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No.68.
The Practical Section (4: - 6:).
"Worthy" (4: 1).
pp. 181 - 183
There is scarcely anything more important and in need of more emphasis and
repetition than that doctrine must ever be accompanied by practice, that walk must
correspond with calling, that visible fruit must manifest the hidden root. This
correspondence of doctrine and practice is most happily displayed in the Epistle to the
Ephesians. It naturally divides into its two main sections--the first three chapters
containing the great revelation, the second three chapters the resulting exhortation. Take
a few instances by way of illustration. To see the whole would necessitate a most
detailed structure of the epistle.
DOCTRINE
(1: - 3:)
PRACTRICE
(4: - 6:)
The power of His might and the The power of His might and the evil
principalities and powers (1: 19-23).
principalities and powers (6: 10-17).
This shows our doctrinal position
This shows the corresponding
and sphere of spiritual blessings.
conflict and spiritual foes.
The old walk--"the world" (2: 2).
The old walk--"vanity of mind";
"uncleanness"; "darkness"; "as fools".
The new walk--"new creation" (2: 10).
The new walk--"lowliness of mind";
"in love"; "as light"; "circumspectly".
The new creation--The new man The old man--put off.
The new man--put on (4: 22-32).
(2: 10-15).
The Temple--"fitly framed together"
The Body--"fitly joined together"
(2: 19-22).
(4: 7-16).
Its present manifestation.
These examples will suffice for the moment. What a stimulus we receive to unity
when we see that the exhortation to be `fitly joined together' as members of the one Body
is but a temporal and corporal expression of the higher and fuller unity of the Temple so
marvelously `fitly framed together'.
Or again, it is not enough that we should learn the doctrine of the new creation and the
new man; it must have some result. The old man with his `former conversation' (4: 22)
and `with his deeds' (Col. 3: 9) must be put off, otherwise the glorious doctrine remains
without life. The exalted position of the believer in the ascended Lord--"far above
all"--brings him into conflict with `principalities and powers' that are associated with
evil. The mighty power that raised Christ from the dead is the power in which alone each
member of the Body can hope to overcome these spiritual foes. All this and more is
expressed in the one word of Eph. 4: 1, "Walk worthy". The word `worthy' (axios):