Jean-Luc Vilcot opens this message with a striking image: Paul introduces himself as "a prisoner of the Lord." Not a prisoner of Rome. Not a prisoner of circumstances. A prisoner of Christ alone. What if you swapped Paul's name for yours? "Prisoner of the Lord", is that really true of you? Are there objects, hobbies, or possessions that still hold you captive? That question opens up an exhortation running through all of Ephesians 4:1-6: to walk worthy of your calling, to keep the unity of the Spirit, and to reflect, among believers, the very unity of the Trinity.
Article outline
- A prisoner of the Lord, and of no one else
- Walking worthy of your calling
- Four attitudes for keeping unity
- A unity that mirrors the Trinity
1. A prisoner of the Lord, and of no one else
Paul writes from prison and refuses to be defined by his jailers. Earthly authorities may have locked him up, fine, but his true Master is the Lord. He is a prisoner of Christ, and of no one else.
Jean-Luc Vilcot invites you to try this simple exercise: put your own name where "Paul" appears. "[Your name], a prisoner of the Lord." That sentence stings a little. What are you still a prisoner of? A hobby? A possession? A status? A habit? The believer has only one Master, and that is Christ.
2. Walking worthy of your calling
Paul continues: "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called" (Ephesians 4:1). This calling reminds you that God called you according to his own purpose. You belong to the community of believers in Christ. You are a member of the body that is the Church.
The verb is simple: walk. But not just any kind of walk. Walk worthily. That walk shows up in actions, attitudes, and behavior that match the calling you received. The question gets personal: does the way you live (at home, at work, in church), line up with what God has called you to?
3. Four attitudes for keeping unity
Ephesians 4:2-3 lists four crucial attitudes, without which you won't be able to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: humility, gentleness, bearing with one another, and love.
Humility
Humility is what defined the Lord himself. In Philippians 2:5-9, Paul describes the one who, "existing in the form of God, didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant... he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross." The Lord of lords agreed to become a mere man.
For you, humility means considering your brother or sister more important than yourself. It proves itself through obedience: are you willing to give up or correct something for your brother's good, if the Lord asks you to? The foundation of humility is putting the other person ahead of your own interests.
Gentleness
Gentleness is a quality this world is losing. How do you react to a remark, a warning, a piece of advice, or to something in someone else that deeply irritates you? Gentleness is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). It shows up in your words, but even more in the tone of your words. A lack of gentleness can weaken fellowship. Gentleness also touches your self-control and your behavior. Colossians 3:12 reminds us: "Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance." That's quite a program, and it starts now: how are you going to speak to your brother, your sister, your spouse, your children?
Bearing with one another
If you've dealt with your lack of humility and gentleness, it will be easier to bear with one another. To bear with disagreements, different opinions, poor attitudes, people who don't do exactly what you'd like. When you're irritated with a brother or sister, remember all the times you've irritated your own Lord through your sin.
Bearing with one another doesn't mean gossiping about what bothered you in someone else's attitude. It means loving the other person by carrying them. If you've been hurt, there's a biblical path: Matthew 18:15 invites you to go to your brother privately, one on one, but always in a spirit of love.
Love for one another
Your love is what will show the world that you are a disciple of Jesus (John 13:35). Love is also what proves you're a child of God: "In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn't do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn't love his brother" (1 John 3:10). Love is the foundation that builds your humility, your gentleness, and your desire for unity.
4. A unity that mirrors the Trinity
In verses 3 through 6, Paul hammers home one little word: one. One body, one Spirit, one Lord, one God and Father. Because you share the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God, you are called to be united with other believers just as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one.
John 17:20-23 is a passage that stirs you every time you read it. Jesus prays: "Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me... that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me."
The unity Jesus asks for isn't decorative. It's the witness. Just as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one, you are called to be united with God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), and to be united with your brother, with your sister. This double unity is the Lord's own desire.
Key takeaways
- You have only one Master: the Lord. Check what else still holds you captive.
- Walking worthy of your calling means aligning your daily life with the call you received.
- Four attitudes make unity possible: humility, gentleness, bearing with one another, love.
- Christian humility follows Christ's own model (Philippians 2): putting others ahead of yourself.
- Unity among believers should reflect the very unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Personal application
- What are you still a prisoner of today, apart from Christ?
- Which of the four attitudes (humility, gentleness, bearing with others, love) do you most need to grow in?
- Is there a brother or sister you need to restore fellowship with this week?
- How does your tone of voice, at home or at church, reflect the gentleness of Christ?
- Are you willing to give something up to preserve unity, if the Lord asks you to?
Verses cited
- Ephesians 4:1-6
- Philippians 2:5-9
- Galatians 5:22-23
- Colossians 3:12
- Matthew 18:15
- John 13:35
- 1 John 3:10
- John 17:20-23
FAQ
What does "a prisoner of the Lord" mean in Ephesians 4:1?
Paul refuses to credit his imprisonment to Rome. He reminds us he belongs to Christ alone. For you, this raises the question of everything else you're still held captive by: hobbies, possessions, status, habits.
What are the four attitudes for keeping unity according to Ephesians 4:2?
Humility, gentleness, bearing with one another, and love. These attitudes make possible the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace mentioned in verse 3.
How should the Church's unity resemble the Trinity?
In John 17:20-23, Jesus prays that his disciples would be one just as the Father and the Son are one. Unity among believers isn't a human organization, it's a reflection of God's own life, and it's what testifies to the world.
Never miss a sermon from Église Protestante Évangélique Calvary Chapel Paris
A clear summary of every new message, delivered to you.
to take notes and ask questions.