The Result of our Calling is godliness.
Part one - Humility
By Nick Bibile
Ephesians 4:1-2
On Ephesians chapter 1-3 we see Paul build a strong foundation of theology, then on that foundation of theology he is building from chapter 4 the practical lifestyle of the Christian.
It is very important for us to know the theology and the practical implications. There are lot of Christians who would like to learn only theology and they major on theology and when it comes to practical issues where Paul is talking here on Ephesians chapter 4 they say, we know all that and that’s not important. This is very wrong. Doctrine without practice leads to bitter orthodoxy, head knowledge while the heart is not changed. James said, be doers of the word not hearers only.
Then on the other side of the coin there are the others who want to excel in practical issues of life only, they don’t care about theology. Practice without doctrine leads to aberrations and gives a good feeling but leads in the wrong direction which is very dangerous for the soul.
That’s why we need to teach the whole counsel of God not according to denominational opinions or according to our opinion but according to God’s truth, which means even if we don’t understand and does not make logic according to our standard we need to tell the truth as it is, as God is above logic.
Now let’s begin with Chapter 4:1-2
Verse 1) I therefore,
being prisoner in the Lord, pray you that ye walk worthy of the vocation
whereunto ye are called,
Verse 2) With all humbleness of mind, and meekness, with long
suffering, supporting one another through love.
Verse 1) I therefore,
being prisoner in the Lord
Paul
a prisoner of the Lord.
How is it to be a prisoner of the Lord? What does it mean? Prisoners suffer in
the flesh. It means Paul’s suffering for Christ being a prisoner. Is it a good thing to suffer for Christ? It
is a glorious thing to suffer for Christ. The martyrdom of
saints his more glorious than all the fleshly pleasures of life. The true Christians in God’s service will
suffer in this earth for the sake of God. Sometimes it may look as if God has
abandoned us and left for the devil and this world to persecute us. Sometimes
we may even taste death in suffering. But the word of God gives comfort to us when
we suffer, we know when we suffer in Christ he really loves us and nothing can
separate us from the love of Christ, yes even suffering.
Ro
36 As it is written, For
thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
Verse
1) pray you that ye walk
worthy of the vocation whereunto ye are called.
What do you mean
by vocation? In today’s English it means
an occupation which you are trained a people doing the same kind of work. But
according to the Webster’s Dictionary 1913 it meant a calling, a summons. It is our divine invitation, divine calling
from God. We were by nature the children of the devil, we are dead in sin, (Eph
2:3) lost on our way to hell then God in his mercy and grace called us to
worship and serve him.
Apostle Paul is urging
the believers that we need to walk worthy of our calling. The word walk means
to conduct our life, behave and to live worthy or to live godly. If we are
called by God to him then we would not be living like unbelievers but we will
live a godly life pleasing to him as we are called by God to him. The result of our calling is godliness. It
means to live in obedience to God. We
are called to be saints. Meaning the opposite of a worldly
life, but to live a holy life.
1Co 1:2 Unto the
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called
us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his
own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began.
We are called out
of the world from the fellowship of the world to the fellowship of Christ. That
we would not compromise in participating the ways of the world. Specially this
Christmas season I wonder how many who are called Christians followed the ways
of the world and walked according to the flesh instead of the walking by the
spirit of God. Well, if you don’t compromise with the world the world will hate
you. Many will say, I want peace not problems the easy
way to get out so they get into their flesh and walk according to their
convenience instead of being obedient to God.
Joh
Joh
God did not call
us for convenience but for obedience of his will. We need to pick up the cross deny our self
and follow him. Instead of conforming to
the world we need to be a light to the world, that our behavior and conduct
will be godly and Christ like. But the hypocrites have two faces, two behaviors
one a godly behavior in the church and then a worldly behavior when they are in
the world.
Verse 2) With all humbleness of mind.
Here we see the
fruit of our calling, the fruit of salvation, the
godly life. John Calvin said, “humility is the foundation of whole Christian character.”
This is absolutely true. The first thing that happens when God calls us to him
is that we become humbled.
Genesis 18:27
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now,
I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes.
Isaiah 6:5
When Isaiah saw the LORD he said, 5 Then said
I, Woe is me! for I am undoneb;
because I am
a man
of unclean
lips, and I dwell in the midst
of a people
of unclean
lips:
for mine eyes have seen the King,
the LORD
of hosts. (Isaiah 6:5)
The
opposite of humility is high, lofty, pride and arrogant.
Humility comes from
the result of salvation.
If salvation was by human works and I had
something in my power to come to Christ then there is something
to boast and be proud of myself. But the Bible says the opposite.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man
should boast.
When God called us
and we did not deserve to be called to him we see utter unworthiness in us as
we are brought to low.
Luke
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would
not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast,
saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I
tell
you,
this man went down to his
house justified rather than
the other:
for
every one that exalteth
himself
shall be abased;
and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted.
If the Lord ask you “Ask what shall I give you?” What will
you say? “Give me a lot of money, a beautiful home, etc., God asked this
question from king Solomon and Solomon said, you have chosen a great people too
numerous to be numbered and counted, give me understanding how to discern right
from wrong. This is having a lowliness
of mind.
We need to understand there is nothing of ourselves, the only thing that
we have is sin. But righteousness comes from Christ Jesus who have charged to us, so we become humbled.
True humility is
not an act or pretend to be humble, speaking softly
and showing an outward love but full of pride inside. This humility comes from
a regenerated heart, a born again Christian, the new man in Christ Jesus.
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith,
God resisteth the proud, but giveth
grace unto the humble.
Humility is realizing
who we are, lowliness of mind.
Exodus 3:11
11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I,
that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of
1 Samuel 18:18
18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in
Jeremiah 1:6
6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Luke 1:43
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
John 3:30
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Humility is the
lowliness of mind. It is an absence of our own powers and willing to give up
our rights and taking up a lower position.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example as he gave up his hig position in heaven and came down to this earth and took
a low position for the sake of us, this is humility. This is the mother of all
Christian character.
Ac
Php 2:3 Let nothing
be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but
every man also on the things of others.
There is this
story in
The Christian
farmer prayed and went the following day and first pumped water to his neighbors field and then he pumped water to his field on top
of his neighbors field. And from that day his water stayed in the field but he
had to labor more as he had took care of his neighbors
field too. Then in time the neighbor made inquiries and was stunned by the
behavior of the Christian. The neighbor was convicted of his sins and saw the
godly behavior of the Christian and the neighbor became a Christian.
Humility is
refusing to insist our rights and putting our neighbor’s interest before our
own. When we have food in front of us
are you the first one to fill up your belly don’t care what is left for your
neighbor? You are more interested of your needs than your neighbor. This is not
Christianity. John Calvin said, “all the weapons of impiety must be bruised, broken and burnt
in the fire.” We should beat our pride daily.
There is so much
pride and greediness and coveteousness in the church
today. When some Christian leaders when to have lunch in restaurant, everyone
ordered from the menu what they can afford thinking they have to pay out of
their own money. But when the lunch was finished and the waiter brought the
bill one person said don’t worry I have already paid the bill. Then some said, if we knew that we would have ordered the more expensive foods.
It may sound like a joke but it is truly
thinking of self not of the neighbor, this is not humility. We should not think of our belly first but of
our neighbor first. Humility shines when you treat your neighbor first before
you.
Humility is
submission to God’s word.
Luke 10:39
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also
sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
Humility is submitting to one
another.
1 Peter 5:5
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject
one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth
the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
God will not hear the proud.
Isaiah 57:15
15 For thus saith
the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him
also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of
the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Ten virgins professed to be followers of Christ. Of this number, five
only were real Christians. How many years have you slept in God’s vineyard? And
still you continue on sleeping. It is high time to awake, for all who do not
awake in time, will suddenly awake in hell. There is great danger of being
deceived and thus only dreaming of heaven. (Asahel Nettleton)
Do you want a true blessing, then let me read
what the Lord said.
"But He said, 'Yea rather, blessed are they
which
hear the word of God, and
keep it.' " Luke 11:28