Unity of the Body

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”- Ephesians 4:1-6

 

          Ephesians is one of Paul’s prison letters. Being somewhat claustrophobic, I can’t even imagine what it is like to be bound in chains in a dark, dank prison cell in a land that is not my home; yet Paul’s faith carries him through each of his prison stints. Through it all he remained true to his calling as an apostle of Jesus Christ. We think we couldn’t do such a thing ourselves; however, God does not give you the ability to do so until you need it. 

           Ephesians was a church that didn’t have the internal issues that some of the other assemblies had. Paul knew that counter-Christian doctrine was circulating and so he addressed the issue of unity among the brethren in the beginning of this fourth chapter. Unity breeds harmony. Love is the catalyst to a harmonious unity. The source of all things and the one hope that all believers have is found in God. He is the only constant in the maelstrom of chaos that is this world. As believers in Christ, we are also representatives or ambassadors, if you will. If we bear the title Christian, we represent Christ in all we think, say and do. It behooves us to do our best in this life to emulate our Lord. To this end Paul states to the Ephesians and to us today, to be humble, gentle and patient with fellow believers and do so in love. Love is like a big generator. Generators, simply put, are machines that take mechanical energy and make it into electricity. Since we are to be a light to the world, what better analogy could there be than a generator. God showed us exactly what love was meant to be through the willing and voluntary death of His Son. We are to take the love that was transplanted in our hearts and use it to show love to one another.

          Man has chosen to believe that there is any number of ways to get to heaven. Many of their ways simply involve being good as they perceive being good is or doing good deeds that they feel are good.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” ^{(Ephesians 2:8-9)} Paul clearly states that mankind has one hope. There are not many roads to heaven, but only one and that road leads through the cross. Always remember GRACE this way:  God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries