The Glorious Church of God’s Plan

The Glorious Church of God’s Plan
Scriptures: ‘But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Therefore, he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”’(Eph.4:7~12)
1. We live in a kingdom under care of God (V7-11)
Christians are called “sons/daughters of God,” God is our father; We receive grace with God the father. God will give everyone special blessing in Jesus Christ.
We are all given grace (in other words: Thus we are given these grace), According to the amount of gift Jesus has given
(1). Jesus has Capture us back (v8)
led captivity captive: ‘In Greek’ should be translated to “Capture the captives, or captured items”. Jesus rose to the heaven (He first went down to darkness and battled in the underworld, and won authority over Satan), thus He captured back those who were captured by the darkness, and led the freed in victory march in front the Father and gave the Father’s plan as gifts to those who were saved and freed
(2). Jesus gives everyone gifts (v8b)
(3). Jesus gave 5 great gifts of ministry in church
ASV: He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers
Through the 5-fold ministries, God works accordingly on His sons/daughters

2. We have to equip to be part of the work of the Kingdom (v12-13)
The functions and goal of fivefold ministries:
‘For the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God’
(1) Equipping is for the perfecting of the saints:
NIV “perfect saints” but should be translated to “restore the saints”, because “complete/perfect” means “restore” (verb) in the original language. Equip is like “restore the life of the believer, receive healing or be freed, according to the image of the gospel truth, have life of Jesus and be fisher of men.”
(2). The goal for equipping is to lead christians to ministry
“To each ministry” means to “enter, work, job”: “restore them into work of ministry.” There is goal to equipping and is to “enter into Father’s plan that everyone can be in the ministry.”
(3). The commission for equipment is to build up of the body of Christ (that is the church)εἰςοἰκοδομὴντοῦσώματοςτοῦΧριστοῦ