![]() In a sermon on this text, Charles Spurgeon pointed out some of the things that the text does not say. We can understand this unity of the Spirit by understanding what it is not. ![]() It is evident in the quick fellowship possible among Christians of different races, nationalities, languages, and economic classes. This is a spiritual unity, not necessarily a structural or denominational unity. He has created it by His Spirit our duty is to recognize it and keep it. God never commands us to create unity among believers. We must endeavor to keep this unity - we do not create it. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: This humble, forgiving attitude towards each other naturally fulfills this gift of the unity of the Spirit. It is characteristic of a forgiving, generous heart.Ĭ. Chrysostom defined longsuffering as the spirit that has the power to take revenge, but never does. Longsuffering, bearing with one another: We need this so that the inevitable wrongs that occur between people in God’s family will not work against God’s purpose of bringing all things together in Jesus - illustrated through His current work in the church. It means that we can be happy and content when we are not in control or steering things our way.ī. In the minds of many it still does but it is a glorious Christian virtue ( Philippians 2:1-10). Before Christianity, the word lowliness always had a bad association to it. With all lowliness and gentleness: A worthy walk before God will be marked by lowliness and gentleness, not a pushy desire to defend our own rights and advance our own agenda. 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.Ī. ( Ephesians 4:2-3) The character of a worthy walk. He must therefore carry himself accordingly, and not stain his high blood.” (Trapp)Ģ. “Every believer is God’s first-born and so higher than the kings of the earth, Psalm 89:27. It is motivated out of gratitude, not out of a desire to earn merit. We don’t walk worthy so that God will love us, but because He does love us. “Luther counsels men to answer all temptations of Satan with this only, Christianus sum, I am a Christian.” (Trapp) Understanding who we are is the foundation of this worthy walk. Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called: When we really understand how much God did for us, we will naturally want to serve and obey Him out of gratitude. Now he brings a call to live rightly, but only after explaining what God did for us.ī. Therefore: Paul spent three chapters spelling out in glorious detail all that God did for us, freely by His grace. I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,Ī. ( Ephesians 4:1) The foundation for all exhortation.
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