Ephesians

Ephesians 4:1-6 — Why the Church Exists

The noted English historian, Alexander Kinglake, was interested in the claims of Christianity—but he was also very skeptical about the truth of the resurrection and the reality of the new life in Christ. He once suggested that every church should bear an inscription over the door: IMPORTANT IF TRUE. Though Kinglake’s suggestion is cynical, there is validity in his suggestion. If what the church has to offer is true, it is important—vitally and eternally important! If Jesus truly has been raised from the dead, if He offers all of humanity a new quality of life on earth, as well as eternal life in the world to come, then there is nothing in the world more important than the message of the church.

We who have Christ living in our lives know beyond any doubt that the message of the church is true—and infinitely important. And that is what Paul wants to teach us in Ephesians chapter 4.

As we already saw when we examined Ephesians 3:1, Paul is writing from Rome where he awaits trial. Though a personal prisoner of Caesar, Paul never refers to himself as the prisoner of Rome. Instead, he looks beyond the chains, the guard, the imperial legal system, and the emperor himself. He sees only the controlling hand of Jesus Christ in his circumstances. He is, therefore, a prisoner of Christ.

The last two verses of Ephesians 3 make it clear what the calling of the church is. Paul writes, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” The calling of the church is to declare by our word and to demonstrate by our lives the character and the work of Jesus Christ who lives within us. We are to talk to others about the reality of a life-changing encounter with a living Christ, and to demonstrate that change by an unselfish life of loving, forgiving, and serving others.

That is why the apostle goes on to say, in Ephesians 4:2-3, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” He moves from grand, exalted, doctrinal truth to the realities of our everyday existence. He links the eternal plan of God to our daily grind. In order to carry out God’s eternal plan, we have to get along here on earth—in our families, in our churches, in the situations of our lives that are irritating, annoying, and downright frustrating. The unity of the Spirit is our witness to the world of the reality of our living, resurrected Lord.