LIVING WORTHILY
Ephesians 4:1-3
Ephesians 4 is the beginning of the practical section of the epistle. In this section, Paul is mainly admonishing us to live a life worthy of our calling. That is, living appropriately as a Christian. Or, to live a life that coincides with the claims of the Gospel. Simply put, he is telling us, “Christian, be Christian!” How we walk and talk should reflect the beauty of Jesus as He Himself had lived His life here on earth.
The descriptions that Paul mentioned in the passage are not just “virtues”… as though it is something abstract or “way out there”. What he cited are descriptions of real-life relationships. It is something concrete. It is what God expects of the Christian as he grows in the grace of God. Here he points 3 pairs of relational characteristics that we should pursue and what should be evident in our lives. This morning, let us look closely at the first pair: “humble-gentleness”.
Humility (“tapeinophrosune”) literally means “to be lowly minded” or “to condescend”. It is not despising oneself, nor looking down on oneself. It is the willingness to let God have the glory, and to let others have the limelight. It is opposite to conceit. It is the outcome of knowing God, as well as knowing ourselves.
Humble people do not think less of themselves… they only think less.
Gentleness (“prautetos”) literally meant “mildness” or “meekness”. It is to put our strength under control. It is the opposite of harshness or abrasiveness. If humility is the frame of mind, gentleness is humility working out itself in relationships.
Humility and gentleness is modeled by Jesus in Matthew 11:29-30. Here He invites us to come to Him and learn from Him. The outcome is to “find rest for our souls”. So let us come… let us learn… let us find rest.
Ephesians 4:1-3
Ephesians 4 is the beginning of the practical section of the epistle. In this section, Paul is mainly admonishing us to live a life worthy of our calling. That is, living appropriately as a Christian. Or, to live a life that coincides with the claims of the Gospel. Simply put, he is telling us, “Christian, be Christian!” How we walk and talk should reflect the beauty of Jesus as He Himself had lived His life here on earth.
The descriptions that Paul mentioned in the passage are not just “virtues”… as though it is something abstract or “way out there”. What he cited are descriptions of real-life relationships. It is something concrete. It is what God expects of the Christian as he grows in the grace of God. Here he points 3 pairs of relational characteristics that we should pursue and what should be evident in our lives. This morning, let us look closely at the first pair: “humble-gentleness”.
Humility (“tapeinophrosune”) literally means “to be lowly minded” or “to condescend”. It is not despising oneself, nor looking down on oneself. It is the willingness to let God have the glory, and to let others have the limelight. It is opposite to conceit. It is the outcome of knowing God, as well as knowing ourselves.
Humble people do not think less of themselves… they only think less.
Gentleness (“prautetos”) literally meant “mildness” or “meekness”. It is to put our strength under control. It is the opposite of harshness or abrasiveness. If humility is the frame of mind, gentleness is humility working out itself in relationships.
Humility and gentleness is modeled by Jesus in Matthew 11:29-30. Here He invites us to come to Him and learn from Him. The outcome is to “find rest for our souls”. So let us come… let us learn… let us find rest.
