“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 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.”
As Paul moves on to the practical application of this epistle, the very first thing on his agenda is to make clear what sort of person a Christian should be. As we studied last week, he is exhorting the believer to a certain kind of walk. Now walking implies forward movement, first of all. It has been said that the Christian never sits still in his spiritual life. If he is not moving forward, he is sliding backward.
Now I have to say that I do not like to use the term ‘backslidden’, simply because it seems that over the years I’ve heard it used in so many ways by different folks, that I’m afraid if I use it in an assembly of people I will confuse some or give them the impression I’m saying something I am not.
So let me make clear from the outset that to me, saying a Christian is ‘backslidden’ simply means he’s not as far forward as he was previously.
Paul says our Christian experience is a walk. It is progression. And as we go, we are to strive to walk in a manner fitting with our heavenly calling with which God has called us.
Now we cannot separate verse one from the next two verses, because there is no period there. Verses 1 - 3 of Ephesians 4 comprise one sentence. So we must see that what Paul says in these next two verses is defining the mark of a true Christian.
There may be other marks you can point out; other behaviors and beliefs and activities that mark the Christian. But these things that come first to the mind of Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit as he wrote, must be considered fundamental in identifying the Christian. So let’s consider them carefully today, and ask the Lord to give us light.
SCRIPTURAL UNITY
Before we go on I think we should first take another look at this unity that is being talked about in verse 3.
We have already had occasion to address it, when we covered passages back in chapter 2, where Paul emphasized that through the cross, Jesus has broken down the dividing wall of enmity between Jew and Gentile, and between men and God. How He bought peace with His blood, and gave us access by His Holy Spirit to the Father.
We talked then about this unity which is Spirit-wrought. He draws us to Christ, grants us repentance, regenerates us, and makes us one in Christ, with God and with one another.
I also addressed this topic in a sermon I delivered before the Uncompahgre association at their annual meeting last September, and if any of you have read a copy of that sermon that you might have picked up on the back table, then you may hear some familiar things today; but I think it is an issue that we need to address again, and even later on down the road. It is vital to our understanding of our role as Christians, and as a church, and it is one that because of our nature we have a tendency to forget.
And I think Paul would agree with me, because really, unity in and through the Holy Spirit has been the under girding theme of this epistle so far. The first three chapters were devoted to revealing to us, and praying that we would understand, this unity that has been purchased and brought to pass. So Paul, and of course the Holy Spirit through him, must have felt that it was a topic that should be addressed very thoroughly, and often.
Let me stress to you again then, that the reason I’ve called this specifically, ‘scriptural unity’, is so that I may make the distinction in your mind between this unity and what men usually mean when they use the word ‘unity’.
The world speaks of unity, and they really mean getting along and not warring against one another. They mean joining together for a certain purpose or cause and working like a team. But that is not scriptural unity.
Even in the church we are guilty of attributing to passages of scripture such as this one, a worldly sort of definition of the term, and it just can not work that way.
That’s why all this talk, especially since the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, of religions of the world showing unity by gathering together and praying together and putting up a united front and setting an example that we can all get along, and be tolerant and not fight over our differences but celebrate our differences and just love one another, is all a bunch of malarky!
There is no unity between men and God except through Jesus Christ, and His shed blood and resurrection, and the placing of our faith in that, and no where else. Unity with God is not found in any philosophical system, it is not found in any humanitarian effort, it is not found in any form of religion, including the religious rhetoric of the so-called ‘Christian community’ that seems to want to join hands with the rest of the world and sing ‘Why Can’t We Be Friends’, as though that is where the answer is.
There is peace and unity by the Holy Spirit with God the Father, through Jesus Christ, and that is a Biblical truth, and that truth necessarily excludes all who refuse to put their faith there; no matter how sincere they may be in their own pursuit of it.
We do not bring scriptural unity to the church or to our lives. Scriptural unity is in the Holy Spirit, and as in the work of justification, it is something He does. He assembles believers spiritually, to Christ and in spiritual unity with one another.
Therefore, anything we discuss in the church, onto which we tag the admonition to work toward unity, or be united, or be one, although it may be a good idea for the particular moment, for the accomplishment of the project at hand, is not scriptural unity. Not what Paul is talking about when he speaks of being one body, unified by the Spirit, through Christ’s blood, and given access to the Father.
The only unity that is scriptural is the kind He creates; and indeed, true believers are the only ones who can possibly have it, and that is why we are exhorted to diligently preserve it in a bond of peace.
MARKS OF UNITY
If we’re going to talk about the marks, or evidences of unity, we have to stay focused and remember throughout that we’re talking about something that is the Holy Spirit’s work and accomplishment.
If we do not, then what happens right away is that we start thinking about the things we do to demonstrate unity, and we leave the main path and get lost.
In truth, the true marks of Christian unity are what manifest themselves in action; we tend to turn it the other way around. “We do these things, therefore we have unity”, but it really should be, “We are united by and in Christ, therefore we do these things”.
When we have it backwards, the things we’re doing become the primary focus, and they take precedence over the spiritual side of our work. They become more important, because we’re doing them to show unity, so unity becomes a source of self-pride just like every other aspect of the effort. Then when unity begins to falter because self-pride has also caused us to start being jealous of one another, and seeking our own way instead of the good of the others, then it turns into a self-absorbed free-for-all, any feigned unity is now utterly gone, there is no longer any pretense of oneness, and later, after licking our wounds, we look at the mess and say ‘what in the world happened here?’
No, we have to learn and remember that the marks of scriptural unity are Spirit-born. Even though we are exhorted to exercise them and let them be manifest in our lives and among us as brethren, they are Spirit-wrought in us to begin with, and then by them we are exhorted to preserve the unity He has brought.
So let’s look at the marks Paul has named for us here.
HUMILITY
Humility. The real definition of that word is almost as elusive as the attribute itself.
What, really, is humility? Is it submissiveness? Shyness? Quietness?
The word Paul has used here means to have humbleness of mind. To reckon one’s self to be less than others. A good example of its usage is in Philippians 2:3
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself;…”
Now I think it’s important to complete that thought, so I’ll read verse 4 also:
“…do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Then he goes on in verse 5 to set forth our greatest example of this kind of humility, and begins by admonishing us to “Have this attitude in (ourselves), which was also in Christ Jesus.”
And the following verses demonstrate the humility that sent our Savior to the cross to die for us. He reckoned Himself less important than we. Can you wrap your brain around that?
Listen, Christian, the things that the Holy Spirit exhorts us to do through the writers of the New Testament, are all things the Captain of our salvation has gone before us and done already. We’re not being asked to do anything He hasn’t done, and nothing is required of us that He has not given us the power to do.
“…with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself…” just like Christ did for you.
Amazing love! How can it be?
It’s also a little difficult to imagine, I think, what it would be like if all Christians really did exercise this kind of humility, all the time.
Whenever I come to this subject it makes me think of a couple of Warner Brothers’ cartoon characters. I think they’re gophers, and they are polite to a fault. Of course, they’re also mischievous and taking all of Elmer Fudd’s carrots and lettuce, but to each other it’s always, “You go first” “No, please, you go first” “No-no, I insist, you go first”
But can you just imagine how the world would be affected if true believers everywhere consistently related to one another with the kind of deference being referred to here in Ephesians 4 and in Philippians 2?
The kind of self-abasing humility of mind that always puts the needs of others before our own?
People, I think we have a scriptural example of this happening in the church, and I think it is found in Acts 2:43-47
“And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
When nations are freed from oppression through military might and the Holy Spirit is not in the process and it is not a spiritual work being done, there is anarchy. There is looting, there is murder, there is the lynching of those left of the oppressing force that could not get away. We’ve all see a recent example of this, and it has happened before.
But when the liberation is of a spiritual nature, from sin and death and freed to God by His Holy Spirit, there is peace and joy and serenity; there is a holy humility of mind, that seeks not its own, but seeks the will of others, reckoning them better than self; and it is evident to others that Jesus is in the life.
I say this will come and it will evidence itself, because that is the Spirit of Christ, and if He indwells you, He is going to manifest His nature through you. So Paul’s exhortation is a fair one, in that he is only asking you to make manifest through your life, that which the Holy Spirit has empowered you to do.
GENTLENESS
This humility of mind is to be demonstrated in gentleness.
Now this word ‘gentleness’ is very important. Does it simply mean to act like a gentleman? Well that could lead to some degree of ambiguity. Originally, in England and around Europe where English was spoken, to be a gentleman simply referred to a man’s social and financial status. If he was wealthy and moved in important political and social circles, he was called a gentleman; whether he was a gentleman by today’s definition or not.
My father taught me always to be a gentleman, in the context of how I treat women. Open doors. Hold chairs. Walk on the street side to protect her from traffic…or if you’re in New York City or some of the other larger cities, walk on the inside to protect her from whatever may pop out of an alley.
Pick up the hanky if she drops it. Serve her first. Let her go first if the ship is sinking.
There’s a joke going around about an old couple at a restaurant. As another couple sits watching, the woman slowly enjoys a piece of pie, while her husband sits staring at her admiringly, his pie untouched.
The young man stops at their table as he leaves the establishment and comments that it is so nice to see senior citizens so much in love, that a man would ignore his dessert to stare at his wife so lovingly.
“Thank you, dear,” said the old woman as she swallowed her last bite, “…but he was just letting me use the teeth first”.
Always the gentleman.
But more is meant here. The word is a noun, which denotes fairness, moderation, one language master interprets it as a ‘sweet reasonableness’.
Now, what we have here is a Greek word for gentleness, coupled with the one for meekness. In Acts 24:4 Tertullus, the attorney bringing charges against Paul on behalf of Ananias the High Priest, makes an appeal to the governor Felix to give them a hearing. To flatter Felix, Tertullus bases his appeal on Felix’s kindness.
The word being used there (kindness) is the one the word for ‘gentleness’ in Ephesians 4 is coupled with, and it has to do with a sense of fairness and equity and justice.
So to amplify, Paul is asking Christians to approach one another in humbleness of mind that manifests itself in kindness that is fair and just, while also meek and gentle.
PATIENCE & FORBEARANCE
Now I’ll have to draw this to a close soon, so let’s just clarify these next words. “…with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love”
We can probably relate to the need for this sort of demonstration of love even more than the need for humility and gentleness. Because now he’s adding on that we should exercise patience and forbearing, and we all know, if we’re willing to admit it to ourselves, that we often give people cause to be impatient with us, and to not forbear.
Now that word forbear or forbearance is not one we hear used much in common conversation any more. It means to ‘bear with’. To ‘endure’.
But I think the Holy Spirit is sending us a very important message here, in inspiring Paul to use those terms. Put simply, we are a people who must be endured.
If everyone who became a Christian stopped being difficult, stopped being an occasional pain, stopped being a jerk, there would be no reason to exhort us to endure one another. To bear with one another.
But in many cases and on many occasions, I think we get frustrated with people and think ill of them and talk ill of them, as though we’re shocked that they would act like imperfect human beings!
Now I’m not calling anyone a dog here, this is only for illustration. If I walked up to a gate in a fence and saw a sign that said, “Beware of Dog”, and I walked through that gate and saw a large black dog tied to a chain and he was barking at me, and I walked up to that dog and got within reach of that chain and he bit me, I would have no right to complain about that dog.
I know the nature of dogs, I read the sign, I saw the behavior, and when he bit me, he was doing what comes naturally. I shouldn’t be shocked.
Well, we have been born again, as Christians. The Bible says we have been given a new life and we have had imparted to us, the Divine Nature. But until we are glorified, Christian brothers and sisters, we will wrestle with the sin nature still in us.
It is why we are told to reckon ourselves daily to be dead to it. To put off the old man and put on the new. To be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We have all of these exhortations because we still have the sin nature to deal with.
And if there is anything all of us should be able to agree upon and recognize, it is the sin nature, which we all share. So why do we get so excited and offended and surprised, when someone slips up and deals with us according to that sin nature? And what right do we have to gossip about them and slander them for acting according to the same nature that we know we also have still inside of us?
Does one leper say to the other, ‘you have sores’?
So Paul says, yes, you have this nature still in you that makes you sometimes almost unendurable. And so does your brother and so does your sister.
But the Holy Spirit of God has brought unity that goes with the Divine Life, the Divine Nature that has been imparted to you, and that assembles us as one before the throne.
Be diligent, using the power of the new life in you and overcoming that which is of sin and death, be diligent to preserve that unity and let it be manifested in and among you, by relating to one another this way…
With all humility of mind, gently, fairly, kindly, patiently, endure one another in love.
How is that done? By some effort of the will? Through years of practice and starting each day chanting a mantra and finding inner peace to ward off the turmoil and treachery of the world we walk and live in?
No, no, no. Can’t be done. It must all come back finally to Christ and His nature. He has gone before us and now calls us to follow, and empowers us to follow by implanting in us His kind of Life and His kind of Love.
The peace we’ve been bonded together with is the peace with God that was purchased for us, when Christ humbled Himself to the point of death, considering us more important than Himself.
It is the peace God made with us, while we were His enemies, by the sacrifice of His only son. It is the peace that binds us to the Father and so to each other, as the Holy Spirit calls us and assembles us as one.
We have been called with a holy and heavenly calling, we have been infused with divine life from above and filled up with the same love that freed us from the enemy’s oppression, and now we are called to walk in a way fitting that description; fitting what He has made us by His transforming power.
Walk with Christ in humility of mind, enduring one another in Godly patience, treating one another with the kind of fairness and justice that flows from an attitude of meekness and servitude; and the result will be the preservation and demonstration of the unity the Spirit has wrought.
And then, brothers and sisters, we’ll have something more to give the world than religion; something more than a group of folks to identify with and socialize with. They’ll not understand, really, but they’ll see marks that identify us as something other-worldly. Marks that set us apart from the world because the world cannot manufacture them. Characteristics of Christ-likeness that can only be manifestations of the Spirit of Christ shining out that the flesh cannot conceal.
They don’t know it, but they’ve been looking for those marks. It’s not their fault for being ignorant. We have to let them see the marks so they’ll believe us when we tell them of the Source.
The marks that only Grace can impart. Humility of mind, gentleness, patience, endurance, love. Things so desperately lacking in a graceless world; and so desperately sought. The mark of the Christian.
