Eph. 4:1-3 (1) I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, (2) with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, (3) eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Paul is a prisoner (Gk. Desmios/Des-mee-os) for Christ, a captive of Christ, in bonds for the gospel of Christ. While Paul was a prisoner at Rome, he considered himself a prisoner of the Lord.  See this also in, Eph. 3:1. He mentions this once again, to show that he was not ashamed of his bonds, knowing that his suffering was not as a practitioner of evil, he was able to recommend what he wrote to them with the greater tenderness and with a special advantage. It was a doctrine he thought worth suffering for.

This is a plea, a petition of a poor prisoner, one of Christ’s prisoners.  Considering what God has done for you, and to what condition he has called you, Paul comes with an earnest request to the church at Ephesus, yes even us in the 21^st century, that you would approve yourselves good Christians, and live up to your profession and calling. That you walk worthily, agreeably, suitably, and in harmony into which the grace of God has brought you.

Christians should commit themselves to the gospel, the good news to that which they are called, and to the glory to which they are called; this is our vocation. We are called Christians; we must answer that name, and live like Christians. “Walking” is frequently used in the New Testament as a designation of the Christian’s total behavior pattern.  To walk “worthily” is therefore to exhibit the kind of life that would do honor to the holy gospel call of Christ which we have accepted. In order to be worthy of this calling we must submit to God’s will. 

Look quickly at submission from Matthew 26:39 and going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”  

As Jesus was man as well as God, there is nothing inconsistent in supposing that, as a man, he was deeply affected in view of what was about to take place. Our nature is to seek deliverance. Yet Jesus sought to do the will of God. He chose that the high purpose of God should be done, rather than that purpose be abandoned because of the fears of his human nature. In this, he has left a model for submission and prayer.

Paul’s is more than pleading, he is begging! I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you (nkjv).  I prefer the word “beseech” (Gk parakaleo/par-ak-al-eh’-o) here rather than “urge” from the ESV. Beseech is a stronger word in this text it is an appeal to good conscience.  To understand the nature of this we need to see clearly, what it is to beg for this.  It is more than a child begging for mercy when caught red handed in the cookie jar, it is more than pleading for a lighter sentence before a court of law. It is a plea wrought of the terribleness of sin and sins ability to hold you captive unto death. Paul is not merely suggesting you walk worthy; he is in tears and anguish praying and pleading as a father does for his child, to be the person God intended you to be. Every Christian today should have the same plea on their lips and in their hearts.  I Beg You walk worthy of the call!

Verse 2 of Ephesians 4, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, provides for us the basis of understanding for this richly rewarding walk we are called to.  As noted from 1Cor.13:13 “the greatest is love.”

We do not walk worthy of the vocation to which we are called if we are not faithful in our love, bearing with one another, contending for the church and the sanctity of her, and sworn enemies to all sin.  This contains the exhortation to mutual love, and unity, with the proper motives to promote them. Nothing is pressed upon us more earnestly in the scriptures than this. Love is the law of Christ’s kingdom, the lesson of His school.

Notice that mention is made to contend for the church and the sanctity of her.  This is literally to contend earnestly for the faith, Jude 3.  In love, we are to stand against all apostasy, (defection from).  We are to never assume that love described in God’s word allows us take liberties with God’s outline or pattern for His church. We are reminded that it is He that adds to the church those that are saved.  We are saved by His marvelous grace, through baptism “into” Christ. (Ro.6:3-4; Gal.3:27)

Four imperatives we are given in verse 2 of chapter 4

First imperative is humility. A prominent Christian grace (Ro.12:3; 15:17-18; 1Co.3:5-7; 2Co.3:5; Phi.4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1Pe.3:4); It preserves the soul in tranquility (Psa.69:32-33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22).  Christ has set the example of humility (Phi.2:6-8).  We should be led to humility by a remembrance of our sins (Lam.3:39), It is the way to honor (Pro.16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Psa.147:6; Isa.57:15; Isa.66:2; 1Pe.5:5).

Second imperative is gentleness or meekness. Through gentleness, or meekness we have a strong desire that makes us unwilling to provoke others, and not easily to be provoked or offended.  We embrace a calm temper of mind, we are not easily provoked (Jam.3:13). Specific promises are ours when we seek to be gentle and meek. (Mat.5:5; Isa.66:2). The cultivation of this type of spirit is joined (Col.3:12; 1Ti.6:11; Zep.2:3), and is exemplified in Christ (Mat.11:29), Abraham (Gen.16:5-6) Moses (Num.12:3), David (Zec.12:8; 2Sa.16:10, 12), and Paul (1Co.9:19)

Third Imperative is patience.  No virtue, perhaps, is more frequently demanded in our contact with others. We do not go far with anyone on the journey of life, before we find there is great need for us to exercise this virtue. They have a temperament different from our own requiring us to bear with them. They have peculiarities of taste, and habits, and disposition, which differ much from ours. They have their own plans and purposes of life, and their own way and time of doing things. Perhaps he or she may be naturally irritable, or may have been so trained that his modes of speech and conduct differ from ours. Neighbors have seen this in their neighbors; friends in their friends; kindred in their kindred; one church-member in another.

Fourth imperative is to forbear with one another, in love.  This signifies bearing their infirmities out of a principle of love, and so as not to cease to love them on the account of these. The best Christians have need To bear one with another, and to make the best one of another, To provoke one another’s love for mankind and declaring the marvelous grace of God!

These imperatives: humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance are the quiet virtues that the happiness and usefulness of life consist, far more than in brilliant eloquence, in splendid talent, or illustrious deeds.

Unity in Proper Perspective! (Eph.4:3)

I believe essential to walking worthy that we understand and accept the biblical principle of unity.  I have heard in recent times the voice of reform exclaiming loudly, “TEAR THE WALLS DOWN!”  The intent of that cry is open the walls of fellowship with any and all that proclaim the name of Jesus.  Dear brothers and sisters that cry is simply not found in God’s word.  Are we to be unified, yes very much so, but not at the risk of the truth.  Our Lord and savior made it very clear that unity carried with him great importance.

Jo.17:20-23  “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, (21)  that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (22) The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, (23) I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Note these points from the scripture:

•  To deny the emphasis of unity is to deny Jesus and his teaching.
•  To strive for unity is a matter of obligation, which God has laid upon us.  We are to give diligence to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace (vs. 3).
•  While the importance of unity is obvious, it is easily seen that one can become involved in a “misguided” zeal for a striving for unity at any cost.  I have heard that Jesus taught to bring unity at any cost, even at the cost of truth.  However, Jesus himself denied such to be the case.

Listen to these words from our Lord:

Mt.10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.  Then in Lk.12:51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 

So, Jesus neither approves all “unity” nor condemns all “division.”  The fact that we all have an obligation to strive for unity in Christ does not warrant the conclusion that we can have the approval of God while “agreeing to disagree.”  

When our children were young, Kim and I may have disagreed on the appropriate discipline to administer to a child of ours, we were in complete unity that discipline must be administered.  It is the same with brothers and sisters in Christ.  We may not all agree on a specific verse in a song we sing, but we are all unified in the obligation to worship in the spirit and truth, signing to each other in spiritual hymns and psalms.  We attain Christian fellowship with one another when each one of us attains fellowship with God in unity.  (1Jo.1:3; Ehp.2:13-16, Ro.6:3-5, Gal.3:26-27)

Remember, fellowship with God can only come through baptism “into” Christ.  Therefore, we are in fellowship with one another, and unified when we have put on Christ in baptism.  Sadly, many will not believe this act to be important in striving for unity, but brothers and sisters this is paramount in our “walk” in our desire to be a Christian.

We must come to God on His terms; we must be unified according to God’s instruction.  May God help us to keep in mind:

•  That in matters of obligation there must be unity
•  That in matters of expediency there must be liberty to exercise human judgment
•  That in all things there must be love – love for God, love for brethren in Christ, and love for all men.  (Mt.22:34-40, Gal.6:10, 1Jo.4:20, Ro.12:20,21)