Ephesians was written by Paul from a Roman jail cell around 60 to 65 A.D.
Since Paul was now gone, he wanted to make sure that they got it right in his absence.
Right instruction should lead to right living.
Paul wanted to make sure that they remained unified.
The key theme of Ephesians is unity.
The enemy tries to sow disunity among believers. If he can pulled us apart, he can pick us off like a predator.
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NKJV)
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech (beg)you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
Paul didn't demand this from them, but begged it from them to live like they were called to be.
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
Lowliness is humility with an honest view of one's self without Christ.
It is a God awareness of who we are now in Christ, and the ramifications of the victorious life we now have in Him.
It is a God awareness of who we are now in Christ, and the ramifications of the victorious life we now have in Him.
Gentleness is strength under control. Being under the control of the Holy Spirit from within, and with Him flowing out into our words and actions.
Longsuffering is patient.
It trusts God with the answer and the time.
Give people the benefit of the doubt for the motives of their actions.
Who really knows why people do what they do?
Only God!
It trusts God with the answer and the time.
Give people the benefit of the doubt for the motives of their actions.
Who really knows why people do what they do?
Only God!
Bearing one another in love. Agape love is unconditional.
Love forgives the wrongs and magnifies the right in each other.
Love forgives the wrongs and magnifies the right in each other.
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
You move forward without me by modeling the character of Christ.
Make haste to make every effort to promote unity with right behavior.
Make haste to make every effort to promote unity with right behavior.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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.
Paul is referring to the Holy Spirit in you.
You have every resource needed to walk together in love (with family, co-workers, other believers,and authority) which manifests the Lord Jesus Christ to the world.
Why?
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is at stake.
Darryl Craft, Whitesburg Baptist Church highlighted in yellow.
M. H. Dennis is in green.
No comments:
Post a Comment