The rest Ephesians 4:2 concludes with two little words: “in love.” F.F. Bruce writes of the force of the preposition “in” here. He concludes that it is the governing sphere of the entire concept—what he calls the commitative use.[1] The Lord is telling us that while picking up humility and are patient with one another, to be committed to the principle of LOVE. “Love” (the original word is agape) is not erotic love. Nor is not the kind of love you might have for your brother or your sister. It is a selfless let it roll off your back, “I’m going to love you no matter what” kind of love. It is love based on your character, not someone else’s. It is a love that says, “I’m going to love you because I am a lover; it doesn’t matter what you are, but I am a person who loves. I am committed to the principle of love.”
Be committed to the principle of L O V E !
It is the only way to be humble and patient with one another on a consistent basis.
Jay gasping! “Phew. Humility and patience. Okay Lord. I hear You.”
God interjecting: “Jay, there’s just one more thing.
Jay, incredulous: “One MORE thing?”
God: Yes. It’s just something I want you to hold on to and continue to carry along the way. It’s harmonious unity.”
Ephesians 4:3
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
If we are careful to notice, unity is something the Ephesian church already had—they had it and the Lord was asking them to keep it. Unity is the expected result of our salvation—once you realize you’ve been called by God, elected, invited to the greatest marriage reception in all the universe, to have eternal life forever, to enter the Kingdom of God through the riches of His grace, blessing, and mercy—the natural thing is to be unified with other people who are also called.
Imagine a later conversation after your phone call from God:
Jay: “Hey Greg, guess who called me yesterday?
Greg: “I give up. Who?”
Jay: “God did. You know, the Lord, God, the almighty creator and sustainer of the universe.”
Greg: “Who are you kidding? Are you feeling okay?”
With those who haven’t been called, there is a natural separation. It is a separation even reflected in our values. They just don’t understand. But imagine this chat the next day.
Greg, yelling across the parking lot: “Hey, Jay! Guess who called ME last night?”
Jay, somewhat defensive: “Look, dude. Don’t mess with me.”
Greg: “No, really. God called me! I accepted His invitation to believe in Jesus as my personal savior from sin! I too have been challenged to live through a re-prioritization of my values.”
Jay: “That’s fantastic! We’ll be in heaven together forever!”
Together, with a high five: “Whoa!”
That’s unity. Strive to keep that unity through the excitement of knowing you all have been called by God.
Now, how can you do this? By being committed to a value principle just as before. Again F.F. Bruce helps us out. Once again, the same preposition at the end of verse 3 is used commitatively.
[1] You can read his analysis in The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians, The New international Commentary on the New Testament, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, 1984, p. 334, and especially note 6.
