 |  |
Eph. 4: 1-32.
A |
1, 2. The walk. Positive. Humility of mind.
B
| 3-16. The one body.
A |
17-19. The walk. Negative. Vanity of mind.
B
| 20-32. The new man.
Aliens from Israel and from the life of God.
The epistle to the Ephesians reveals a twofold Gentile alienation:--
"Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel" (Eph. 2: 12).
"Aliens from the life of God" (Eph. 4: 18).
The alienation of chapter 2: is expressed in the terms of distance, the alienation of
chapter 4: is expressed in the terms of death. The blood of Christ cancels the former
alienation by "making nigh"; the gift and operation of resurrection life reverses the other.
In both cases however this twofold truth merges into one expression, the new man.
The relation of the walk and the mind.
Before we consider the teaching of the new man we must give attention to the
negative aspect of the believer's walk. In verse 17 we read, "That ye henceforth walk not
as other Gentiles walk". The word "other" should be omitted. We are exhorted to walk
not as the Gentiles walk. A very definite change is suggested by the words "not
henceforth". The same negative comes in Eph. 4: 28, "Let him that stole steal no
more". While the chief feature of the epistle to the Ephesians is the revelation of the
mystery and its dispensational peculiarities, we must not forget that it finds its doctrinal
basis in Romans. When dealing with Eph. 2: 1 and the words "dead to trespasses and
sins", we were compelled to refer back to Rom. 6: So also we find the true import even
of the words "not henceforth" in Rom. 6: 6:--
"Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him that the body of sin might be
rendered inoperative, that HENCEFORTH we should NOT serve sin as slaves."
The service of Rom. 6: 6 and the walk of Eph. 4: 17 are both associated with the
old man. In one case it is seen as "crucified", in the other it has to be "put off", but both
meet in a new "life unto God". Rom. 6: lays great stress upon "the body of sin", "the
mortal body" and the "members"; Eph. 4: emphasizes "the mind", and that both
positively and negatively:--
"Walk worthy . . . . .
with all humility of mind" (4: 1, 2).
"Walk no longer . . . . .
in the vanity of mind" (4: 17).
There are two words here for "mind". In 4: 2 the word is a compound of phreen,
and has particular reference to the heart and understanding. In 4: 17 mind is nous. The
word nous has passed into the English language, and is placed in Roget's Thesaurus
together with intelligence, comprehension, understanding and sagacity. The word is used