June 19
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one Baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all,” Ephesians 4:1-6.
In the text above, the apostle Paul is pleading with Christians “to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” – that is, to live in Christian unity and harmony. We are called upon to demonstrate by word and deed that we are truly Christians. Christianity is not demonstrated only with words from the mouth, but it is a confession of faith that flows from a believing heart and which expresses and proves itself by Christian deeds.
The apostle lists some of the Christian virtues: “All lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.” The Christian virtue of humility is listed first. Paul also wrote of this to the Galatians: “If anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself,” Galatians 6:3. Our human nature often deceives itself with a false pride. To the Romans, Paul wrote that no one should “think of himself more highly than he ought to think,” Romans 12:3. The gifts and blessings that we possess and enjoy come from God. The apostle James wrote, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights,” James 1:16-17. In humility, let us use the abilities and gifts that God has graciously given us to His glory and for the welfare of our fellowmen.
Where the virtue of true humility exists, there also will be the virtue of gentleness and patience in dealing with others. One will be willing to serve and to share with others instead of demanding that everything should be done according to one’s personal desires. Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ,” Galatians 6:2. We should bear with one another in love.
In the remainder of his admonition, the apostle stresses the unity and oneness of the Body of Christ, which is the holy Christian Church. “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one Baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Paul is not talking about religious denominations, among which disunity, disharmony, and man-made diverse opinions exist. Paul is speaking of the one holy Christian Church, which is comprised of all and only believers in Christ as God’s Son and our only Savior. Through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit calls into membership and builds the holy Christian Church. Christians worship the one Lord, one God, and one Father. There is only one saving faith: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,” Acts 16:31. There is only one proper Baptism: Water taken at the command of God and applied in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit to wash away our sins. Let us continue in the saving faith in Jesus Christ, who suffered, died, and rose again to conquer sin, death, and the devil. Through faith in Jesus, we are members of God’s family, and we are united with all believers in Christ.
“So may we join Thy name to bless,
Thy grace adore, Thy pow’r confess,
From sin and strife to flee.
One is our calling, one our name,
The end of all our hopes the same –
A crown of life with Thee.
Spirit of Life, of Love, and Peace,
Unite our hearts, our joy increase,
Thy gracious help supply.
To each of us the blessing give,
In Christian fellowship to live,
In joyful hope to die.” Amen.