I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, (2) with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, (3) endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  (4) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;  

The letter to the EPHESIANS was written by the Apostle Paul while he was a prisoner in Rome and was probably circulated to the faithful in Asia Minor.

Chapters one through three of the letter are doctrinal and – as Is typical Pauline – chapter four concerns the practical application of dogma. In our verses Paul addresses the new man/woman in faith in Christ.  God’s will was to being together hostile groups – Gentiles and Jews- in Christian unity. This was Paul’s insight into the mystery of Christ – the Gentiles are now fellow heirs to heaven in Jesus. The Jews had always held themselves apart as the chosen of God and now Paul teaches the radical truth that both groups have a common relationship with the triune God – fellowship and unity is to be in those who are born again, based on shared life in Christ Jesus And His church.

Paul is not talking about organizational or denominational unity but rather organic unity and it is the faithful who are the church, not a place of bricks and mortar.  The church should be unified over the Gospel and doctrines of the faithful – it should not be divided over minor matters. Our instructions in today’s verses are not just the duties of the Christian but a natural outgrowth of the salvation God has already accomplished in Christ Jesus.  The new identity which the faithful receives in Christ Is the basis for their behavior.  The faithful have gone from being at home in the world and strangers to God to their new status as children of God through faith in Christ – they are now strangers and pilgrims in this world.

There is One God, the father of all believers. If God is father, we faithful are as brothers and sisters- we all submit to God as our sovereign Lord. The faithful must see in others God’s work and must respect them – we must see others differently and in spiritual community. The faithful have been called to walk in humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance and love – the gifts of the Spirit we receive at the moment we believe – and words that apply to our relationships as seen through the lens of dogma. We have a relational membership in Christ’s church not a relative status. Christ is the means by which God has provided for our salvation.  He is also the standard for our spirituality and conduct