Ephesians 4:1-6
Paul is beginning to transition from teaching theological truths to practical truths based on the theology. This is common practice with Paul: here's what we believe, here's how we should live based on that belief. In this passage it is very obvious that this transition begins here: "live a life worthy of the calling you have received." The calling Paul is talking about is the call to be unified in the church so that we will be the holy dwelling where God lives by His Spirit (2:22) and display God's wisdom to the spiritual powers in the heavenly realms (3:10).
This passage tells me that while Jesus did all the work to make unity possible, that there is still some effort to be made from our end - I like the wording: "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit." It's already there from the perspective of heaven but we have a responsibility to keep and make it real on earth.
There's a couple of things that I like about this passage. The first is Paul's little guilt motivation: "as a prisoner of the Lord..." It seems like he's saying, "Just a reminder that I'm in prison because I brought the gospel to you so you should do what I say..." I love it! The other is the poetry of Paul's words when he starts describing the oneness of our faith and hope. Then, at the end, he says that God is "over all and through all and in all." It just flows!
The part that really stands out is the encouragement to live a life worthy o fthe calling you have received. When I look at what God has called me and allowed me to do with my life so far, I am completely humbled - I am not worthy! It's not that I feel hopeless of ever living up to the calling - it actually motivates me to be a better person because I know that it is only possible by the grace of my Lord Jesus. My being worthy, while it requires effort on my part to live it out, is based solely on the work of Jesus Christ to cleanse me and the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide me. No wonder I'm going to cast my crowns before Christ in heaven - they belong to him!
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It is freeing to be motivated to change, and then have confidence that the tools required are available. In fact the only true change will come from the Spirit working in us, yet this will require our effort to attain. This makes it fun to do the work because we can have confidence that our saviour is at work.
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