Epistles – Ephesians 4-6

Continuing with our reading of Ephesians, we conclude the epistle by reading chapters 4 – 6 today.

Bible Passage:  Ephesians 4-6

Recollecting…

Today’s reading is not a difficult read because of the nature of the 3 chapters here being very practical and applicable. As mentioned previously, Paul has a manner of writing that is both theoretical and practical. In Ephesians chapters 1 – 3, we had previously discussed the nature of our Christian status: We were once gentiles who were afar off from the heart of Christ, but by grace, and grace alone we were saved and reconciled by His blood.  Because of that, we are with the promise that the Holy Spirit’s power will work mightily in us.

Transposing that into Applicable Practices

Rather than just telling us what to do, which so often fails to mean very much, Paul goes on to show us through many practical examples how we should conduct ourselves.

“Therefore” entails a sense of mandatory actions. This is on the part of just about everyone from Paul himself, to the readers of the epistles (you and me included). For if we are to be fashioned into perfect Christians, then we ought to act in faith according to what Paul shares here.

Family Unit & Familial Ties

Today’s sharing will not be too long for the simple reason that I believe the words of God, through Paul’s hand, are more than sufficient for us to gain a good measure of understanding of God’s will. At any rate though, I would still say that these three chapters 4 – 6 could be viewed in the perspective of the basic family unit.

In society, we know and can see for ourselves that the family unit is essential to the survival, cohesion, and unity of the local community at least, and the country at large. Which is the very reason why most democratic free states of the world advocate proper familial ties and coherent family units. If there were to be a dysfunctional family in a particular housing estate, the domestic problems they have will likely affect others as well. We thus cannot escape the fact that one family’s problems can be a fraction of the whole of society’s ills. If the problem needs to be curbed and remedied, then we go straight to the root, and heal the wounds in the individual person, in the individual family unit.

A Godly Family Unit

God doesn’t desire His household to be dysfunctional. And indeed the reason is simple: We are His Body, one which He purchased with a heavy price. Knowing this, we ought to conduct ourselves properly in all the following ways:

* Knowing our roles in the Church (cf. Eph 4:11-12)
* Speaking the truth in love and (cf. Eph 4:15)
* Remove the old man, Put on the new man (cf. Eph 4:22-24)
* Control our Wrath (cf. Eph 4:26-27)
* Maintain a source of Livelihood (cf. Eph 4:28)
* Take heed to our Speech (cf. Eph 4:29)
* Walk in love (cf. Eph 5:2)
* Be clean (cf. Eph 5:5)
* Be in the Light (cf. Eph 5:13)
* Walk circumspectly and redeem the short time left (cf. Eph 5:15-18)
* Sing Hymns to the Lord (cf. Eph 5:19)
* Our own marriage (if any) (cf. Eph 5:22-33)
* Filial Piety and Fatherly/Motherly Protection (cf. Eph 6:1-4)
* Putting on the armour of God (cf. Eph 6:11-20)

Of course the list above is not really meant to be a checklist for us to tick off and be happy about it when we meet all of them. They are not even mean to be exhaustive as more can be definitely listed down. In fact, these are merely the BASIC things required of us. When we understand the reasons for doing these, then we would go the further distance to understand the spirit behind all these applicable concepts, and thus become even more Christ-like in all our ties and deeds. Such is the Godly Family Unit in the household of God.

Perhaps the theme idea is best represented by Eph 4:3 as Paul tells us to “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. Christ has already become our peace by reconciling us. Now it is up to us who are in His church to maintain and prosper this peace.

So the next time people say we are “so practical” or “so realistic”, we could see it in this manner that we truly have a practicable faith, because of God is a realistic God!