Ephesians 4:1-6 Walking in Unity

Ephesians 4:1-6 Walking in Unity

Eph 4:1-6 Paraphrased. “Therefore, Paul, the prisoner of the Lord implores us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling which we have been called by God. To walk with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and on Spirit, just as we also were called in one hope of our calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

Doctrine to Duty. Principle to Practise. Position to Behavior.

We enter in a transition here from the first three doctrinal chapters of Ephesians and enter the latter three practical chapters of Ephesians. From doctrine, to duty. From principle, to practice. From position, to behavior.

The Cost of a Christian Walk

Paul by mentioning his imprisonment again just as he did in 3:1 gently reminds us that the faithful Christian walk can be costly and that Paul had paid a considerable personal price because of his obedience to the Lord.

Knowing Our Salvation. Matching up to it. Live a life worthy of our calling

Through earlier chapters, we know that God has sovereignly chosen us to be saved. This is entirely out of grace and not of our own works that we should boast. We have also highlighted that being saved involves the following of good works. That is, Paul repeats it here that our lives should match up to our identity that we are called to! We should live an obedient, God honoring Christian life that matches worthy to our call to salvation from God.

Too often, we mis-represent this doctrine of election by self-assuring that we are saved, yet our lives remain unchanged. We still follow the ways of the world. Pursue the standards of the world. We worry about tomorrow. We neglect study of God’s Word. We indulge ourselves in careless words. We do not see the necessity of proclaiming God’s truth and salvation to people around us. We do not think it necessary to content for God’s truth when there is mis-representing of God’s word. We have strifes and quarrels with one another in the church, hating instead of loving one another. Destroying instead of building up one another.

Our position in Christ is an esteemed one. Let us be everything the Lord desires and empowers us to be living a life worthy of our calling today.

Living a Life Worthy of our Calling – Humility, Gentleness, Patience, Tolerance in Love

We will see the humility, gentleness, patience and tolerance in love expounded by Paul in the next article.