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The section closes with another of our wonderful blessings, for in Christ "we have
boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him". Wherefore, says Paul, I desire
that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Having briefly surveyed the doctrinal section, let us examine the practical section
which only occupies six verses. Ephesians 4:1-6 begins with the title "the prisoner of the
Lord". On page 329 of In Heavenly Places Charles Welch refers to the sixteen
occurrences of the title "Lord" standing alone in the epistle, and demonstrates that:
"In Christ" expresses our doctrinal position - our standing.
"In the Lord" indicates our practical relationship - our state.
Paul exhorts us to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. The Greek
for "worthy" is suggestive of a pair of balances and implies that our walk should balance
our calling. When we consider the tremendous blessings which are described in the
doctrinal section, we are conscious of the heavy responsibility that falls on us and we
may doubt our ability walk worthy of our calling. But we recognize that we can only live
acceptably by the grace of God and in the strength that He gives us. We remember Paul
says in Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of
His might".
The worthy walk is expressed in three ways:
Eph. 4:1 walk worthy of the vocation
Phil. 1:27 as becometh the gospel of Christ
Col. 1:10 walk worthy of the Lord
The essential attitude of mind is expressed by Paul in the words, lowliness,
meekness, long-suffering, forbearance, and love. He follows this by urging us to
endeavor to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace". To walk worthy of our
vocations is not easy, but is it not just as difficult to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace? Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the divisions that had taken place.
Some followed Paul, some Apollos, others Cephas, and some said "I am of Christ". We
have to be faithful to the truth this may cause us to face difficulty in maintaining a spirit
of unity. The hymn writer expresses it:
Believe not those who say
The upward path is smooth,
Lest thou shouldest stumble in the way
and faint before the truth.
Did Paul himself find it hard to maintain unity? Read Acts 15:36-41. Paul did not
think that Mark was suitable to join with him in ministry, but Barnabas took a different
view. We read "the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder on
from the other".
We note Paul wrote "endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit", and probably he
was acknowledging that our "endeavors" may not always be successful. Yet we are all
members of the Church which is His Body and we are fitly joined together. If there is a