Ephesians 4:7-16

I. The Gifts (Ephesians 4:7-10)

A. Grace available to all
B. Our conquering King gives gifts (cf. Psalm 68:18)
C. For the Son of God to ascend, He first had to descend (John 1:1-2, 14)

II. Equipping the Saints (Ephesians 4:11-14)

A. Miraculous (first century): apostles and prophets
B. Non-miraculous (until the end of time): evangelists and teaching pastors
C. For the work of ministry (2 Timothy 4:5) and edification (Romans 15:2; Ephesians 4:29)
D. Grounding the church in the doctrine of Christ (“one faith” Ephesians 4:5; Jude 3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

III. The Growth and Edification of the Body (Ephesians 4:15-16)

A. By speaking the truth in love (“agape”)
B. By unity – “joined and knit together” (Ephesians 4:1-3)
C. By the “effective working” of the whole body – “every part does its share”
D. The key to all of this is love – “agape”