Tag Ephesians

WALKING in LOVE

The Preacher Leave a comment

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” (Eph 5:1-2)

Paul wrote to the Ephesians saints to walk in love as Christ also loved us. Those are big shoes to fill!

In the first letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote about the superiority of love (1Cor 13:13). John wrote that love was more than lip service, but that true love requires action, in particularly toward the brethren (1John 3:6-17). He also wrote by inspiration; “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7). Lest we forget, the Lord commands us to Love one another, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17; Romans 13:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11-12). Love is an essential quality of Saints. But what is it?

The love of the Bible is Christlike, agape love; a deliberate, sacrificial, unconditional commitment to seek the highest good of others — even at great personal cost — patterned after Jesus’ self-giving on the cross. Agape love willingly sacrifices time, comfort, resources, rights, or even life itself for the benefit of others, and is not based on loveliness, worthiness, or a precondition of the recipient. “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27). “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1Peter 4:8)

“Let ALL that ye do be done in LOVE.”

(1Cor 16:14)

LOVE is Active and Practical. Biblical agape proves itself through deeds, not just words. “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (1John 3:18). It does good, serves, shares, forgives, and builds others up. It shows up in service toward the brethren. “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13).

True love does speak just in affirmations, but speaks the truth for a purpose, “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ– from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Eph 4:15-16). The chapter of love, 1Corinthians 13, tells us that speaking the truth without love is ineffective and meaningless. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”

Love is active, it can be proved (1Cor 8:8), and it has a purpose for truth.

Agape

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WALKING WORTHY

The Preacher Leave a comment

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph 4:1-3)

The Holy Spirit wants us to keep the unity of His Spirit in the bond of peace. In this passage He gives 3 avenues through which we are to “walk worthy of the vocation you are called.” To understand this passage, we need to understand the words.

Walk: To conduct one’s life, behave, or live in a habitual manner; the ongoing pattern of daily conduct and lifestyle as a believer (Colossians 1:10; Ephesians 5:2)

Worthy: Suitably, appropriately, or in a manner that matches or balances the value of something; living in congruence with the dignity and nature of what has been received. Philippians 1:27 — “Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ” (worthy manner);

Vocation: The divine calling, invitation, or summons to salvation and service in Christ; the position or role to which God has invited believers. 1Corinthians 7:20 — “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called”;

Called: To be summoned, invited, or effectually drawn by God into relationship with Him through the gospel. 2Thessalonians 2:14 — “Whereunto he called you by our gospel.”

Lowliness: Humility of mind, lowliness of thought about oneself; thinking soberly of self in light of God’s grace, without pride or self-exaltation. Colossians 3:12 — “Put on… humbleness of mind.”

Meekness: Gentleness, mildness, or controlled strength; a disposition that is patient and considerate, not harsh or self-assertive, even under provocation. It’s Restrained power, not weakness. Matthew 11:29 — “For I am meek and lowly in heart.”

Longsuffering: Patience, forbearance, or endurance in bearing wrongs; slow to anger and long to endure provocation or hardship. Colossians 3:12 — “Putting on… longsuffering.”

Unity: Oneness, harmony, or unanimity; the state of being one in spirit and purpose, produced by the Holy Spirit among believers. The term appears only here and in Ephesians 4:13.

Peace: Harmony, tranquility, and reconciliation; the state of concord and absence of strife, especially the bond that holds believers together. Ephesians 2:14 — “For he is our peace, who hath made both one.”

These words reveal that walking worthy involves humble, gentle, patient conduct that preserves the Spirit-given oneness among believers.

Agape
spencer