In our message, ENDEAVORING TO KEEP GOD’S UNITY (Eph. 4:1-10), we moved from doctrine to our walk with Christ. Ultimately, what we believe determines how we will behave.
The Bible says here, “Therefore…”- that is in view of all that has been said in Ephesians chapters 1 through 3, God begs us “to walk worthy” of Him and His kingdom (Eph. 4:1; Rom. 12:1-2, etc.). The word “worthy” in the Greek is axiōs, and means ‘equal weight.’ In view of God’s matchless indescribable grace, one’s calling and conduct should be in balance (Eph. 1:6-7; 2:1, 5, 7-9; 3:2, 7, 8, 18-19; 1 John 4:19, etc.).
The first way to do this is to make every effort, (that is, ENDEAVOR) “to keep the unity of the Spirit” among Christians (Eph. 4:2-3). If we let Christ call the shots in our lives (i.e. BE AT HOME IN our hearts) then we will have the “lowliness, gentleness… longsuffering…” of Jesus to work toward that end (Eph. 3:17, 20-21; 4:2-3; Phil. 2:1-4; Rom. 12:18, etc.). Not only does being “one” with each other answer Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17:21 helping “the world [to] believe” in Him, our text also shows us it is true because Christians are part of “one body, one Spirit… one hope… one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [and] one God and Father” (Eph. 4:4-6; John 3:16-18; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:22; John 14:15-18; 1:13-14; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18; Jude 3; 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 6:1-4; Matt. 28:18-20; John 1:18; 6:27; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 8:6; 15:24, etc.).
To help preserve this unity God has already given us, Christ also bestows various gifts “to each one of us” (Eph. 4:7). As the victorious King who conquered sin and death and broke the stronghold of the devil, the resurrected Jesus gave “gifts to men,” and these gifts are to be used keeping “the unity of the Spirit” within His body, the church (Eph. 4:3, 8-10; Ps. 68:18; 1 Pet. 3:9; Phil 2:10-11; Heb. 2:14-16; Titus 2:15; Rom. 12:5-8; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; James 3:17; Heb. 12:14, etc.).