As I read through the incredible passage in Ephesians 3: 14-chapter 4, verse 3, it ‘takes my breath away’ to consider the freedom in Christ portrayed here:
Paul says: “When I think of all this, He is referring back to his statements in chapter 2 where he says that as a prisoner for Christ he was given the privilege of being a minister of the Gospel…to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ that the wisdom of God would be known through Christ--through whom he had access with confidence to preach! As a prisoner he had freedom to preach! He says, “I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. NLT
Paul begs us to lead a life worthy of our calling—that calling?-- to preach the unsearchable riches in Christ ! In order to preach these riches, Paul had to experience them and that is what brought his FREEDOM! We cannot share with freedom what we have not experienced. If we do not know his love we cannot preach it. His love will be demonstrated in our lives through our humility and gentleness, our patience with each other and making allowances for each others faults because of the love He has placed in our hearts. We become other-centered rather than self-centered in our actions and attitudes; because as Paul goes on to say in verse 22 of chapter 4—that as we learn the truth that brings freedom in Jesus to, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. NLT
What greater freedom can we experience than that of putting on the new nature of Christ! What a true gift of grace He’s given us! Praise HIM!
