EPHESIANS 4
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. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. – Ephesians 4:1-14
EPHESIANS 4 MATURING OUR FAITH THROUGH GRACE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When Jesus Christ died on the cross for us, we were freed from sin
We no longer have to stay in bondage to evil and wickedness
Grace was given to each one of us according to Christ’s gift
He died for us so we can move forward to our purpose and calling
Grace gives us courage to face all of life’s struggles and battles
It makes us hopefully focused on eternity awaiting all of God’s people.
In this account, Paul points out the importance of changing prisons from the world to Christ’s. It is ironic that Paul uses the word “prisoner of Christ” since being a slave of Christ would mean so much freedom. Opposite such freedom is bondage to sin which unbelievers are enslaved with. As a slave of Christ, they were all called to humility, gentleness, patience, love and self-control. It is very different from being a slave of the world which lives for arrogance or pride, selfishness, partiality, and pleasure-seeking feats.
Verse 7 explains how the shift from world-focused to kingdom-seeking lifestyle was brought about by the grace given to the elect through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Without that precious gracious undeserved favor, no one has the ability to change their selfish nature. If one does not believe and know Jesus, there is no way they can escape the power of Satan’s dominion. But how many Christians truly understand this amazing grace? Because we have been born in the world and a lot of us raised without the true knowledge of our God, our minds and hearts have been twisted by culture and the world systems because they are subconsciously ingrained in us at birth. Unless we are born of God, we won’t be able to escape such self-indulgent prison.
REFLECTION
- How can Christ’s blood pave the way to our maturity of faith?
