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NASB | Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 4:1 So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior--a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], |
Bible Question:
Yesterday Hank asked the question about denominations. See "The River of No Return". We all had a chance to answer in our own wisdom. Now let me ask a follow up. How do you think Jesus feels about denominations and the various disputes within the church? |
Bible Answer: First of all, Jesus prayed in John 17 that we, the church, would be one as He and the Father were one. Ephesians 4 also commands us to be unified as one body. All parts are necessary and need to work together if the unity that Jesus prayed for is to be realized. The visual response I have in answer to your question is from an old Tarzan movie where the natives tied a man to a pair of crossed palm trees that were pulled down to the ground and secured with ropes. WHen the ropes were cut, the trees flew up and apart as did the body of the man. Disputes and disharmony within the church is likened to this kind of torture. We are Christ's body and we are tearing it apart by our squabbling and lack of love for one another! (And the devil leaps for joy when we behave this way.) |