Ephesians 4:1-2

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Ephesians 4:1-2

One thing I missed and want to make note of is what's found in AMP for 4:1, "[that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]".  It describes what it means to "live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called".  To live a life worthy of this calling is to live a life exhibiting godly character.  There are a few things specified, but it's all under the banner of, "a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation".  We live this way in gratitude to what God has done for us.

Moving on, Paul tells his readers more about how they are to live a life worthy of their calling, "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,".  These things we are to have and exhibit in a way to show gratitude for our salvation.

So, how are these things worthy of the calling to which we have been called?  First of all, we have humility because we are saved by grace.  AMP adds, "[forsaking self-righteousness]".  When we work for our own salvation, we might feel a sense of pride or deserving of something because of what we have done.  However, we know that we were children of wrath, but have been saved in spite of what we have done.  There can no longer be any self-righteousness, so we must have humility.  This is also in line with Jesus, since he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross (phil 2).

Gentleness is a bit weird.  AMP adds "[maintaining self-control]".  I guess both (gentleness and self-control) are also fruits of the spirit.  I'm not quite sure how it fits in except to say that we don't fall back into sin.  We were saved from it and it is God who we offend when we sin.  Gratitude towards him cannot include continuing in sin.

Patience can mean a lot of things.  In 2 Peter we learn how God is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish but all come to repentance.  I'm aware that I might be reaching for these things, so maybe I should stop here.  Instead, we should simply be encouraged towards these things in gratitude to God.

Ephesians 4:1

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

-Ephesians 4:1

Paul begins by urging them "to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called".  However, the verse has "therefore" at the beginning.  I wonder what this "therefore" is referring to.  Could Paul be referring to himself and his calling as to the reason why he is urging them?  Or perhaps is he urging them on the basis of what has happened to them (saved by grace)?  In any case, he is urging them to live a certain way.  He calls them to live in light of their calling.  Thinking back to their call, where they once were and where they are now, is supposed to help guide or show the way in which they are to live.  However, it's more than just that.  They are to live in a way that is worthy of their calling.  Their calling is something of a certain worth and so the life they live is supposed to reflect that worth.  This, in some ways, is quite a daunting task.  To be saved by grace when one was once dead in trespasses and sins is an immensely great thing.  To live worthy of being saved from such a lowly state is perhaps impossible.  Yet, this is what Paul is calling his readers to.  For those saved by grace, we know that we once were dead and had no hope of redemption in our own strength.  Yet, we were saved and we are now called to live worthy of that.  How crazy is that?  Yet it is our calling and we gladly accept.

Now, it is important to note that living worthy of the calling is not as payment.  to be clear, we do not work for our salvation.  However, opposite to popular opinion, we are not saved because of the good that we do, but we do good because we have already been saved.  In any case, we are urged to live a certain way, so let us move forward in that manner.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

-Ephesians 3:20-21

Now Paul breaks off into a doxology.  He begins by giving all glory to God.  NLT says, "Now all glory to God".  This is a bit different from ESV and AMP, but NLT explicitly states what ESV and AMP says more subtlety.  ESV and AMP simply say, "Now to him", which means just what NLT says.  Also because Paul picks up this and continues in verse 21, "to him be glory".

Paul goes on to talk about God's limitlessness.  God "is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think".  God's ability is far beyond our comprehension.  We can ask things of God or think things of God, but God can do more than what we ask or think.

Paul adds that this which God is able to do is through his mighty power.  What Paul points out about this is that this is the same power that is at work within us.  God can do things beyond what we think or imagine.  This power that he has is the same power that is at work within us.  Wow, this power that is beyond what we think or ask is at work within us.  How crazy is that?

Paul ends giving glory to God.  Glory to him "throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen".  He gets all the glory and this spans generations and time.  God will continue to get the glory forever.  He is that great.

Ephesians 3:16-19

that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

-Ephesians 3:16-19

Paul is praying to God.  What does he pray for?  His prayer is "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being".  His is praying for his readers and his request is for God to strengthen them.  Now, this is somewhat vague.  It's difficult to tell what he means by this.  Moving on to verse 17, we see the reason for this request.  Hopefully, the reason will enlighten us to what Paul really means by his request.

So, what is the purpose?  The purpose is, "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith".  So, the strengthening is for the purpose of Christ dwelling in their hearts.  This is not the only reason.  Paul goes on to say (about his readers), "may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge".  The purpose seems to be that they may know the love of Christ.  I guess this means that God's strengthening is required in order that Christ may dwell in their hearts and that they may know the love of Christ.  This isn't such a simple matter either.  The love of Christ is described as surpassing knowledge.  How are we to know that which surpasses knowledge?  I can think of no other way than by God.  It is only by God that we are able to know that which surpasses knowledge.

What's really cool is how Paul describes this knowing of the love of Christ.  He doesn't just talk about their knowing of the love of Christ.  Paul goes on to pray that they may know the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ.  It's as if the love of Christ is given physical dimensions and to know it is to understand the different physical aspects of it.  Knowing the love of Christ is more complex than we'd think and this picture we are given helps us to understand that there are different aspects of the love of Christ to know and understand.  NLT uses the word "experience", putting it this way: "May you experience the love of Christ".  AMP puts it this way, "and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience]".  AMP and NLT seem to describe the experience of knowing the love of Christ.  I guess this means to say that there is a deeper or more full knowledge of the love of Christ that comes through experience.

There is one last thing that Paul says before he breaks out into his praise to God.  Paul says, "that you may be filled with all the fullness of God".  The purpose of all of this is the filling of all the fullness of God.  NLT puts it this way, "Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God".  I actually really like the way AMP puts it, "that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself]".  There is a goal to all of this and it sounds wonderful.  To have the richest experience of God's presence in our lives and to be completely filled and flooded with God himself sounds amazing.  This seems to be the goal of God's strengthening to enable us to know the love of Christ and have him dwell in our hearts.  It seems as if to say that he himself is ultimately all we need.

Ephesians 3:14-15

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

-Ephesians 3:14-15

This verse begins with the words, "For this reason".  This is the same as the beginning of this chapter.  Paul seems to be recalling back to the same thing he did at the beginning of the chapter.  I guess you could argue that it's pretty much what he's been talking about all along.  He is referring back to what he spoke about in chapter two about God saving us by grace through faith and breaking down the dividing wall of hostility by becoming our peace.  So, because of this, Paul prays to God on behalf of his readers.

Paul goes off on a bit of a tangent.  He is praying to the father, about whom he says "from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named".  NLT puts it this way, "the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth" and AMP puts it this way, "from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name [God—the first and ultimate Father]".  God is the father of us all.  He has created each and every one of us.  This is the one whom Paul prays to on behalf of his readers.