The Gifts of Mercy

Ephesians Study

Ephesians 4:7-10 — The Gifts of Mercy

Amplified Bible:

Ephesians 4:7 — Yet grace (God's unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ's [rich and bounteous] gift.

Ephesians 4:8 — Therefore it is said, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive [He led a train of vanquished foes] and He bestowed gifts on men. [Ps. 68:18.]

Ephesians 4:9 — [But He ascended?] Now what can this, He ascended, mean but that He had previously descended from [the heights of] heaven into [the depths], the lower parts of the earth?

Ephesians 4:10 — He Who descended is the [very] same as He Who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things (the whole universe, from the lowest to the highest).

Christ’s rich and bounteous gift is the standard of measurement by which we have received the grace of God.  That touches my heart and my spirit.  There is nothing of you and me in this equation.  The Godhead has not asked us to deserve anything.  That is the way of man.  If there was anything we could do, we would find a way of taking credit for it…and the glory.  All the glory goes to Christ who gave Himself for us.  This grace has been given to each of us individually.   

John Wesley’s explanatory notes:  “[8] Wherefore he saith — That is, in reference to which God saith by David, Having ascended on high, he led captivity captive - He triumphed over all his enemies, Satan, sin, and death, which had before enslaved all the world: alluding to the custom of ancient conquerors, who led those they had conquered in chains after them. And, as they also used to give donatives (noun: a gift or donation, or a benefice capable of being conferred as a gift; adjective: like a donation, being or relating to a benefice) to the people, at their return from victory, so he gave gifts to men - Both the ordinary and extraordinary gifts of the Spirit (Psalm 68:18).  

[9] (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  Now this expression, He ascended, what is it, but that he descended — That is, does it not imply, that he descended first? Certainly it does, on the supposition of his being God. Otherwise it would not: since all the saints will ascend to heaven, though none of them descended thence.

Into the lower parts of the earth — So the womb is called, Psalm 139:15; the grave, Psalm 63:9.

[10] He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

He that descended — That thus amazingly humbled himself.

Is the same that ascended — That was so highly exalted.

That he might fill all things — The whole church, with his Spirit, presence, and operations.”

These verses are full of explanation for us.  Paul wants us to understand how rich is the love and mercy of God that He would send a part of Himself, His Son, to descend to our level and experience life as a man.  That He would be killed by those He came to save.  That He did ascend…He returned to Heaven…forever carrying the marks of humanity; the scars of His death.  

“That He might fill all things…” I find this to be beautiful…the potential of a return to understanding the truth of our creation parameters of fullness of Christ.  Do you ever fill void and empty?  Remember who you are and that He fills us with all of heaven.  It is this truth, His Spirit, and the other gifts that He has given to each one of us.  Rejoice!  The empty spot in our hearts is a longing for something that we already have in Him.  The loneliness that we feel is a hungering for Him, and His truth says that He never leaves us or forsakes us.  Move from the feelings of life to the faith of Jesus.    

How easy it is to take all of this for granted; to not even think about the details.  There is so much richness in these verses.  As always, just a few sentences and you must read between the lines to get the fullness and beauty that is there.  His mercy continues to be poured out even in the most difficult times.  Our faith is not based on feelings…senses.  Celebrate this mercy at all times.  Our hurts and wounds (others or self), are because we expect things that are not so.  See Jesus before crucifixion, He alway knew what was in man.  He knew crucifixion was coming.  Rejoice!  We have this mercy loving us back to His fulness.  We have healing in Him.  

Praise God for this model of how to be born from above, live, and die daily, We can live in the ascension power now because of Christ.  To wait for some other place and some other time, is to miss the power of Christ to live in us today.  Christ has made it possible in all the fullness of love, life, Spirit, and gifts with which He has blessed us.  It is so amazing.  When you are feeling anything but powerful in Him, call on the Spirit for more filling of that which He has already started.   

Let us do a repeat of Ephesians 4:10 — “He Who descended is the [very] same as He Who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things (the whole universe, from the lowest to the highest).”  Because the Lord ascended, we have a promise that everything is filled with His spirit (presence)…the whole universe.  Amazing!  We are included in this infilling…in fact, we are His temple...the place of His presence.  

Romans 8:10-11:  “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin (a relationship with the Accuser), but the Spirit is life because of righteousness (through relationship with the Lord).  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through the Spirit who dwells in you.”  We have been given the Spirit, and we can ask for more (Luke 11:13).  Thank God daily for His gift in you and ask for a continued refreshing of the richness of what He has already started.

The fact that when we do wrong that it grieves us is an indication that the Spirit is transforming us…we used to do wrong and it did not bother us.  Do not beat yourself up because of this; rejoice that you are not where you used to be.  The Accuser would have us focusing on the wrong and feeling defeated.  Remind him of the Truth that the Lord has already handled this and that you and I are coming into agreement with Him.  “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them”  Matthew 18:20.  

All these verses show us that we have been given the Lord’s fulness…everything we need for His overcoming within us.  1 john 5:20:  “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

1Corinthians 2:16:  “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

All that God has given to us and done for us is His IDEA.  He wrote it in His Word and gave it to us.  It is the way, the truth, and the life.  Man does not do it this way.  It is God’s idea to share the fullness of the Godhead with us and that includes the mind of Christ and His Spirit.  The mercy of God has overtaken the evil of the Accuser.  Believe in all that is true of you in the Godhead!