Envisioning & Equipping the Church

Growing Up! - “Live up to the life to which God called you.”

The Church is a school in which Christians learn to grow “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”(2 Peter 3:18).

This growth happens when we are together. When we join the Church, we will like any other club or organisation we join, we want to be accepted and belong and so we will usually accept the terms and conditions of belonging.

Too often as Christians we are content to have the spiritual security, blessings, and promises of the gospel but have too little sense of responsibility in conforming to its standards and obeying its commands.

In the first three chapters of Ephesians Paul has set forth the believer’s identity and position with all the blessings, honours, and privileges of being a child of God “in Christ Jesus.”

In the next three chapters he gives the consequent obligations and requirements of being His child, in order to live out salvation in accordance with the Father’s will and to His glory. This is a call for a practical response to the great truths that are ours in the Gospel. As we received Christ as Savior we became citizens of His kingdom and members of His family. Along with those blessings and privileges we also received obligations. The Lord expects us to act like the new persons we have become in Jesus Christ. He expects His standards to become our standards, His purposes our purposes, His desires our desires, His nature our nature.

I. THE CALL TO WALK WORTHILY

The Christian life is then a process of becoming what you are. A growing up and into the likeness of Christ:

God expects conformity within the church, the Body of Christ. It is not a forced legalistic conformity to external rules and regulations, but a willing inner conformity to the holiness, love, and will of our heavenly Father - “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27).

And it was Paul’s great concern in life is to ‘present every man mature in Christ’ (Col. 1:28; cf. Acts 20:27, 31) this is why he entreats the believers here as he does. Paul has “set before them the great purpose of God in Christ for his church. He has prayed that they may know the wonder of his plan, his love, his power, and every spiritual blessing that he offers. But now in these remaining chapters he is going to write about the quality and kind of life that is demanded of them individually and in the fellowship of Christ’s church.” (Francis Foulkes: Commentary on Ephesians).

Verse 1 opens with “therefore” marking the transition from positional to practical truth, from doctrine to duty, principle to practice.

As Francis Foulkes says, “The link with what precedes is given by the word therefore as in Romans 12:1, indicating that Christian conduct follows from Christian doctrine, that the duty of Christians derives directly from the unspeakable debt of gratitude that they owe for all that they have received in Christ.”

Right practice must always be based on right principle. Right doctrine is essential to right living. It is impossible to know how to “live a life worthy of the our calling”(v1) without knowing what God says such a life looks like!

Indeed Paul refers to this again in Ephesians 4:22-24 saying, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

This call is to be “conformed to the image of” God’s Son, Jesus (Rom 8:28-30). To walk “worthy” of Christ is to reflect the loveliness ; holiness and beauty of Jesus in the world. It begins when the teaching we receive about Christ is learned in the mind and then begins to influence the behaviours.

There is nothing more important that this!

That is why Paul says, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” The Greek word is “Parakaleō meaning to “entreat”, literally “to call to one’s side”, with the idea of wanting to help or be helped. It is a feeling of intense, strong desire as seen in 2 Cor. 5:20 where Paul “implores…on Christ’s behalf”.

It certainly is not a SUGGESTION, it is an admonition; a command live a life worthy of the calling you have received! Why? Because the honour of Jesus is at stake.

Ours is a high calling, a “heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:1), and “a holy calling” (2 Tim. 1:9) and that is why the faithful, responsive Christian is determined to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).

The word translated “live” is more literally “walk”

This word is frequently used in the New Testament to refer to daily conduct, day-by-day living.

It is our step by step choices to “keep in step with the Spirit.” Our lifestyle choices which are made either in the “flesh” or the “Spirit” (see Gal 5:16-26).

The word for “worthy” is the Greek word “axios” which has the root meaning of balancing the scales—what is on one side of the scale should be equal in weight to what is on the other side.

A person worthy of his pay was one whose day’s work corresponded to his day’s wages.

The believer who walks in a manner worthy of the calling with which he has been called is one whose daily living corresponds to his high position as a child of God and fellow heir with Jesus Christ.

His practical living matches his spiritual position. His words and his actions balance out!

II. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO WALK WORTHILY

Here Paul gives five essentials for faithful Christian living, five attitudes on which walking worthily in the Lord’s call are predicated - “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:2–3).

And this is important because how we live out our life and balance it out, has repercussions for the church we fellowship and serve in - “For the life worthy of the calling of God is a life in the fellowship of the people of God; and if this is to be maintained these four virtues are vital.”(Francis Foulkes).

(i). “with all humility “

The Greek word, tapeinophrosunē, is a compound word that literally means to think or judge with lowliness, and hence it can be translated “lowliness of mind.”

“Very significantly, the Greek noun tapeinophrosynē does not seem to have been used before New Testament times, and the corresponding adjective tapeinos nearly always had a bad meaning, and was associated with words having the sense of slavish, mean, ignoble...to the Greeks humility was not a virtue. To them, as indeed to most non-Christian people in any generation, the concept of ‘the fulness of life … left no room for humility’ (Robinson).” (Francis Foulkes).

Humility is nothing to be ashamed of. It is not a pitiable weakness but rather a considered willingness to take the lowly place as exemplifed by our Lord Jesus who “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and … humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:7–8).

“Humility has an irreplaceable part in the Christian character (cf. Acts 20:19), and also for the reason that he has been brought to see the greatness and glory and holiness of God, so that he cannot but be overwhelmed by the realization of his own weakness and sinfulness.”(Francis Foulkes).

Humility, is essential component of the Christian life. It demonstrates good self-awareness, “the virtue,” said Bernard of Clairvaux, “by which a man becomes conscious of his own unworthiness.”

“Truly, I say to you,” Jesus said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself …” (Matt. 18:3–4).

Humility is the oppositie of pride and for that reason it is also elusive because as soon as you think you are humble you may well be being proud!

Only Jesus could truly say: “I am gentle and lowly(humble) of heart”and yet we learn humility from Him! “Take My yoke upon you,and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matt. 11:29). He was humble in his birth, becoming poor, born in a stable, raised in a peasant family, never owned property except the garments on His back, and was buried in a borrowed tomb. At any time He could have exercised His divine rights, prerogatives, and glory, but in obedience and humility He refused to do so because it would have been to go outside His Father’s will.

Jesus’ whole life was dedicated to bringing “glory” to the Father -"I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do”(John 17:4). He wanted peole to see the Father and know the Father through Him! If the Lord of glory walked in humility while He was on earth, taking the lowly place then we to are to learn how to do this! - “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6).

Humility teaches us not to look down on others or ourselves but to out otehrs above ourselves. A wonderful illustration of this is found at a reception honoring musician Sir Robert Mayer on his 100th birthday in 1979 at London's Royal Festival Hall. The elderly British socialite Lady Diana Cooper(29 August 1892 – 16 June 1986) fell into conversation with a friendly woman who seemed to know her well. Lady Diana's failing eyesight prevented her from recognizing her fellow guest, until she peered more closely at the magnificent diamonds and realized she was talking to Queen Elizabeth! Overcome with embarrassment, Lady Diana curtsied and stammered, "Ma'am, oh, ma'am, I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't recognize you without your crown!" To which Queen Elizabeth replied, "It was so much Sir Robert's evening, that I decided to leave it behind."

The happy life begins with “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3), and remember that James says that “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; cf. Ps. 138:6).

Remember that “Pride comes in many forms. We may be tempted to be proud of our abilities, our possessions, our education, our social status, our appearance, our power, and even our biblical knowledge or religious accomplishments. But throughout Scripture the Lord calls His people to humility. “Before honor comes humility” (Prov. 15:33); “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life” (22:4); “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (27:2).” (John MacArthur jnr).

Humility helps us to see that we are not “competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselvews but out competency comes from God” (2 Cor. 3:5). This means we are to avoid self-centred pride and boasting. I love what was reported of Samuel Morse who was once asked if he ever encountered situations where he didn't know what to do. Morse responded, "More than once, and whenever I could not see my way clearly, I knelt down and prayed to God for light and understanding." Morse is rightly honoured for his invention of the telegraph but felt undeserving: "I have made a valuable application of electricity not because I was superior to other men but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must reveal it to someone and He was pleased to reveal it to me."

“Be humble or you'll stumble”(D.L. Moody).

(ii). “with all ...Gentleness”:

Humility gives birth to gentleness!

To be gentle is to be meek. The Greek word praotēs was used of wild animals that were tamed, especially of horses that were broken and trained. The horse still has its strength and spirit and can run, but its will is under the control and direction of its master. Gentleness is power under control. Meekness, which is not weakness of timidity but mild-spirited and self-controlled.

“Meekness in the New Testament is used of a person’s attitude to the word of God (Jas 1:21), but more often of one’s attitude to other people (1 Cor. 4:21; 2 Tim. 2:25; Titus 3:2). It is closely connected with the spirit of submissiveness which becomes the keynote of this letter when, in Eph 5:21, the apostle turns to speak of human relationships.”(Francis Foulkes).

Jesus tells his disciples that meekness is also a characteristic of the Christian life:

Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5) and this too is a characteristic of Christ which he commands us to imitate - “learn of me for I am gentle,” (Matt. 11:29).

Gentleness is one of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23) and should characterize every child of God (Col. 3:12; cf. Phil. 4:5). Christian believers should be adorned “with the unfaiding beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God’s sight “(1 Pet. 3:4).

Meekness can be seen in a beleivers attitude and actions:

J. I Packer drawing upon the example of Moses says: “The meek are those who know themselves to be poor in spirit, who have learned, honestly and from their hearts, to regret all the dehumanizing and subhuman things in which they have been involved as wanderers in this lost world, and who now in humility want only the will of God. "Moses was very meek, more than all men that were on the face of the earth" (Num. 12:3). His meekness was shown in his acceptance of what God ordained, including endless battles with those recalcitrant and disappointing people whom he was trying to lead from Egypt to Canaan, including, even, the enormous disappointment of himself not getting into the Promised land. Moses was a man with a fierce temper -- it was this which had betrayed him during the time in the wilderness -- but when God said, in effect, "Now look, Moses, in order to teach the whole world how much loss sin can bring, I'm not going to let you enter the land; the people will go in, but you won't," he did not curse God in furious protest; quietly, if sadly, he accepted God's decision. That's meekness. Meekness, for a child of God, means accepting uncomplainingly what comes, knowing that it comes from the hand of God who orders all things. What he sends, we accept in faith even if it hurts, knowing that it's for our and others' good.” (Your Father Loves You!).

One sign of meekness is self-control - “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city” (Prov. 16:32).

Another sign is patient understanding, especially with the unbeliever for as Peter says: “be prepared to give a reason to everyone who asks you, to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness (praotēs) and reverence” (1 Pet. 3:15).

(iii). “with all…patience”:

Humility gives birth to gentleness, gentleness gives birth to patience!

The Greek word “makrothumia” literally means long-tempered, and is sometimes translated longsuffering. It is used of God’s patience with humanity (Rom. 2:4; 9:22; 1 Tim. 1:16; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 3:15) and the corresponding and consequent quality that the Christian should show towards others (1 Cor. 13:4; Gal. 5:22; Col. 3:12; 2 Tim. 4:2).

The patient person endures negative circumstances and does not give in to them.

Abraham was patient, receiving the promise of God but waiting many years to see its fulfillment, “having patiently waited, he obtained the promise” (Heb. 6:15). Abraham was nearly a hundred years old. “Yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Rom. 4:20).

When H. M. Stanley went to Africa in 1871 to find and report on David Livingstone, he spent several months in the missionary’s company, carefully observing the man and his work. Livingstone never spoke to Stanley about spiritual matters, but Livingstone’s loving and patient compassion for the African people was beyond Stanley’s comprehension. He could not understand how the missionary could have such love for and patience with the backward, pagan people among whom he had so long ministered. Stanley wrote in his journal, “When I saw that unwearied patience, that unflagging zeal, and those enlightened sons of Africa, I became a Christian at his side, though he never spoke to me one word.”

God calls us to be “patient with everyone” (1 Thess. 5:14):

And we are to do so because, He is immensely patient with us: “Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. “(2 Pet 3:9).

We are to be patient, accepting God’s plan for everything, without questioning or grumbling. - “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God”(2 Cor 2:14-15). The American New England preacher Phillips Brooks, though noted for his poise and quiet manner did at times suffer moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him feverishly pacing the floor like a caged lion. "What's the trouble, Mr. brooks?" he asked. "The trouble is that I'm in a hurry, but God isn't!" I’m sure we have all felt his frustration! Think of William Carey, labouring for 7 years before the first Hindu convert was brought to Christ or Adoniram Judson preaching the gospel for 7 years before his faithful preaching saw a convert.

““You also, be patient...Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:8-11).”

“True patience is waiting without worrying”(Charles Swindoll, Growing Strong, p. 124).

(iv). Bearing with one another in love:

Humility gives birth to gentleness, gentleness gives birth to patience, patience gives birth to bearing with one another in love!

“Forbearance, the fourth requirement, is also a divine quality (Rom. 2:4). It is the practical outworking of longsuffering. ‘It involves bearing with one another’s weaknesses, not ceasing to love one’s neighbours or friends because of those faults in them which perhaps offend or displease us’ (Abbott). It is ‘that mutual tolerance without which no group of human beings can live together in peace’ (Stott).” (Francis Foulkes).

This characteristic is vital in human relationships and is an extension of patience.

Peter tells us that such “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8). That is not to say it justifies or excuses them, but rather it keep the sins from becoming any more scandalous and henious than is necessary. “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions” (Prov. 10:12).

By saying “bearing with one another in love” Paul reminds us that these four qualities, are possible only “in love.”

For love - agape - is the basic attitude of seeking the highest good of others, and it will therefore lead to all these qualities, and include them all (see Eph 4:15–16).

Paul has prayed that his readers may be ‘rooted and grounded in love’ (Eph 3:17), and now he exhorts them to do their part, and to go on to possess all these virtues in love.

“Bearing with one another in love” means:

being willing to forive wrongs done to you

Accepting criticism and abuse from others while continuing to love them.

Demonstrating agapē love continuously and unconditionally; giving willingly regardless of whether it is returned or not.

Agape love goes out even to enemies and prays for its persecutors (Matt. 5:43–44).

In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, "Do not waste your time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less."

(v). Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Humility gives birth to gentleness, gentleness gives birth to patience, patience gives birth to forbearing love, and all four of those characteristics preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

This unity as the gift of God. It was made possible by the cross of Christ (Eph 2:14ff.), and is made effective by the working of the Spirit of God.

It is already created by the Holy Spirit. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.… There are many members, but one body” (1 Cor. 12:13, 20; cf. Rom. 8:9).

Human beings cannot create it; rather it is given to them, to keep it, to guard it in the face of many attempts from within and without the church to take it away.

We are to put great effort into this!

The Greek word spoudazō basically means to make haste, and from that come the meanings of zeal and diligence. Paul used the word in telling Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15; cf. Titus 3:12–13).

Preservation of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace should be the diligent and constant concern of every believer.

This is not an organizational unity, but an inner and universal unity of every true believer, bound to every other true believer by the Spirit of God. As it works itself out in the fellowship of beleivers, it manifests through the inner qualities of humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearing love.

Jesus wants this unity for us!

He prayed for this unity of the Spirit in the Upper Room: “I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one...My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."(John 17:11, 20–23).

So, the church’s responsibility, through the lives of individual believers, is to preserve the unity by faithfully walking in a manner worthy of God’s calling (v. 1), exhibiting the characteristics of the the worthy life and thereby revealing the world by oneness in Him (cf. Rom. 15:1–6; 1 Cor. 1:10–13; 1 Cor 3:1–3; Phil. 1:27).

The bond that preserves unity is peace, is the bond that Paul described in Philippians as “being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (2:2). What Paul in his Colossians 3:14 calls “the perfect bond of unity.”

Let us strive to do the same by cultivating these virtues of the Spirit in our lives; walking wothily of our Lord.