Ephesians 4:2-6 - Homiletics

Details of a walk worthy of the vocation. This walk demands—

I. THE PRESERVATION OF SOCIAL CONCORD , THROUGH THE QUIET OR PASSIVE VIRTUES , which, having been very characteristic of Christ, are eminently incumbent on all who bear his Name.

1. Lowliness , arising from a chastened sense of our sin and unworthiness.

2. Meekness , which is in speech what lowliness is in spirit.

3. Long-suffering and forbearance in love ; in opposition to hastiness, irascibility, impatience, ill temper, which, though often little thought of, are eminently unworthy of the Christian calling. Christian victories are often gained by meekness and endurance—what Milton called "the invincible might of meekness." These graces have reference mainly to the ordinary intercourse of social life; what follows has to do more with the public life of` the Church

II. THE PRESERVATION OF ECCLESIASTICAL CONCORD THROUGH THE BOND OF PEACE . The concord to be preserved is the "unity of the Spirit"—the unity of which the Holy Spirit is the Author; not mere external uniformity, but inward agreement. It is a fact that there is much inward agreement wherever the Spirit of God works. It is our duty to preserve this—to keep it from being broken or even appearing as if broken. This unity is to be maintained by the bond which consists of "peace;" by a peace-loving and peace-seeking spirit, that spirit of which Christ said, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." The danger of breaking the unity of the Spirit is great; readiness to take offence, pride, regardlessness of the welfare of others, forgetfulness of the vast Christian work and warfare committed to us, are temptations to this. On the other hand, the habitual striving after the graces enumerated above, and trying to exercise them habitually, tend to preserve the unity of the Spirit, and to a large extent, too, to preserve external agreement in the government and worship and work of the Church.

III. In connection with this subject, the apostle shows WHEREIN THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT CONSISTS , AND WHEREIN IT IS TO BE PRESERVED . There is a sevenfold unity ( see Exposition). That true believers are one in Christ is one of those truths which happily even controversy and sectarianism do not quite obliterate. But a more full, rich, and constant manifestation of this unity would make a great impression on the world; it would remove one of the most common excuses of skepticism; it would tend powerfully both to edify and to extend the cause of Christ; and it would make the fellowship of the Church much more delightful, spreading more of the atmosphere of heaven upon earth.