Slideshow image

            The letter by Paul to the brethren in Ephesus like many of his other inspired letters touched on essential spiritual themes. They taught concerning the work of God through Jesus and how humanity is blessed because and through that work (Ephesians 1:3-9, 2:4-10). Through Jesus one may have access to all spiritual blessings that includes the love, mercy, and grace of God. Paul’s letters also teach the church concerning the church. The origin, purpose, and work of the church such as when Paul wrote “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever” (Ephesians 3:21). Relating to the church Paul also wrote by inspirations to individual Christians and how one is to live in Christ, being a member of the Lord’s church. It was Jesus that first used the word “church” when he said, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). There are various words used throughout the New Testament that reference a certain spiritual teaching relating to the church, such as: body, family, kingdom, flock, etc., and one of those words is “church”, which literally means “called out”. As Paul wrote to the brethren in Ephesus he continued from that very point of Jesus’ church, where God received all glory because of what Jesus has done. “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1). God is glorified in the church “by Christ Jesus” in the very existence of the church throughout the centuries, but God is also glorified in the church when the called out walk worthy of that calling. In what way is that to be done?

            Paul continued by writing, “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” (Ephesians 4:2-3). Those words are to characterize the “called out”, and the way to live in a “called out” manner or to “walk worthy of the calling” is to have these within. Another word that appears in some translations of the Bible for “lowliness” is “humility”. It was humility that characterized Jesus as he left heaven and came to the earth to be the sacrifice (Philippians 2:5-8). The opposite of humility is arrogance or haughtiness, to which God is opposed (James 4:6). Humility should characterize the Christian’s conversations, relationships with others, evangelism, service in the Lord, and daily life. “Gentleness” or “meekness” is another characteristic of walking worthy of the calling. Christians do not pride themselves in running over, manipulating, controlling, or having to always have their own way. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek…” (Matthew 5:5) and he was “meek (gentle) and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Gentleness and humility towards others one way that the church brings glory to God. Christians are also to be “longsuffering” or “patient” and “bearing with one another in love…” This characteristic suggests that there will be brethren in the lives of Christians that are difficult. Because of their spiritual immaturity, not having these characteristics in their lives, the spiritually mature must have patience with others in a loving manner (1 Corinthians 13).

            The purpose is to bring glory to God through the church as the family of God, and individually as members of the family, and it is to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”.  The church, the spiritual family, is like the fleshly family that is made up of many members or relationships. There are parents, children, brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandchildren, etc. The same love, patience, humility, and gentleness that holds the physical family together on a day to day basis is what hold the Lord’s family together.