Welcome to Timeless Truth with Pastor Jim Thomas. In season 1, Pastor Jim is leading us in a study of Ephesians. Today’s passage is Ephesians 4:1-3.
Chaps 1-3 – Indicatives/Belief/Doctrine/What God has done for us in Christ
Chaps 4-6 The saints at Ephesus / and in Christ – Imperatives/Behavior/Practice/Our response to what God has done for us in Christ.
We begin to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling” = the standard or measure of worth is in the calling and in the One doing the calling, not in the person being called.
The apostle Paul teaches us that according to Ephesians 4, unity begins with 5 dispositions of heart and mind toward others: Humility, Gentleness, Patience, Forbearance, and Love
Walk in Humility: If you ever come to think you have it, you probably don’t. Conversely, as C. S. Lewis pointed out, if we think we are not proud, it is evidence that we most likely are proud.
So, what does walking in humility look like?
Philippians 2:3 – Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
Colossians 3:12 – So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
James 1:21 – Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
1 Peter 5:5 – You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Walking in a manner worthy of the calling…
- Looks like Walking in Gentleness
- Looks like Walking in Patience
- Looks like Walking in Forbearance/Tolerance
- Looks like Walking in Love
“Walking with God is essentially a positive thing. The Bible does not point us toward constant introspection. Instead, it helps us to focus on the privileges of being in Christ and enjoying fellowship with God.”
– Richard Lovelace, Renewal as a Way of Life
“This unity in Christ is not a unity of uniformity, but unity in diversity.”
– E. Stanley Jones
“We are to challenge the narrative that happiness is found solely in self-expression. The biblical view of the self is that we are broken, twisted, and sinful. The self is something that needs redemption, not expression. And this redemption takes place within a redeemed community, not as spiritual individuals piecing together our own strategy for personal spirituality and fulfillment, but walking together with people who shape and form us into the image of Christ.”
– Trevin Wax
“Christians must maintain the unity of the Spirit because everything they hold of any significance they hold with other people…Christianity is a shared faith.”
– Klyne Snodgrass, Ephesians NIV Application Commentary, p198
“Unity is not the goal; unity in Christ is, the unity that comes from a shared faith and a shared knowledge of Christ. Therefore, there are limits to unity. The church and its unity are always Christologically and theologically defined.”
– Dr. Klyne Snodgrass, Ephesians: The NIV Application Commentary p221
