The Reign of Love in the New Community

MEMORY SELECTION: “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us.” —Ephesians 5:1,2

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:15, 16, 25 – 5:2

THE Apostle Paul points out that provision had been made for the Lord’s people along the lines of their spiritual growth and maturity by supplying apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. (4:11) This was consistent with the overall effectiveness of the unity and growth of the body of Christ. There has always been a particular need to strive for unity within the bonds of Christian liberty and fellowship, i.e., one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.—vs. 4

The development of love is a most important element in the character of the Christian. “But speaking the truth in love, [we] may grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”—vss. 15,16

He exhorts the followers of Jesus to greater holiness and love and urges that all filthiness of the flesh and other unrighteousness be put away. “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.”—vs. 25

We are together prospective members of that mystical body of Christ, and each one has a responsibility to work out his own salvation as well as to build one another up in the most holy faith.—Phil. 2:12; Jude 20

Paul directs his admonition toward the Lord’s people who are striving to walk in newness of life. “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (vss. 26-29) What sound counseling indeed!

“Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (vs. 30) The exhortation is in connection with the Spirit, or mind, of God becoming our own spirit, or mind. This is accomplished in proportion to the giving up of our human wills. We submit our lives and all things to the will of our Heavenly Father. We must permit the same mind to be in us that was in Christ Jesus. This is the disposition of complete consecration to God.

Therefore the mind of the new creature becomes more and more directed by the mind of God. Paul points out that we should do nothing which would be in violation of our covenant of sacrifice. “Grieve not the Spirit” suggests that we do nothing to cause grief or violation to our new minds. As new creatures in Christ we must be on guard lest we wound our consciences.

This determination, in turn, leads to our “seal” of divine sonship. To be “sealed” signifies that we are identified by certain distinguishing characteristics. Evidence of our growth as new creatures in Christ Jesus may be noted in our thoughts, words, and deeds. These evidences become more distinct as we grow in grace, knowledge, and love.

The Apostle counsels us further to “let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake bath forgiven you.” (vss. 31,32) As we grow in the likeness of the Master, these traits will be more and more in evidence.

We are then (5:1) admonished to follow God and his ways of truth and righteousness. And this we are urged to do as “dear children.” A child is sincere and humble and eager to please his father. When discipline is necessary and a child learns the needed lesson, true progress has been made.

Lastly, we are to “walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”—5:2

| Home Page | Table of Contents |