QT 30/08/2026 Sun Ephesians 4 The “Therefore” Is There for Something “因此”二字自有深意

QT 28/08/2026 Thu Ephesians 4 The “Therefore” Is There for Something
READ https://www.esv.org/Ephesians+4

Have you ever wondered why Ephesians 4 begins with the word "therefore"? That one word changes everything. Before Paul tells believers how to live, he reminds them who they already are in Christ. In the next few minutes, we'll discover why Christian living isn't about earning God's favour—it's about living out what God has already done.

The word “therefore” at the beginning of Ephesians 4 is there for a reason. In chapters 1–3, Paul unfolds the believer's new identity and standing in Christ. We have been chosen, redeemed, adopted, forgiven, and united with Christ purely by God's grace. These glorious truths are not merely doctrines to admire—they are the foundation for how Christians are to live.

Because of who we already are in Christ, Paul urges believers to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling" they have received (Eph. 4:1). Christian conduct flows from Christian identity. Our lifestyle is the consequence, not the cause, of God's saving work.

This calling is expressed in attitudes that do not come naturally to our fallen hearts. Paul begins with “humility” (4:2). Humility is difficult because our sinful nature inclines us to exalt ourselves. Instead of submitting to God, we often act as though we are His supervisors or consultants, imagining that we know better how He should govern His world or His church. The gospel dismantles such pride by reminding us that everything we have comes by grace.

Paul also calls believers to “gentleness” (4:2). Even after coming to Christ, we may still be tempted to speak harshly or with the air of an unquestionable expert. Yet Christ, who is "gentle and lowly in heart," teaches His people to exercise strength under control, speaking truth with grace rather than superiority.

Likewise, "bearing with one another in love" (4:2) and being "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (4:3) remain challenging. The flesh still resists forgiveness, Satan seeks to sow division, and the human heart often longs for retaliation instead of reconciliation. Maintaining unity requires continual dependence on the Holy Spirit and a willingness to extend the same grace we ourselves have received.

Paul then reminds his readers that there is a reality they neither created nor can alter. Christians do not manufacture spiritual unity; God has already established it. There is "one body and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all" (4:4–6). These are objective spiritual realities accomplished by God Himself.

Our responsibility, therefore, is not to create unity but to preserve and display the unity that already exists in Christ. We do not redefine these spiritual realities according to our preferences. Rather, we receive them with gratitude and reorder our lives to conform to what God has already accomplished. Christian unity is a gift already created in Christ for believers to cherish and faithfully live out.

May our daily walk increasingly reflect the grace that has already made us one in Christ, so that our lives bear witness to the gospel we profess.

Prayer

Heavenly Father. Thank You for the grace You have shown us in Christ and for making us one body through Your Spirit. Forgive us for our pride, harshness, and unwillingness to bear with one another in love. Teach us to walk in humility, gentleness, patience, and peace, living in a manner worthy of the calling You have given us. Help us to treasure and preserve the unity You have already established, bringing glory to Your name in all we do. In the name of Jesus Christ, our one Lord and Saviour, Amen.

QT 30/08/2026 星期日  以弗所书 4 “因此”二字自有深意
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/eph/4/

你是否曾好奇，《以弗所书》第4章为何以“因此”一词开头？这一词改变了全部意义。在保罗告诉信徒该如何生活之前，他先提醒他们，自己在基督里本是何等样式。接下来的几分钟里，我们将发现，基督徒的生活并非为了赢得神的恩宠——而是为了活出神已经成就的事。

《以弗所书》第4章开头的“因此”一词，其出现自有深意。在第1至3章中，保罗阐明了信徒在基督里的新身份与地位。我们纯粹因着神的恩典，已被拣选、救赎、收养、赦免，并与基督联合。这些荣耀的真理不仅仅是值得钦佩的教义——它们更是基督徒生活方式的根基。

正因我们在基督里已是何等样式，保罗才敦促信徒“行事为人，要配得上你们所蒙的呼召”（弗4:1）。基督徒的品行源于基督徒的身份。我们的生活方式是神救赎工作的结果，而非原因。

这种呼召体现在一些态度上，而这些态度并非我们堕落的心性所自然具备的。保罗首先提到“谦卑”（4:2）。谦卑之所以难以做到，是因为我们罪性的本性使我们倾向于高举自己。我们非但没有顺服神，反而常常表现得仿佛自己是祂的监督者或顾问，自以为比祂更清楚该如何治理祂的世界或祂的教会。福音通过提醒我们一切所拥有的都是出于恩典，从而拆毁了这种骄傲。

保罗还呼吁信徒要“温柔”（4:2）。即使归信基督之后，我们仍可能受诱惑而言辞苛刻，或摆出一副无可置疑的专家姿态。然而，那位“心里温柔、谦卑”的基督，教导祂的子民要克制地行使力量，以恩典而非居高临下的态度讲真理。

同样，“用爱心彼此宽容”（4:2）以及“竭力保守圣灵所赐的合一，用和平的纽带维系”（4:3），依然是充满挑战的。肉体依然抗拒宽恕，撒但企图播下分裂的种子，而人心往往渴望报复而非和解。维持合一需要持续倚靠圣灵，并愿意将我们自己所领受的恩典施予他人。

保罗随后提醒读者，有一项现实既非他们所创造，也无法由他们改变。基督徒并非凭空制造属灵的合一；上帝早已确立了它。“身体只有一个，圣灵只有一位……主只有一位，信仰只有一个，洗礼只有一种；神只有一位，就是万有的父”（4:4–6）。这些是上帝亲自成就的客观属灵现实。

因此，我们的责任并非创造合一，而是维护并彰显那在基督里已经存在的合一。我们不应根据自己的喜好来重新定义这些属灵现实，而是应当怀着感恩之心领受它们，并调整我们的生活，使之符合上帝已经成就的事工。基督徒的合一是在基督里早已赐下的恩赐，供信徒们珍视并忠实地活出来。

愿我们每日的行走日益彰显那已在基督里使我们合而为一的恩典，使我们的生命为所宣认的福音作见证。

祷告

天父，感谢祢在基督里向我们显明的恩典，感谢祢藉着圣灵使我们成为一个身体。求祢赦免我们的骄傲、苛刻，以及不愿在爱中彼此包容的心。求祢教导我们以谦卑、温柔、忍耐和和平的态度行事为人，活出配得祢所赐呼召的生命。求祢帮助我们珍视并维护祢已经建立的合一，使我们所做的一切都能荣耀祢的名。奉耶稣基督——我们唯一的主和救主——的名祈求，阿们。