Are You a Prisoner to God’s Virtues?
Ephesians 4:1-6
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of 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 you all.
Introduction:
The letter to the Ephesians is a call to live out the gospel in virtuous and practical ways. Paul begins Ephesians 4 with a personal plea, urging and compelling believers to walk in a manner worthy of their calling in Christ. The emphasis here is not just on individual behavior but also on the collective unity of the Church. This passage invites us into a far deeper understanding of what it means to live as a community that reflects God's purpose.
So, Let us unpack these verses and explore how we can live in unity as one body of believers.
1. We are each Called to Walk Worthy of Our Calling
Paul begins by describing himself as "I therefore a prisoner of the Lord." He is not just talking about being a physical prisoner of Rome (which he was), but sees himself even more-so as a prisoner of Jesus Christ, which is his due submission to the Lord. This personal example of commitment, trust, and faith sets the tone for his example to all believers: Which is to live a life worthy of your calling.
The "calling" mentioned here is not just a “vocation” or “career path” but refers to the highest calling of being followers of Jesus Christ. Every believer has been called into a deep relationship with God, redeemed through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the Cross, and commissioned to live fully and radically for His glory. Therefore, our lives must reflect this high calling.
To walk worthy of this calling means that our actions, our words, and our attitudes should align in all Virtue with the Gospel. It means that we recognize the significance of our identity in Jesus Christ and strive to live in a way that brings full Honor and Glory to Him.
Application: Therefore we must each examine our own life and ask ourself: Am I walking in a way that reflects the mercy, grace, and love that I've received from the Lord? Do my actions bring Honor and Glory to Christ, building up His Kingdom and His Church?
2. A Call to Humility, Gentleness, and Patience
Paul continues this passage by describing specific Virtues that define a life worthy of Christ and our calling. Virtues such as: lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, and forebearing one another in love.
Lowliness (Humility): In a world that often celebrates all manner of lust, pride and self-promotion, Paul calls all believers to a life of lowliness and humility. True humility is not about thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less. It is about recognizing our total dependence on God and putting others ahead of ourselves.
Meekness: Meekness is not weakness; it is strength under control, even in the presence of turmoil and tribulations. Jesus Himself was described as "gentle and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29).
As His followers, we are called to reflect this same meekness and gentleness in our interactions with others, showing kindness and compassion.
Longsuffering (Patience): Patience, or long-suffering, is the ability to endure difficult people and situations without losing heart. In the body of Christ, we are all different, and conflicts can arise. But we are called to patiently bear with one another, understanding that each of us is a work in progress.
Forbearing with One Another in Love: This phrase encapsulates the virtue of putting up with one another’s weaknesses and failures.
As the Apostle Peter says: Love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8) Bearing with others in love means choosing forgiveness over bitterness and unity over division.
Application: Are we embodying lowliness of heart, meekness, and longsuffering in our relationships? How can we better bear with one another in love, even when we are tempted to be frustrated or angry?
3. The Unity of the Spirit
Paul urges all believers to make every effort to “keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Notice that Paul doesn’t say we must create unity; rather, we are to keep the unity that already exists IN Christ. Unity is a gift from God, established by the Holy Spirit. It is our responsibility as the Church to protect and preserve that unity.
The "bond of peace" refers to the way we maintain unity. Peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a state of forgiveness, reconciliation, and wholeness. As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers, actively working to resolve conflicts and heal divisions within the church. Always remember, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Mat 5:9)
Application: Are we making every effort to preserve unity? Are we peacemakers in our homes, churches, and communities? Are we quick to forgive? Do we seek reconciliation when there is division, or do we allow disunity to fester?
4. The Oneness of Our Faith
Paul then lays out a powerful theological foundation for Christian unity. He lists seven aspects of the oneness that believers share:
One body: The church is one body, made up of many members. Though we are diverse in our gifts, backgrounds, and experiences, we are united in Christ.
One Spirit: The same Holy Spirit dwells in every believer, empowering us; leading and guiding us into all truth and showing us things to come.
One hope: We share the same hope of eternal life in Christ, the same promise of an eternity with God. Christ is our “blessed hope!”
One Lord: Jesus Christ is our one and only Lord. We shall never place anything or anyone above Him. Our allegiance is to Him before all else.
One faith: We are united by the same gospel message—the faith in Jesus Christ that brings salvation, and the faith of Him IN us that empowers us as we sojourn through this life as His exiles.
One baptism: Through the Sacrament of baptism, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we publicly declare our faith in Jesus Christ through the reenactment of His death, burial and Resurrection. We become His body, the Church.
One God and Father of all: Finally, we all share the same Father. We are each brothers and sisters IN Him. He is over all, through all, and in all, affirming both His sovereignty and His intimate involvement in our lives. We are seated at His right hand in Heavenly places, in His Son Jesus Christ.
This oneness is a profound reality that transcends all of our human distinctions; whether it be race, nationality, social status, bonds or free, male or female. We are one in Christ, and this unity is meant to be a radical testimony to the world.
In Application: Do we recognize and celebrate the oneness we have in Christ? Do we allow our differences to divide us, or do we embrace the unity that God has already established in us by His great Virtues?
In Conclusion:
Ephesians 4:1-6 challenges us to live in a manner worthy of our calling in Christ. It calls us to embody lowliness, meekness, and longsuffering; to bear with one another in love, and to strive for the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace. This unity, our peace is rooted and grounded in the foundational truths of our faith—one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all.
In a world that often promotes division and rugged individualism, the church is called to be a beacon of hope, unity and peace. Let us make every effort to walk in a way that reflects the beauty and power of this passage, preserving the unity of the Spirit and living out our calling and our virtue as the body of Christ.
Amen.