QT 08/09/2024 Sun. Ephesians 4. Christ based unity. 以基督为基础的团结。

QT 08/09/2024 Sun Ephesians 4. Christ based unity.
http://www.esvbible.org/eph4

Eph 4-6 focus on the CONDUCT of the church (people whom God called) which God has built. Paul urged them to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling” they have received (Eph 4:1) by being “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3).

This unity was brought about through the reconciling death of Christ. We are responsible for keeping this unity admist the diversity within the church.

We do so by living “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Eph 4:2). The motivation for this is that there is only ONE body (church) and ONE Spirit (Holy Spirit who dwells in the church), ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism; ONE God and Father of all and they were called to ONE hope (see also Eph 1:14, 4:4-6).

God gives gifts according to His grace to prepare His people for “works of service” to build up the church and work towards unity “in faith” and “in the knowledge of the Son of God”, and Christ-likeness (Eph 4:13, cf. Eph 3:19).

REFLECTION: Have you failed to keep the unity in the church at any time? Are you directing your energy and thinking time to unite others in the church God has called you to belong to?

Next, put off your old self to put on the new self. “Put off” and “put on” (Eph 4:22, 24) are both conscious decisions. Although we are made new, a new creation in Christ (cf. 2Cor 5:17), living out the “newly created” life in Christ is essential. A  conscious and decisive action must be made to put off our old self.

APPLICATION: Live the new life, devoted to Christ, which is created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Let all things we do EDIFY the church and BUILD one another up in LOVE (Eph 4:16).

星期日 2024年9月8日 今日读经：以弗所书4章。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Eph/4/

以弗所4-6章专注在神所建立的教会的品行(神所呼召的人)。保罗呼吁他们“行事为人，要配得上你们所蒙的呼召”(弗4:1)，“以和睦联系，竭力持守圣灵所赐的合一”(弗4:3)。

这样的合一是基督的死所成就的。我们有义务持守教会的合一。

我们“凡事谦虚、温柔、忍耐，用爱心彼此宽容”以达到合一(弗4:2)。这推动力来自于只有一个身体(教会)和一个灵(在教会里的圣灵)、一个主、一个信仰、一个洗礼；一个神和一个父掌管一切，和一个盼望(也见弗1:14,4:4-6)。

神按着祂的恩典赐给祂的子民恩赐，以装备他们的“事奉”，建立教会并在“信仰”、“对神的儿子的认识”和“学习像基督”中趋向合一(弗4:13, 也看弗3:19)。

反思:你是否不曾持守教会的合一？你是否用自己的精力和思考的时间，在神叫你所属的教会，让弟兄姐妹合一？

接下来，除去旧人，穿上新人。“除去”和“穿上”(弗4:22,24)两个都是有意识的决定。虽然我们已被更新，在基督里是新造的人(也看林后5:17)，在基督里活出“新造”的生命是必须的。我们必须果断地把我们的旧我除去。

应用：活出新生命，为基督摆上，因这生命是像神那样的有公义和圣洁。让我们所行的一切能够建立教会并在爱里彼此建立(弗4:16)。