“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” Ephesians 4:1
“He didn’t beg for money, though, but for people to follow Christ”. I'm not certain that "beg" is the best translation of the word here. Parakalew is the same word that is used of what the Spirit of God does in our lives in ministry. He comes alongside to help us. He urges us, He encourages, He perhaps beseeches, but I am not certain at all that begging is not a stretch. Perhaps it is simply that the word "beg" has a negative connotation in our minds, but I think we are better with the way that the more literal translations have given the verse to us. I don't think that Paul is begging them, rather that he is urging them in the strongest terms. He is indeed "pleading with them", but in the sense that a preacher or a prophet would plead, not in the sense that a beggar would do so. I don't believe this to be matter of ego or a case of being unwilling to humble self. I just don't believe the word goes there.
“Paul pleaded with many people”. But the word used in this passage is a different Greek word than that which is used in Ephesians 4:1. This word does indeed mean to implore or beg. It is never used of the Spirit's ministry. It is, on the other hand, used of our prayers to God, seeking blessing from Him. The idea contained here is a totally different idea from a totally different word and it is not fair to tie the two words together.
Further, Paul is speaking, on the one hand, to an unbeliever, concerning his salvation; and on the other, to a group of redeemed forlks, concerning their King. That makes a big difference.
“I urge you therefore, brethren…” This is, indeed a use of the same word as was used in Ephesians 4:1. We would simply note that there is more of a sense of strong exhortation here than there is a sense of begging.
“We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God”. Though this passage carries with it the sense of grief and a clear atmosphere of begging, we would note that it is not the same word as is used in Ephesians 4:1, but rather the word used in Acts 26 in reference to Paul before Agrippa. In the matter concerning the Corinthians Paul was surely not hesitant to beg the them to submit themselves to God.
“When Paul was committed to some principle of divine truth, he implored people to respond. He didn’t approach the ministry with detachment or indifference.” The above aside, there is no question that our approach to the presentation of the Gospel must, simply must be one that is one of passion and enthusiasm. It must be one that is not a matter of ritual and matter of fact dryness and every-day course. We must communicate the reality of what God has done in our lives and be sure that those to whom God has lead us and given us the privilege of bearing witness clearly see that God is both real and One to be reckoned with. We cannot, as the world does, leave it with them as a matter of opinion, up to them.
“…walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” Again we note that this is written to believers. Paul called to the redeemed as well as to the lost. You and I need this call as often as the unredeemed do. Surely it is a different call, with very different content to be sure, but we need it none-the-less. It is all to easy to put things on autopilot. We need God to startle us and to jar us into self-examination and being certain that the passion for Christ that ought to be there, really IS there!
“Because when you don’t walk worthy, God is not glorified in your life, you are not fully blessed, the church cannot fully function, and therefore the world cannot see Jesus Christ for who He is.” This four-part chain is really a cycle. God is glorified - I am blessed - the church functions - Christ (God) is seen to be Who He truly is and thus God is glorified. and that strats the chain over again. All of that cycle rests upon the "working worthy" that Paul mentions. Now we have to remember that this is not an idolated verse or we end up with a works salvation and a works sanctification. We are able to "walk worthy" because we are redeemed and God has effected a change in us. Our nature is different. We were inextricably chained to sin and dishonoring God; now we are not. Now we desire to please Him.
That in turn rests on the redemption that was accomplished, finished completely at the Cross of Calvary. All of this was developed fully, doctrinally in chapters 1-3 of Ephesians. That's what the "Therefore" in 4:1 is there for. It ties the doctrine of Chapters 1-3 to the practical application of Chapters 4-6. But we cannot forget the truths of chapters 1-3 are always there holding up these practical applications as their foundation.
And so the cycle takes its' course and we glorify God, are blessed, the organic church functions as God intended, and there world sees Christ for Who He really is and thus gives glory to God. If we do not "walk worthily" - that chain breaks down.
“…it is our desire to be like Christ that compels us toward righteousness.” Calvinists are, many times, accused of preaching a Christianity that divorces spiritual hard work from Christian Living. We get accused of saying that spirituality somehow comes automatically and other silly things. Actually, nothing is further from the truth.
What we are guilty of is teaching that spirituality is not a matter of our own merit or goodness, now or ever. However, we must work hard and put the time and the effort in in order to produce the "effect" of spirituality. It does not produce itself. The Word of God is very clear that we must pursue God and that this is matter of hard and diligent, continual work on the part of the believer. What the Calvinist is very careful to continually keep at center in his vision is that too is a result of the work of the Spirit of God alone and not of his own effort.
So while it is our desire to be like Christ that compels us toward righteousness, as Dr. MacArthur has very ably taught elsewhere, that very desire is, itself, a function of redemption that has been built into us by the work of God. We are doing what God has enabled us to do and must be careful to remember and also keep that in the front of our minds, lest, sadly, as many of our Baptist friends and brethren have, we become prideful and even arrogant in the accomplishment of spirituality. What we have done is done because, and only because of the gracious and merciful work of a loving Lord. Humility can be the only response.
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[1] This year I am often using MacArthur’s devotional “Strength for Today” as a starting point for my comments. Quotes from MacArthur’s Devotional are in boldface.
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