Identifying, Unifying Attitudes from Eph. 4:1-6
Ephesians 4:1-6 is pretty straightforward. The hard part is applying it. But, live it we must - so much is at stake. A simple summary: “In light of all God has done for us, and made us in Christ, we are live worthy of His grace, and love. This is to show itself in our personal attitudes, and our relationships with one another.” See? Not hard to understand, but essential to do.
After three rich chapters filled with what God has done for us in Christ, Paul exhorts the Ephesian believers – and us – to live worthy of our high calling. By grace, God has made us His own people. Now, we are to live up to it! Hear and heed prisoner-Paul’s admonition in Ephesians 4:1-6.
4:1 “Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (CSB)
In Light of our High, Holy Calling,
Let’s Live Worthy of It / Him
“I beg you—I, a prisoner here in jail for serving the Lord—to live and act in a way worthy of those who have been chosen for such wonderful blessings as these. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Try always to be led along together by the Holy Spirit and so be at peace with one another.
“We are all parts of one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. For us there is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and we all have the same God and Father who is over us all and in us all, and living through every part of us.” (The Living Bible)
His Calling that We’ve Received: (Ephesians 1-3!)
· Learn who we are in Him, because of His grace
· Notice Paul’s prayer for us to be able to know this (3:14-22)
Our Responsibility in this Calling: Walk Worthy! (Eph. 4-6)
1. Lives that fit our Identity; we’re HIS, Live Like it! (vs. 1)
· He graciously called us to Himself (Eph. 1-3; Rom. 8:28, 12:1, 2)
· He calls us to live suitably, appropriately to Whose we are
· We bear the family name: “Christ-ones” (Acts 11:26)
· Disciples are not just learners, but imitators! (cf. Phil. 1:27; Col. 1:10; 2:6; 1 Thess. 2:12; 1 John 2:6)
2. Attitudes that Lead to Unity, Display Oneness (vs. 2-6)
Notice the First Applications, Areas Dealt with:
· Humility – who we are is of HIM - no bragging! Have “lowliness of mind” (cf. 2:8-10; Acts 20:19; Phil. 2:1-11; Col. 3:12; 1 Pet. 3:8; 5:5). From the NET: “having a humble opinion of one's self; a deep sense of one's (moral) littleness; modesty”. Pride divides, it is of the devil
· Gentleness – quiet behavior, meekness (cf. Col. 4:5, 6)
“The word is often used in Hellenistic Greek of the merciful execution of justice on behalf of those who have no voice by those who are in a position of authority” (Matt 11:29; 21:5 – from NET)
· Patience – longsuffering, “taking whatever comes” (Gal. 5:22-25)
God was patient with us, soooo… (cf. Romans 5:3-5; James 1:1-12)
· Bearing with one another in love: “putting up with one another”
Not sin, but differences, idiosyncratic differences (cf. Romans 14; 1 Cor. 12-14)
· “Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (3-6)
Pursuing one-ness in Christ’s body (cf. John 17; Colossians 3:14). “making every effort to keep” (NET) “being diligent to preserve” (NASB) “Taking care to keep the harmony of the Spirit in the yoke of peace.” (BBE) “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (ESV)
Because: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Eph. 4:4-6 - ESV)
ü Is your life Congruent to your Calling: fitting, or at odds?
ü Do you need to learn your calling? From Ephesians 1-3, make a list of all He has done for us. Take your time, it is a lot!
ü Ever known someone who wasn’t acting like themselves? Maybe they had a fever, emotional strain, or worst of all, an outburst of sinful, willful disobedience? Don’t let it be said of us – in light of who we are – that we don’t sound like Jesus. Let it be that, as we walk together, people can say, “Yep, they’re Jesus’”
ü Are you passive or proactive in keeping peace in His Body? See Acts 20; 1 Peter 5
ü With His help, work on which least describes you. “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (NLT)
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