“Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, . . . .”
First we were walking around aimlessly in trespasses and sins. Then we were seated in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Now Paul urges us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling to believe in Jesus and be the people of God.
This isn’t a mindless wandering, but a walk with purpose: humble, gentle, patient, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We must lose sight of the fact that we are not alone. We walk together with our brothers and sisters in Christ for there is one body, one Spirit, and only one hope – Jesus’ death and resurrection! There is, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all.” So we walk together.
For those of us who are Lutherans, that’s what the word “synod” means. We recognize that we believe things in common with each other, and we “walk together” in doctrine. However, Ephesians points out that in the hope of the gospel and the mission of sharing the love of God in Jesus we also walk together with all who are knit together in that one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all.
We walk together, but we are not all the same. The Christian life isn’t lock-step marching. “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” That’s not to say there aren’t things that we have lock-step agreement on: the belief that Jesus was both true God and true Man, the Trinity, salvation by grace through faith, Jesus’ atonement on the cross and bodily resurrection. I get nervous when I hear church leaders say, “We don’t need creeds. We have the Bible.” There are points where we must be in 100% agreement, because God has spoken on that issue, and who are we to disagree with him.
On the other hand, when God hasn’t spoken on an issue, and people make commands regarding how we conduct ourselves as if He had, I get equally nervous. (In truth, I sometimes get rather mule headed, and want to do the things they forbid!)
Paul’s solution? Grow up. He says that God has given apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, four building up the body of Christ,” and grow to maturity. (Interestingly, those apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are/were on the same journey to grow up as the people they were/are equipping!) We strive for this together as we speak the truth in love – the truth that God give us in His word, starting with the reconciliation we have in Jesus – and trying to be like our big brother, Jesus – “we are to grow up in every way into him who is the heat, into Christ, . . .”
We must no longer walk the way the world does. We are not to wander aimlessly, or walk pursuing wickedness. We are to walk the walk of life in Christ’s ministry – his service. We are here to display his forgiveness in our lives so that others can know their sins are forgiven. We are here to display his love in our lives (by receiving love, giving love and acting out of love) so that others can know He loves them. We are here to show that there is a Way by which we do not simply wander through life, but that we have a home with our Father in heaven because of Jesus where we will sit with Him in glory.
So here we are, digging into the Word, so we can know the truth; so we can grow up in Christ, who is our head, building us up in love.
Lord Jesus, grant us your unity in the Spirit, and help us to grow up so we will not be deceived by the world like children tossed too and fro by all sorts of ideas that only sound right. Help us to take our stand on Your Word, and share it in the way we walk in life. Amen.
First we were walking around aimlessly in trespasses and sins. Then we were seated in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Now Paul urges us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling to believe in Jesus and be the people of God.
This isn’t a mindless wandering, but a walk with purpose: humble, gentle, patient, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We must lose sight of the fact that we are not alone. We walk together with our brothers and sisters in Christ for there is one body, one Spirit, and only one hope – Jesus’ death and resurrection! There is, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all.” So we walk together.
For those of us who are Lutherans, that’s what the word “synod” means. We recognize that we believe things in common with each other, and we “walk together” in doctrine. However, Ephesians points out that in the hope of the gospel and the mission of sharing the love of God in Jesus we also walk together with all who are knit together in that one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all.
We walk together, but we are not all the same. The Christian life isn’t lock-step marching. “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” That’s not to say there aren’t things that we have lock-step agreement on: the belief that Jesus was both true God and true Man, the Trinity, salvation by grace through faith, Jesus’ atonement on the cross and bodily resurrection. I get nervous when I hear church leaders say, “We don’t need creeds. We have the Bible.” There are points where we must be in 100% agreement, because God has spoken on that issue, and who are we to disagree with him.
On the other hand, when God hasn’t spoken on an issue, and people make commands regarding how we conduct ourselves as if He had, I get equally nervous. (In truth, I sometimes get rather mule headed, and want to do the things they forbid!)
Paul’s solution? Grow up. He says that God has given apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, four building up the body of Christ,” and grow to maturity. (Interestingly, those apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are/were on the same journey to grow up as the people they were/are equipping!) We strive for this together as we speak the truth in love – the truth that God give us in His word, starting with the reconciliation we have in Jesus – and trying to be like our big brother, Jesus – “we are to grow up in every way into him who is the heat, into Christ, . . .”
We must no longer walk the way the world does. We are not to wander aimlessly, or walk pursuing wickedness. We are to walk the walk of life in Christ’s ministry – his service. We are here to display his forgiveness in our lives so that others can know their sins are forgiven. We are here to display his love in our lives (by receiving love, giving love and acting out of love) so that others can know He loves them. We are here to show that there is a Way by which we do not simply wander through life, but that we have a home with our Father in heaven because of Jesus where we will sit with Him in glory.
So here we are, digging into the Word, so we can know the truth; so we can grow up in Christ, who is our head, building us up in love.
Lord Jesus, grant us your unity in the Spirit, and help us to grow up so we will not be deceived by the world like children tossed too and fro by all sorts of ideas that only sound right. Help us to take our stand on Your Word, and share it in the way we walk in life. Amen.
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