“Megu Polorin Hamar5 Poloru` Megovn”
(God’s Magnificent Work Through Christ)
Ephesians 4:1-6
“The Three Musketeers (Les Trois Mousquetaires) is a novel
by Alexandre Dumas, Sr. It recounts the
adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan after he leaves home to
become a musketeer.
The names of his three musketeer friends
are Athos,
Porthos, and Aramis—inseparable friends who live by
the motto "one for
all, all for one" ("un pour tous, tous pour
un").
OK, enough novels. Here we have a
great writer called Apostle Paul. He is
interested in seeing the members of the church become united in Christ, and
able to say, “One for all, and all for One.” One is Christ, the head of the church who
unites us in the worship and service of One God, through One Spirit.
In Chapters 1-3, Paul introduced to us
how God worked in history, what God did for us, how God worked within his
chosen People Israel, and how God through Christ spread His message to all
nations, without exclusion, to all races and colors.
In Chapters 4-6, Paul will give
instructions to the church about how to respond to the “call” that Christ gave
us in chapters 1-3.
-The first word of the passage is
“Therefore” (ESV) or “As” (NIV). The following chapters are related with the
foundation that Paul laid in the first three chapters. I want to make it very clear that whatever we
read in the following chapters, e.g. the moral conduct of the church members, is
a result of God’s Magnificent Work through
Christ. These are not just moral teachings like, “Be
good people.” Our morality is a result of whatever Christ does in our inner
being. The fruit of the Spirit of God shapes
our lives. “One in all.” It starts with
the One God not with us.
-Who takes the credit?
Paul could be proud of his work. Paul
could make it a big deal about his apostolic authority. I do not see such an attitude. He mentions again, “...as a prisoner
for the Lord.” Last week I said how he was liberated from
the earthly prisons. Although he was in prison
chained to a roman soldier, he saw himself a prisoner of the Lord. He writes to his audience with the authority
of a “prisoner.” In worldly standards,
one likes to leave a good impression being the CEO of some important company. “Prisoner of the Lord” is his authority, demonstrated
in his humility (the following verses indicate that).
-What kind of walk or lifestyle?
“I … urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to
which you have been called” (ESV). “I urge you” (NIV). “I beseech you (KJV).
“You guys, watch out! Walk
(live, in Hebrew) in a way that agrees with the calling you have received. If God’s love is so great, then you should
live accordingly.” Do you remember
chapters 1-3 where we spoke about God calling us? (refer to those sermons)
“Walk worthy
of the calling with which you have been called” (4:1). “Walk no
longer as the Gentiles walk” (4:17). “Walk
in love” (5:2). “Walk as children of light”
(5:8)
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise”
(5:15).
Paul is interested in seeing a lifestyle that is changed, transformed by
God’s presence in their lives. Paul
likes to see real change. Obedience to God is always a response to Grace. God acts first, and humans respond (NIV
Commentary Eph. P194).
- Five practical ways about how
TO WALK given by Paul (vs 2-3)
We will continue in the English
sermon.