Ephesians 4-6Eph 4:1-3 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
If we look in the above verses carefully, Paul introduces himself as Prisoner for Christ. This term is a common phrase similar like Bride of the Lamb, Servant of God, Body of Christ, and Church of God.
What does it mean to be a prisoner? Or A Prisoner for Christ!
Greek words:
Prisoner: desmios {des'-mee-os}
Meaning: in bonds, a captive, a prisoner
Lord: kurios {koo'-ree-os}
Meaning: 1) he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord 1a) the possessor and disposer of a thing 1a1) the owner; one who has control of the person, the master 1a2) in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor 1b) is a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants salute their master 1c) this title is given to: God, the Messiah
If we try to understand these words, one thing is sure that a prisoner is a person who is under the bond of a Master or Law. A prisoner is kept under bondage, which is a prison. And no one ends up there unless they have done something wrong. They have to be lawbreakers or ungovernable person. For which they are now been cut off from the general public and being kept in a cell until the time of there punishments ends. These people are disciplined to work and oppressed more so that they may reap full punishment for the crimes they have sowed.
But let me ask you guys a question, Has Christ called us to be like the people or person described above? No absolutely not. Even though some apostle and disciples were put in prison, but they went through this trails for the sake of the Gospel and for the love of Jesus Christ. In the same way we also are imprisoned in the love of Christ to be transformed into a New Creation and to be like him. He purchased us from the darkness by paying his precious blood on the cross, so that we may become light to others. And also to establish us on the Rock which is Christ himself by pulling us all from the miry clay. As per Paul in Eph 4:1-2, we are prisoners of Christ, yet captured and bound by his love to do good. Even in the midst of hardship and trials let us allow the Holy Spirit to disciple and prune us in the following sectors of our lives, such as gentleness, longsuffering, patience, self-control and bear one another in love.
In conclusion, as the Word of God tells us, in Eph 4:17-24 “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
By: SG