Eph 4:1-3 One Calling

# One Calling
## Ephesians 4:1-3

---

# What choices **define** me?

>>>
+ **choices** can define us:
+ choices we make for **ourselves**:
  + major, **career** path
  + **friends** we associate with
  + whom we **marry**
+ choices **others** make for us:
  + what our **parents** are like
  + how we were **raised**
  + **trauma** we experience
+ e.g. CS prof trans-gender
+ single most **defining** choice:
  + Jesus chose to **redeem** you!
+ how does His choice **transform** our lives?
  + how should it transform our **community**

+ What is God's **calling** for you?
  + How do we **live up** to it?
  + **vocation** = calling

---

## One Calling [(Eph4)](# "ref")
1. Worthy of the **Call** [(v1)](# "ref")
2. **Humility** and Gentleness [(v2a)](# "ref")
3. **Patience** and Bearing [(v2b)](# "ref")
4. **Unity** in the Spirit [(v3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 3 areas of application
+ but first: what is the call?

---

As a **prisoner** for the Lord, then

[Ephesians 4:1](# "ref")

>>>
+ context: Paul a **prisoner**?

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## Prisoner for the Lord

+ On behalf of **Gentiles** [(3:1)](# "ref")
  + (arrested in [Ac21](# "ref"))
+ Servant of **gospel** [(3:7)](# "ref")
+ Proclaim **mystery** in God [(3:9)](# "ref")

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![Rembrandt, Apostle Paul](https://sermons.seanho.com/img/fig/Rembrandt-Apostle_Paul-WGA19120.jpg)

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[Rembrandt, "Apostle Paul", ~1633 <br/> (Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna)](http://bilddatenbank.khm.at/viewArtefact?id=1514 "caption")

>>>
+ **prisoner**: bound, not free
  + house **arrest** bc Jews
+ to **proclaim** to us
  + **mystery** of God's calling
+ **what** is this mystery?

---

This **mystery** is that through the gospel

the Gentiles are **heirs together** with Israel, <br/>
**members together** of one body, and <br/>
**sharers together** in the promise in Christ Jesus.

[Ephesians 3:6 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Calling == Identity
+ Call: defn by Creator
+ cross ethnic/**cultural**/nation
  + **churched** vs unchurched
  + **successful** / "good" vs not
+ co-**heirs** (συνκληρονόμα)
  + co-**body** (σύσσωμα)
  + co-**sharers** (συμμέτοχα)
+ Already **done** in Christ!
  + bring us back to **ch4**:

---

I urge you to **live** a life **worthy** <br/>
of the **calling** you have received.

[Ephesians 4:1](# "ref")

>>>
+ Christ has **already** made us
  + **heirs**, body, share
+ **defined** who we are
+ now **walk** worthily
+ what was Paul's **prayer** for Ephesians?

---

I pray that you, <br/>
being **rooted** and established **in love**,

may have **power**, <br/>
together with **all** the Lord’s holy people, ...

[Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")
[Warsaw, Poland. FreeStocks](https://unsplash.com/photos/r_oV6smBBYk/info "caption")

>>>
+ Called to Love

---

... to **grasp** how wide and long <br/>
and high and deep is the **love of Christ**,

and to **know this love** <br/>
that surpasses knowledge --

that you may be **filled** to the measure <br/>
of all the fullness of God.

[Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Objective is **love** of Christ:
+ **Rooted** in love
+ **Empowered** in Spirit
+ **Attain** immensity Christ's love
  + Experiential **knowledge**
+ **Living** to the fullest: fulfil potential

---

# What is God's **calling**? <br/> What does it mean to <br/> live life to the **fullest**?

>>>
+ **job**, talent, hobbies, family?
  + Or defn by **Creator**?
+ Fullest: no **regrets**?
  + Explore / travel / experience?
  + **Help** others? How?
  + ↠ **love** of Christ

---

## One Calling [(Eph4)](# "ref")
1. Worthy of the *Call* [(v1)](# "ref")
2. **Humility and Gentleness** [(v2a)](# "ref")
3. *Patience* and Bearing [(v2b)](# "ref")
4. *Unity* in the Spirit [(v3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 2 pairs + unity

---

Be completely **humble** and **gentle**

[Ephesians 4:2a (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Humble: submit **thinking** / values to God
  + and to each other: [Phil 2:3](# "ref") [Eph 5:21](# "ref")
+ Gentle: **meek** is not weak!
  + inherit the earth [(Mt 5:5)](# "ref")
+ e.g., thoroughbred **horses**
  + power under **control**
+ learn from **Jesus** [(Mt 11:29)](# "ref")

---

Have this **mind** among yourselves, <br/>
which is yours in **Christ Jesus**,

who, though he was in the **form** of God, <br/>
did not count **equality** with God <br/>
a thing to be **grasped**,

but **emptied** himself, <br/>
by taking the form of a **servant**

[Philippians 2:5-7 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Joffre Lakes Trail, BC. Kevin Mueller](https://unsplash.com/photos/G7rLW02g3ZI "caption")

---

## What **thoughts** or **values** <br/> do I need to submit to God?

>>>
+ Have I ever been **sure** I was **right**, but I was actually **wrong**?

---

## One Calling [(Eph4)](# "ref")
1. Worthy of the *Call* [(v1)](# "ref")
2. *Humility* and Gentleness [(v2a)](# "ref")
3. **Patience and Bearing** [(v2b)](# "ref")
4. *Unity* in the Spirit [(v3)](# "ref")

---

be **patient**, **bearing** with one another in love.

[Ephesians 4:2b (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Be **patient**: large-turmoil (boiling)
+ Long-suffering: e.g., forgive debt

---

"Have **patience** with me, <br/>
and I will pay you everything."

"Should not you have had **mercy** on <br/>
your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?"

[Matthew 18:26,33 (ESV)](# "ref")
[udit saptarshi](https://unsplash.com/photos/mYT03hytMcU "caption")

>>>
+ owed 200k yrs wages ($Bs)
  + was owed 100d wages ($ks)

---

... **bearing** with one another in love

>>>
+ **Bearing** with one another in love:
  + endure, tolerate, put up with
+ dealing with stress
+ JJ jumping on my tummy, whining
+ sometimes just **not exploding** is a win

---

# How do I cope with **stress**?
# What if it's from **church**?

---

## One Calling [(Eph4)](# "ref")
1. Worthy of the *Call* [(v1)](# "ref")
2. *Humility* and Gentleness [(v2a)](# "ref")
3. *Patience* and Bearing [(v2b)](# "ref")
4. **Unity in the Spirit** [(v3)](# "ref")

---

Make every **effort** to keep <br/>
the **unity** of the Spirit <br/>
through the **bond of peace**.

>>>
+ **effort**: eager, hurry, zeal, take seriously
  + **keep**: guard, treasure, protect
+ unity of **Spirit**:
  + those in **power** misuse unity
  + to justify **abuse** of power
+ Christ **defines** our unity
  + not friend with **world** (Jam)
+ **bond**: fetter, cf v1 prisoner in Lord
  + not **free** to do own thing
  + constrained for sake of **peace**

---

... the **bond** of peace

>>>
+ church aunties: curtains
  + vs sound equip

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# Am I **zealous** for <br/> the unity of the Spirit?

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