. There are no devils or reprobates who have not been defeated by the mighty hand of God, and in this, we see that our Lord Jesus Christ is the one of whom David was a foreshadowing.
St. Paul tells us in essence that although our Lord Jesus Christ does not dwell among us in the manner of men, and we do not see Him with our physical eyes, we should not be separated from Him in our minds. He has ascended to fill all things, not with His body, but with His benefits and gifts. Regardless of the great distance between our Lord Jesus Christ and us in terms of heavenly and earthly places, He desires to dwell within us and make us one with Him through the gifts He bestows upon us. Therefore, we should strive for the unity He spoke of. This concludes the main points we can gather from this passage. Although we must now bring this discussion to an end, we must understand that Jesus Christ is not so far from us today that we cannot experience His closeness. He has ascended, not to abandon His church, but to be exalted so that we may honour Him as our head. Since we are members of His body, we must serve one another. We must not distance ourselves from Him, but rather, each one of us should draw near to Him and strive to bring others along. The strong should not discourage the weak but strengthen them. The healthy should support the less fortunate, and those who are progressing well should help those lagging behind, striving towards the ultimate perfection to which we are called.
Now, let us humble ourselves before the majesty of our good God, acknowledging our faults and praying that we may truly repent and turn to Him for our continual growth. Let us acknowledge our weaknesses and pray that God may bear with us, grant us forgiveness for our sins, and encourage us to come to Him without doubting. We can be confident that He will always recognise us as His children and grant us the inheritance He has acquired for us at great cost. And so, we say, "Almighty God, Heavenly Father, etc."