Loving the Lord and Loving One Another for the Organic Building Up of the Church as the Body of
Christ
Message Three Loving the Lord Jesus Christ in Incorruptibility
Morningside | 中文 |
Transcription - Menu
Scripture Reading: Eph. 6:24; 1:4; 2:10; 3:16-17; 4:22-24; 5:18-19; 6:10-11
Eph. 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility.
Eph. 1:4 Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without
blemish before Him in love,
Eph. 2:10 For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand in order that we would walk in them.
Eph. 3:16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with power through His Spirit into the inner man,
Eph. 3:17 That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted
and grounded in love,
Eph. 4:22 That you put off, as regards your former manner of life, the old man, which is being
corrupted according to the lusts of the deceit,
Eph. 4:23 And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind
Eph. 4:24 And put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and
holiness of the reality.
Eph. 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in spirit,
Eph. 5:19 Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming
with your heart to the Lord,
Eph. 6:10 Finally, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength.
Eph. 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of
the devil,
Hymns:546
Outline [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Morningside [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Day 1
I. “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in
incorruptibility”—Eph. 6:24:
Eph. 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility.
A. Grace is needed for us to live a church life that fulfills God's purpose and
solves God's problem with His enemy—1:2; 3:2, 8, 10-11; 4:7, 29.
Eph. 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph. 3:2 If indeed you have heard of the stewardship of the grace of God which was given to me
for you,
Eph. 3:8 To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel
Eph. 3:10 In order that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies the
multifarious wisdom of God might be made known through the church,
Eph. 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Eph. 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but only that which is good for
building up, according to the need, that it may give grace to those who hear.
B. The enjoyment of the Lord as grace is with those who love Him—6:24:
Eph. 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility.
1. Love in 1:4 refers to the love with which God loves His chosen ones and His
chosen ones love Him:
Eph. 1:4 Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without
blemish before Him in love,
a. It is in this love that God's chosen ones become holy and without blemish
before Him.
b. God first loved us, and then this divine love inspires us to love Him in
return.
c. In such a condition and atmosphere of love, we are saturated with God to be
holy and without blemish, just as He is.
2. According to 3:17, we may be rooted and grounded in love, and according to
verse 19, we can know the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ; as God's cultivated land, we need to be rooted
for our growth, and as God's building, we need to be grounded for our building up—1 Cor. 3:9.
Eph. 3:17 That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted
and grounded in love,
Eph. 3:19 And to know the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, that you may be filled unto all
the fullness of God.
1 Cor. 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's cultivated land, God's building.
Day 1
Day 2
3. Ephesians 4:15-16 reveals that we hold to truth in love and that the Body
builds itself up in love:
Eph. 4:15 But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head,
Christ,
Eph. 4:16 Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through
every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth
of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
a. This is the love of God in Christ, which becomes the love of Christ in us, by
which we love Christ and the fellow members of His Body—1 John 4:7-8, 10-12, 16, 19.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God, and everyone who loves has
been begotten of God and knows God.
1 John 4:8 He who does not love has not known God, because God is love.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son as
a propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God has loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:12 No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and
His love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:16 And we know and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and he who
abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.
1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.
b. Love is the inner substance of God; the goal of Ephesians is to bring us into
God's inner substance so that we may enjoy God as love and enjoy His presence in the
sweetness of the divine love, and thereby love others as Christ did—5:2, 25.
Eph. 5:2 And walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.
Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up
for her
C. For the proper church life we need to love the Lord in incorruptibility—6:24:
Eph. 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility.
1. According to the usage of incorruptible in the writings of Paul, this word
refers mainly to God and the things of God; everything natural is corruptible, but God, the divine life, and all
things that are in resurrection are incorruptible—1 Tim. 1:17; 2 Tim. 1:10; 1 Cor. 15:42, 52-54.
1 Tim. 1:17 Now to the King of the ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, be honor and
glory forever and ever. Amen.
2 Tim. 1:10 But now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who
nullified death and brought life and incorruption to light through the gospel,
1 Cor. 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in
incorruption;
1 Cor. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will
sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
1 Cor. 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality.
1 Cor. 15:54 And when this corruptible will put on incorruption and this mortal will put on
immortality, then the word which is written will come to pass, "Death has been swallowed up unto victory."
Day 2
Day 3
2. To love the Lord in incorruptibility is to love Him in the new creation, not
in the old creation—Eph. 2:15; 4:24; 2 Cor. 5:17.
Eph. 2:15 Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might
create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace,
Eph. 4:24 And put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and
holiness of the reality.
2 Cor. 5:17 So then if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed
away; behold, they have become new.
3. To love the Lord in incorruptibility is to love Him in the regenerated and
renewed spirit indwelt by the Holy Spirit—John 3:6; 1 Cor. 6:17; 2 Tim. 1:7.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit.
1 Cor. 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.
2 Tim. 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of
sobermindedness.
4. To love the Lord in incorruptibility means to love Him according to all the
incorruptible things revealed in Ephesians:
a. We need to love the Lord Jesus in His being the embodiment of the Triune God
(Col. 2:9); in His being the element of the Body (1 Cor. 12:12); in His being reality, grace, peace, love, and
light (John 1:17; 8:12; 14:6; Eph. 2:14; 1 John 4:8); and in His being the constituent of the one new man (Eph.
2:15; Col. 3:10-11).
Col. 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,
1 Cor. 12:12 For even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the body,
being many, are one body, so also is the Christ.
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and reality came through Jesus Christ.
John 8:12 Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he who
follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way and the reality and the life; no one comes to the
Father except through Me.
Eph. 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle
wall of partition, the enmity,
1 John 4:8 He who does not love has not known God, because God is love.
Eph. 2:15 Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might
create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace,
Col. 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is being renewed unto full knowledge according to
the image of Him who created him,
Col. 3:11 Where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian,
Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all and in all.
b. All these things are related to what is revealed and taught in Ephesians,
including the Triune God, Christ, and His Body, the church.
c. Ephesians speaks concerning the dispensing of the Triune God to produce the
church (1:3-23; 3:16-21), of what Christ is and has done for the church (1:7; 2:13-18; 5:25-27, 29), and about
the church being the Body of Christ, being the bride of Christ, and being one with Christ in the heavenlies
(1:22-23; 5:23, 25-27; 2:6).
Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ,
Eph. 1:4 Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without
blemish before Him in love,
Eph. 1:5 Predestinating us unto sonship through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good
pleasure of His will,
Eph. 1:6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He graced us in the Beloved;
Eph. 1:7 In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of offenses, according
to the riches of His grace,
Eph. 1:8 Which He caused to abound to us in all wisdom and prudence,
Eph. 1:9 Making known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He
purposed in Himself,
Eph. 1:10 Unto the economy of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ, the
things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in Him;
Eph. 1:11 In whom also we were designated as an inheritance, having been predestinated
according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
Eph. 1:12 That we would be to the praise of His glory who have first hoped in Christ,
Eph. 1:13 In whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,
in Him also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise,
Eph. 1:14 Who is the pledge of our inheritance unto the redemption of the acquired possession,
to the praise of His glory.
Eph. 1:15 Therefore I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you and
your love to all the saints,
Eph. 1:16 Do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,
Eph. 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit
of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him,
Eph. 1:18 The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of
His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Eph. 1:19 And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to
the operation of the might of His strength,
Eph. 1:20 Which He caused to operate in Christ in raising Him from the dead and seating Him at
His right hand in the heavenlies,
Eph. 1:21 Far above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in that which is to come;
Eph. 1:22 And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to
the church,
Eph. 1:23 Which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
Eph. 3:16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with power through His Spirit into the inner man,
Eph. 3:17 That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted
and grounded in love,
Eph. 3:18 May be full of strength to apprehend with all the saints what the breadth and length
and height and depth are
Eph. 3:19 And to know the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, that you may be filled unto all
the fullness of God.
Eph. 3:20 But to Him who is able to do superabundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power which operates in us,
Eph. 3:21 To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all the generations
forever and ever. Amen.
Eph. 1:7 In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of offenses, according
to the riches of His grace,
Eph. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have become near in the blood of
Christ.
Eph. 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle
wall of partition, the enmity,
Eph. 2:15 Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might
create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace,
Eph. 2:16 And might reconcile both in one Body to God through the cross, having slain the
enmity by it.
Eph. 2:17 And coming, He announced peace as the gospel to you who were far off, and peace to
those who were near,
Eph. 2:18 For through Him we both have access in one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up
for her
Eph. 5:26 That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word,
Eph. 5:27 That He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or
any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish.
Eph. 5:29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ
also the church,
Eph. 1:22 And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to
the church,
Eph. 1:23 Which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
Eph. 5:23 For a husband is head of the wife as also Christ is Head of the church, He Himself
being the Savior of the Body.
Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up
for her
Eph. 5:26 That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word,
Eph. 5:27 That He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or
any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish.
Eph. 2:6 And raised us up together with Him and seated us together with Him in the heavenlies
in Christ Jesus,
d. All these matters are incorruptible, and if we love the Lord Jesus in all
these things, our love toward Him will be incorruptible (6:24); such a love is not a natural love; it is a love
in resurrection, the love that God Himself is in His divine essence (1 John 4:16).
Eph. 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility.
1 John 4:16 And we know and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and he who
abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.
5. In the Lord's recovery we need to love our Lord Jesus Christ in all the
divine, spiritual, heavenly, and incorruptible things revealed in Ephesians concerning the Triune God, the
divine life, what Christ is to us, what He has done, and the church—1:3-23; 2:5-6, 13-18; 3:16-21; 4:4-6; 5:23,
25-27.
Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ,
Eph. 1:4 Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without
blemish before Him in love,
Eph. 1:5 Predestinating us unto sonship through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good
pleasure of His will,
Eph. 1:6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He graced us in the Beloved;
Eph. 1:7 In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of offenses, according
to the riches of His grace,
Eph. 1:8 Which He caused to abound to us in all wisdom and prudence,
Eph. 1:9 Making known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He
purposed in Himself,
Eph. 1:10 Unto the economy of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ, the
things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in Him;
Eph. 1:11 In whom also we were designated as an inheritance, having been predestinated
according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
Eph. 1:12 That we would be to the praise of His glory who have first hoped in Christ,
Eph. 1:13 In whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,
in Him also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise,
Eph. 1:14 Who is the pledge of our inheritance unto the redemption of the acquired possession,
to the praise of His glory.
Eph. 1:15 Therefore I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you and
your love to all the saints,
Eph. 1:16 Do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,
Eph. 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit
of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him,
Eph. 1:18 The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of
His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Eph. 1:19 And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to
the operation of the might of His strength,
Eph. 1:20 Which He caused to operate in Christ in raising Him from the dead and seating Him at
His right hand in the heavenlies,
Eph. 1:21 Far above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in that which is to come;
Eph. 1:22 And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to
the church,
Eph. 1:23 Which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
Eph. 2:5 Even when we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you
have been saved)
Eph. 2:6 And raised us up together with Him and seated us together with Him in the heavenlies
in Christ Jesus,
Eph. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have become near in the blood of
Christ.
Eph. 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle
wall of partition, the enmity,
Eph. 2:15 Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might
create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace,
Eph. 2:16 And might reconcile both in one Body to God through the cross, having slain the
enmity by it.
Eph. 2:17 And coming, He announced peace as the gospel to you who were far off, and peace to
those who were near,
Eph. 2:18 For through Him we both have access in one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph. 3:16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with power through His Spirit into the inner man,
Eph. 3:17 That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted
and grounded in love,
Eph. 3:18 May be full of strength to apprehend with all the saints what the breadth and length
and height and depth are
Eph. 3:19 And to know the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, that you may be filled unto all
the fullness of God.
Eph. 3:20 But to Him who is able to do superabundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power which operates in us,
Eph. 3:21 To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all the generations
forever and ever. Amen.
Eph. 4:4 One Body and one Spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
Eph. 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Eph. 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Eph. 5:23 For a husband is head of the wife as also Christ is Head of the church, He Himself
being the Savior of the Body.
Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up
for her
Eph. 5:26 That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word,
Eph. 5:27 That He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or
any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish.
Day 3
Day 4
II. Paul's blessing at the end of his Epistle to the Ephesians foreshadows a
problem that would arise: the love in the church in Ephesus would fade, as indicated by the Lord's rebuke in
Revelation 2:2-5:
Rev. 2:2 I know your works and your labor and your endurance and that you cannot bear evil men;
and you have tried those who call themselves apostles and are not, and have found them to be false;
Rev. 2:3 And you have endurance and have borne all things because of My name and have not grown
weary.
Rev. 2:4 But I have one thing against you, that you have left your first love.
Rev. 2:5 Remember therefore where you have fallen from and repent and do the first works; but
if not, I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent.
A. The concluding word of Ephesians 6:24 adds a condition to the presence of
grace: loving the Lord in incorruptibility; this seems to imply that if the Ephesians did not love the Lord in
such a way, the grace of the Lord would no longer be with them.
Eph. 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility.
B. Ephesians emphasizes the relationship between grace and love (1:2, 4; 3:17;
4:2, 15-16; 5:2; 6:23-24); this indicates that if we want to receive and enjoy grace continually, we need to
fulfill one condition—love.
Eph. 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph. 1:4 Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without
blemish before Him in love,
Eph. 3:17 That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted
and grounded in love,
Eph. 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, bearing one another in love,
Eph. 4:15 But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head,
Christ,
Eph. 4:16 Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through
every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth
of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
Eph. 5:2 And walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.
Eph. 6:23 Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Eph. 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility.
C. The church in Ephesus failed in the matter of loving the Lord; such a failure
became the main reason for the failure of the church throughout the ages—Matt. 24:12; Mark 12:30-31; cf. Dan.
7:25:
Matt. 24:12 And because lawlessness will be multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold.
Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart and from your whole soul
and from your whole mind and from your whole strength."
Mark 12:31 The second is this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." There is no other
commandment greater than these.
Dan. 7:25 And he will speak things against the Most High and wear out the saints of the Most
High; and his intention will be to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand for a
time and times and half a time.
1. The genuine ministry of the New Testament always stirs us up to love the Lord
Jesus with the first love, strengthening us in the simplicity of enjoying Christ as our life supply—2 Cor.
11:2-3; 3:3-6.
2 Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God; for I betrothed you to one
husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
2 Cor. 11:3 But I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your
thoughts would be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity toward Christ.
2 Cor. 3:3 Since you are being manifested that you are a letter of Christ ministered by us,
inscribed not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone but in tablets of
hearts of flesh.
2 Cor. 3:4 And such confidence we have through Christ toward God,
2 Cor. 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to account anything as from ourselves; but
our sufficiency is from God,
2 Cor. 3:6 Who has also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, ministers not of the
letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2. The churches in Asia, including the church in Ephesus, turned away from the
apostle Paul's betrothing ministry (2 Tim. 1:15; 2 Cor. 11:2-3); approximately twenty-six years later, when the
apostle John wrote the epistle to the church in Ephesus, they had left their first love and lost the genuine
enjoyment of Christ, resulting in the loss of the testimony of the Lord (Rev. 2:4-5, 7).
2 Tim. 1:15 This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me, of whom are Phygelus
and Hermogenes.
2 Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God; for I betrothed you to one
husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
2 Cor. 11:3 But I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your
thoughts would be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity toward Christ.
Rev. 2:4 But I have one thing against you, that you have left your first love.
Rev. 2:5 Remember therefore where you have fallen from and repent and do the first works; but
if not, I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent.
Rev. 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who
overcomes, to him I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
Day 4
Day 5
III. The revelation of the church in the Epistle to the Ephesians has two main
aspects: the first aspect is the work of the ministry to build up the Body of Christ, and the second aspect is
our spiritual life, which comprises many spiritual experiences that enable us to live a life that matches the
church life:
A. We need to love the Lord in incorruptibility by doing the work of the
ministry to build up the Body of Christ:
1. What is needed today is an organic building of the Body not directly by
Christ as the Head or by the gifted persons but by all the members being perfected to function as the gifted
persons do—4:11-16.
Eph. 4:11 And He Himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and
some as shepherds and teachers,
Eph. 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up
of the Body of Christ,
Eph. 4:13 Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son
of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Eph. 4:14 That we may be no longer little children tossed by waves and carried about by every
wind of teaching in the sleight of men, in craftiness with a view to a system of error,
Eph. 4:15 But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head,
Christ,
Eph. 4:16 Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through
every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth
of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
2. The building up of the Body of Christ comprises the following categories of
work, which are eternal and glorious:
a. We need to visit others with the gospel to bring them into the Triune God
(Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; John 15:5; cf. 2 Tim. 1:10), offering them as sacrifices to God (Rom.
15:16).
Matt. 28:19 Go therefore and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all the
creation.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all
the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much
fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.
2 Tim. 1:10 But now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who
nullified death and brought life and incorruption to light through the gospel,
Rom. 15:16 That I might be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, a laboring priest of the
gospel of God, in order that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, having been sanctified in the
Holy Spirit.
b. We need to shepherd the new believers in home meetings (John 15:16;
21:15-17), nourishing them and helping them to grow so that they can offer themselves as living sacrifices to
God (1 Pet. 2:2; Rom. 12:1).
John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and I set you that you should go forth and
bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you.
John 21:15 Then when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John,
do you love Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My
lambs.
John 21:16 He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? He said to
Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Shepherd My sheep.
John 21:17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? Peter was grieved
that He said to him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things; You know
that I love You. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.
1 Pet. 2:2 As newborn babes, long for the guileless milk of the word in order that by it you
may grow unto salvation,
Rom. 12:1 I exhort you therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God to present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.
c. We need to perfect the saints in group meetings that they may do the work of
the ministry unto the organic building up of the Body of Christ—Eph. 4:11-16; Heb. 10:24-25.
Eph. 4:11 And He Himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and
some as shepherds and teachers,
Eph. 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up
of the Body of Christ,
Eph. 4:13 Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son
of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Eph. 4:14 That we may be no longer little children tossed by waves and carried about by every
wind of teaching in the sleight of men, in craftiness with a view to a system of error,
Eph. 4:15 But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head,
Christ,
Eph. 4:16 Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through
every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth
of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.
Heb. 10:24 And let us consider one another so as to incite one another to love and good works,
Heb. 10:25 Not abandoning our own assembling together, as the custom with some is, but
exhorting one another; and so much the more as you see the day drawing near.
d. We need to lead the saints to prophesy, to speak for God, one by one in the
church meetings for the organic building up of the church—1 Cor. 14:3, 4b, 12, 26, 31.
1 Cor. 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks building up and encouragement and consolation to men.
1 Cor. 14:4 He who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but he who prophesies builds up the
church.
1 Cor. 14:12 So also you, since you are zealous of spirits, seek that you may excel for the
building up of the church.
1 Cor. 14:26 What then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, has a
teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
1 Cor. 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
3. This is the organic service of the Body of Christ, which is also the organic
service of the New Testament priesthood of the gospel (1 Pet. 2:5, 9), in which we have to be like the apostle
Paul, who labored and struggled in all wisdom to present every man full-grown in Christ to God (Col. 1:28-29).
1 Pet. 2:5 You yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house into
a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired for
a possession, so that you may tell out the virtues of Him who has called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light;
Col. 1:28 Whom we announce, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we
may present every man full-grown in Christ;
Col. 1:29 For which also I labor, struggling according to His operation which operates in me in
power.
Day 5
Day 6
B. We need to love the Lord in incorruptibility in the spiritual experiences
that match the church life as unveiled in each chapter of Ephesians:
1. Chapter 1 unveils our being chosen in Christ to be holy and without blemish
before God in love (v. 4); chapter 2 unveils our being God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works
(v. 10); chapter 3 unveils the unsearchable riches of Christ becoming our enjoyment, Christ making His home in
our hearts, and our being filled unto all the fullness of God (vv. 8,14-19); chapter 4 unveils our putting off
the old man and putting on the new man (vv. 22-24); chapter 5 unveils our being filled in spirit, speaking to
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with our heart to the Lord (vv.
18-19); and chapter 6 unveils our being empowered in the Lord and putting on the whole armor of God (vv. 10-11).
Eph. 1:4 Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without
blemish before Him in love,
Eph. 2:10 For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand in order that we would walk in them.
Eph. 3:8 To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel
Eph. 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,
Eph. 3:15 Of whom every family in the heavens and on earth is named,
Eph. 3:16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with power through His Spirit into the inner man,
Eph. 3:17 That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted
and grounded in love,
Eph. 3:18 May be full of strength to apprehend with all the saints what the breadth and length
and height and depth are
Eph. 3:19 And to know the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, that you may be filled unto all
the fullness of God.
Eph. 4:22 That you put off, as regards your former manner of life, the old man, which is being
corrupted according to the lusts of the deceit,
Eph. 4:23 And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind
Eph. 4:24 And put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and
holiness of the reality.
Eph. 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in spirit,
Eph. 5:19 Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming
with your heart to the Lord,
Eph. 6:10 Finally, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength.
Eph. 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of
the devil,
2. The key to all the spiritual experiences in Ephesians is to be strengthened
into the inner man (3:16) in order to be supplied with the supporting grace (vv. 2, 8; 6:24).
Eph. 3:16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with power through His Spirit into the inner man,
Eph. 3:2 If indeed you have heard of the stewardship of the grace of God which was given to me
for you,
Eph. 3:8 To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel
Eph. 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptibility.
3. This is the miraculous yet normal way to live the church life, a revived
life, a life that continually overcomes, and a life that loves the Lord in incorruptibility.
Day 6
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爱 灵 慕 圣