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Travelling
If you were to travel to another country you would be responsible for knowing the customs (in general) as well as the laws of that country wouldn’t you? (Mt16:24; 1Pt3:15; Eph4-6)
Have you ever travelled to another country?
Had to get a passport, had to research about the country and the culture you are going into.
You come from here and you love a good steak, but the country you are going does not eat meat, so you would need to know that so not to offend them, but to promote unity, right?
If you are going to be a missionary you take time to study the culture to be indoctrinated in it prior to going into the mission field so you would be able to impact people.
Now, what about someone who legally immigrates to the USA.
Do they have to learn certain things to become a citizen?
He has to learn, has to adapt, he has to accept responsibility for the laws of the land, right?
As Christians we have responsibilities to learn, to apply, to share with others the unity of the faith we have in Christ Jesus
As a young Christian, a babe, may only know a little (Mt16:24)
As a mature Christian we are responsible for more.
(1Pt3:15)
Now, we can teach others what it means to be a disciple of Christ, to share the hope that is in us, but unless the person is willing to take responsibility for being a Christian there could be issues with unity.
Unity of believers promotes unity of the church
Paul has spent 3 chapters teaching us what the believer has “in Christ” the sufficiency of Christ.
Now there is a shift from knowing to growing.
This starts the application sections, or the practical application section of the book in chapters 4-6 so we can be all the Lord wants us to be “the church.”
There is no better place in scripture that focuses on unity than our passage today, and the unity of the church starts with the unity of the believers.
Responsibilities of Christian living
Our daily conduct, living, has it’s footing in the doctrine (teaching) we believe.
What we believe, when we put it into action, is what brings unity to the church.
Christ broke down the dividing wall between man and God; and man and man.
Now bringing us to our passage today that focuses on some of the necessities, some of the virtues, of Christian living that brings unity.
While these virtues can in no way earn favor with God, since it is by grace through faith in which we are saved.
They do promote unity for the body of Christ to fulfill our purpose.
I. Source of our virtues
Eph4:1-6 gives a drawing, a road map that helps to promote unity within the church.
Verses 1-3 shows us some of the virtues needed to help have the unity we see in verses 4-6.
The transition from who we are in Christ comes now to who we are to be in Christ, in other words, our responsibility.
We are to have virtues that display the character of Christ.
Because we know who we are in Christ it should lead us to be all He wants us to be in Christ.
To seek, to receive, to embrace each of these virtues.
Notice how Paul starts this section.
He identifies himself and that he is prisoner of the Lord, not of Rome, but of the Lord.
Then he uses the word “urge” in the (ESV) or in NASB it is “implore” it is the Greek word
(insert slide with Greek word parakaleo here; already saved on computer)
As you can notice it says to call along side, to urge, exhort, to implore.
It is not a command to do something, but an appeal to join together in doing something..
Paul is urging the church, exhorting to church, imploring with the church to “walk worthy” of the calling.
We, in and of ourselves, cannot do it under our power, that would be a system of works and we know that does not work.
Our worthiness only comes from the Spirit (paraklete) who comes along side us and is the source of these Christian virtues.
Walk worthy of the calling means to, walk in love (v.2)
Walk worthy of the calling means to, walk as children of light (v.8)
Walk worthy of the calling means to, not walk as fools (Eph5:15)
Our worthiness comes from the Holy Spirit, in accordance to God’s great gift and riches of His grace that brings unity to the church.
This worthiness comes with expectations, responsibilities to be transformed into the likeness of Christ and to have and display the virtues the Spirit brings to us.
II.
Signs of our virtues
These virtues are visible and they are proof of our calling and our striving to walk worthy.
This calling is more than a calling to be free from sin, it is a calling to a vocation.
this is more than a job that can change several times over a lifetime, but a career, a calling, a permanent thing.
We are to be committed to the vocation of being a Christian.
So here are some of the signs:
Sign 1 - Humility (Eph4:2; Mt5:5; Rom12:3; Mt11:28-30)
Before the days of Christ, being humble was considered a weakness, it was as one commentator put it “ignoble.”
Christ set for all a true example of true humility and He spoke often regarding humility.
Other versions use meek or gentle, as well as humble.
Humility comes from knowing yourself, knowing your sinfulness outside of Christ and your forgiveness inside of Christ.
It is accepting yourself and not comparing yourself to others knowing God has a place just for you and what you do will bring glory to God.
Humility in this aspect is knowing God accepts you and your gifts, and that you do not think more highly of yourself or less of yourself but just as you out to.
It was in humility that Christ invited people to come to Him.
Christ was humble and as Christians we should have the virtue of humility.
Sign 2 - Gentleness (meekness) (Eph4:2; Num12:3; Mt11:28-30)
Meekness is not to be confused with weakness.
Meekness is power under control.
Moses was a meek man, Jesus was a meek man according to Mt11:28-30.
One dictionary illustration is a colt who has been broken.
It still has all the same power, but now the power is under control.
Jesus was meek when He turned over the tables of the money changers in the temple.
When meekness is coupled with humility it is the Christ that submits to the needs of others as “unto” the Lord.
Exampled by Christ washing the Apostles feet including the betrayer Judas.
Commentator Lloyd Ogilvie said it like this:
“Meekness is a willingness to be least, if obedience to God requires it.”
- Lloyd Ogilvie
The weak person yields because he cannot do anything else. the meek person yields because he is willing to do it for the benefit of others.
So we have humility, we have meekness and that leads us to
Sign 3 - Patience (Eph4:2; Php3:14; Col3:13 ; Heb1:3; 1Jn1;4-8)
In (v.2) in some versions it says “long-suffering” - this is the one who never gives up, never gives in, and is not detoured by temporary setbacks.
This person is not dissuaded, discouraged, or discouraged or disappointed for He is in for the long-run, the end goal!
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In for the long-run, the end goal, does not give up
willing to endure discomfort without fighting back
Patience with others as God is patient with us; bearing with one another
Displaying agape love, wanting the highest good for others
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Another way to look at patience i, long-suffering is also know as “long temper” - the ability to endure discomfort without fighting back.
“It is as he spirit of one who has the power to take revenge, but never does.”
- Chrysostrom
or another one that was hard to pass up
“The spirit which refuses to retaliate.”
- Lightfoot
So, the Christian who has this virtue never admits defeat, cannot be broken by any misfortune or suffering, as well as any disappointment or discouragement, but will persevere until the end.
Ponder this:
The Christian needs to have the same patience towards others that Go has shown him through Christ.
This is bearing with one another.
This is love personified, it is more than
Eros - erotic, marital love
Philio - Brotherly love, affection
Storge - family love
This is Agape love — unconquerable benevolence; wanting the greatest good for someone no matter the personal cost.
I think of this as Article 134 of the UCMJ, it’s the catch all.
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