Ephesians 4:2
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

Application: 

Paul begins the second half of his letter with the word therefore. In light of the gracious riches they have in Christ and the glorious reality of this new community, the church, there are now accompanying responsibilities.

He urges them to walk worthy of [their] calling (4:1). They must conduct themselves in ways that reflect their new status. There must be humility and gentleness—a willingness to submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ—among them. They must have patience, bearing with one another in love (4:2), showing tolerance for others and seeking their well-being.

By living this way, they will be able to maintain the unity of the Spirit. Again, unity is not sameness. Christians maintain our God-created uniqueness while sharing a common vision and goal. A football team includes players with different roles, yet teammates work together toward the same purpose.

Notice that Paul commands them to “keep” this unity, not to “establish” it. This is God’s program. The church didn’t create the unity. God calls us to preserve what he’s already created (see 2:11–22). This unity is tied to our Christian character (4:2) and grounded in the work of the Holy Spirit. 

If your point of reference isn’t the Spirit of God, you’ll be operating from a merely human point of view. But when you relate to people from God’s point of view, the Spirit can override human differences and hold us together through the bond of peace. Peace—harmony where once there was conflict—will act like a belt to hold us together.

Reference: Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1226.

To God, be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write articles glorifying God. I invite you to view this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, I encourage you to search the Scriptures to determine whether what I have written is true. Always consult with your church ministers regarding biblical matters. I am not a professional writer, so there may be some grammatical or spelling errors present. I strive to write as clearly and efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo.

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