I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
The Ephesian church may have been the lowest maintenance church Paul planted and wrote to. He commended their love and faithfulness. He also warned them in Acts 20 that wolves would come in and draw people to themselves. Paul laid out the gospel in the first 3 chapters and in the last 3 chapters laid out how to live by it. The wolves must have come in because in Revelation, Jesus scolded the church in Ephesus because they lost the love they had at first. Scholars argue whether they lost love for Christ or for each other. We know if we love Christ, we will love others so it appears both sides are correct. The Ephesian church ceased to be an Ephesians 4 church.
The Ephesians 4 church loves Jesus Christ because they preach the gospel to themselves each morning as Paul did in the first 3 chapters. Then that love moves from the vertical to the horizontal in their love for others. When we see the cross, we are humble. When we see our own sin, we are patient with others and love them. When we see the peace that Jesus gives us, we will have that peace with others. This is a beautiful church. It is also a rare church. The key ingredient missing from churches today is the unity of the Spirit. Left to our own devices, we will destroy each other. It’s what man is good at. Walking in the Spirit of unity marks an Ephesians 4 church.
Let’s go for a walk today.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church
Cape May Court House NJ