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Ephesians 4
After discussing the reality of the wonderful resources a believer attained through salvation, and the amazing revelation of the mystery , which is Christ’s body on earth “the Church “, and its power and its ministry in the 1st half of the book of Ephesians, in the 2nd half, Apostle Paul gives instructions to the believers on how to conduct their lives on earth in conformity with what is discussed in the 1st half. In other words, the first 3 chapters are the doctrine, and the last 3 chapters are application of the doctrine in a believer’s life.
Chapter 4 Vs. 1 starts with the statement, “I, therefore,”. This referees to the previously established truths. The position of a believer indicated in the earlier chapters are the reasons why a believer should conduct his life in the manner prescribed by God. A believer’s life in this world is “spiritual life wrapped inside a physical body”. As long as we are in the physical body, we will demonstrate the deeds of the flesh. God has designed our lives in such a way that those who fear God are able to serve Him with his infirmities with the help of the wonderful comforter the Spirit of God. As we go through the struggles and challenges of our lives on earth in a physical body, we get the opportunity to recognize the progress of our spiritual growth. In that process we will become useful vessels for those who are around us; our families, our church, our workplace and in all areas of our lives. Thus, we become part of the furtherance of the Gospel. This is the will of God concerning to a believer.
The first half of Ephesians affirms our spiritual identity. God choose us before the foundation of the world, saved us through His son’s finished work on the cross, justified us, sanctified us, given us His Spirit to reside in us as a guarantee of our inheritance. Salvation was predetermined by God and predestined for those who are called /elected. God’s power and sovereignty is revealed through His creating work. He created man in His own image. He has provided for man’s salvation as well and through which He has created a new man inside of us. When we are in Christ, we have become a new creature (2nd Corinthians 5:17). Each one of us were called in eternity past for our fruitful life on earth and for eternity future. Our exterior has to be trained and molded by our effective participation in God’s plan for us. (Romans 8:29). The believer’s life is a life worth to live. Saved by God, which means the Holy Spirit is resident in us and the word of God is in our hearts through the disciplined reading and meditation. Our life on earth should be in conformity with the call we have received. We are called Children of God. Galatians 4:6 -We have God’s Spirit in us, so we call God ‘Abba Father “. The one who called us is God Himself.
We are the recipients of all the heavenly blessings. In Ephesians 1:11 we read “He works all things according to the counsel of His will”. We are not regenerated by our own will neither by the will of the flesh (John 1: 13). Salvation is given to us by the will of God through His great calling and that which is completed by the death of His son and our Savior Jesus Christ. His coming to the world, death and resurrection was indeed necessary to take care of the sin issue as well as to demonstrate God’s righteousness (Hebrews 2:10). He saved us from our sins and gave us all spiritual things for life and godliness (2nd Peter 1: 3). Only the children of God have free will and the ability to exercise it. Our will become effective upon our conversion. Now since we have the will, we can choose to sin or choose not to. Before regeneration, we did not have that capacity. We were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesian 2:1-3). So, we sinned because we were sinners to begin with. The faith which is planted by God into our hearts initiated our will to believe in God through the hearing of the word. A child of God must understand that he become God’s child by God’s calling. John 15:16 says “you did not choose Me, but I chose you so that you might go and bear fruit.” Also, in John 10:27 the Lord says, “My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” Those who are called by God will hear His voice. We were sheep of his flock. When we heard his voice (the word of God) we recognized him. Psalm 65:4 ‘Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach you. That he may dwell in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of your holy temple”
Now, since we know that it is God who called us, we must “walk worthy of the calling with which we are called” Ephesians 4:2. We do not walk on human standards anymore.
There are several questions to be addressed here. A believer needs to have both passive and active attitude. We should be passive in understanding and resting upon the salvation given by God and in the meantime must be active in terms of our walk in this world which will produce sanctification in our own lives as well as to help others to turn to God. A worthy walk in conformity with the plan of God will be the path to our sanctification. We didn’t have to do anything to get saved (passive) but once we are a child of God, we have to be (active) in the sanctification process and to be conformed to His Son’s image in order to be fruitful in the ministry we are entrusted to. Ephesians 2:8-10.
How do we walk? What is this worthy walk?
It is a walk that is foreign to this world. World doesn’t understand the worthiness of this walk.
The walk of the world is called “the Gentile walk” Ephesians 4:17-19. They walk in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness”
Apostle Paul explained the gentile’s walk in graphic details in the book of Romans 1: 18-31 as well. Further explanation on the nature of the Gentile and their helpless condition is given in Romans 3: 9-18
The believer’s walk is a heavenly walk. What are the characteristics of this heavenly walk?
Those who are born of God must practice a worthy walk. It proves his relationship with his savior and his inner thrive to serve his Master, the Lord and the Savior Jesus Christ.
There are 5 key Characteristics of a worthy walk. They are progressive
- Lowliness:
Being lowly is a very difficult thing for human beings to handle.
“it is the state of mind with humility and service attitude towards others “
It is considering others greater than oneself (Philippines 2:5-8)
It is the removal of pride from us and fill with the Goodness of God.
Men always want praise and honor. Some people do things to get praise from others. If they are not praised, they get very irritated. They feel they have the right to be proud of themselves. God hates proud people. As a matter of fact, pride is the one thing made lucifer to fall. “I will. I will. I will “Isaiah 14:13-14 God wants us to be lowly. Jesus Christ was the perfect example of a lowly one on earth. He humbled himself and suffered on earth to satisfy the will of the Father and for our sake. His aim was not his glory but the Glory of the one who sent Him. If we show lowliness, the world will not accept us. They will think we are a strange group of people. They will call us losers. All the worldly music is focused on selfishness and pride. The theme is self-glory. People are deceived by these popular movie stars, sport stars and tv stars. But a child of God needs to be different. We have the raw material within us for lowliness. We need to utilize it. Through the faith we are children of God and by the understanding appropriating his word, we are sure we are more than conquerors. Romans 8:31-39. We also take pleasure in fulfilling the will of God being lowly in this world for a future glory. Lowliness is our inward change and it is heart’s decision and transformation to serve our master
- Gentleness/meekness:
It is our outward expression. Only a lowly person can be meek to others. It is power under control. Our reaction to other people’s action is the measuring point of our meekness. The situations around us or the people around us can hurt our feelings. But we cannot react on it. We need to consider those as our trials, and we need to rejoice in those circumstances and praise God for enabling us to go through them. We need such moments to understand that God is above all and He is in control. It builds our faith tested through trials. People around us are our ministry field. No matter what the outcome is, we need to be Kind to others. “Be kind to one another “Vs 32.
Mathew 11:29 “take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your heart”. What an example for us to follow. Jesus Christ -the creator God says he is meek. That is true. He has emptied himself and came down to this world and suffered from his own creation. He is the perfect example. He was fully God and fully man. If we want to see a meek and lowly God, look at Christ and if you want to see a meek and lowly man, look at Jesus Christ.
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- Long suffering: Understand that there is trails and troubles in Christian life. James 1:2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
We have placed our hand on the yoke and cannot look back. We must be ready and willing to suffer the consequences of it. It is difficult to live a true Christian life in this world. We have to suffer for our own issues and issues created by people around us with all patience and long suffering. We sometime get blamed for the things we haven’t done. We need to stand up with courage regardless of the issue. Hebrews- 12:12 “Therefore, strengthen the hands which is hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight path for your feet, so that what is lame not be dislocated, but rather be healed”.
A believer is the master’s servant. Our suffering in the world will continue until our call to him or his coming. We have nothing to claim. Our attitude should be the attitude of a servant as indicated in Luke 17:10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’
- Bearing with one another in love
In Greek Love is defined in 3 ways
- Eros- this type of love is selfish love. Loving someone to fulfil the desires. Physical/sexual attraction. No consideration of anything other than fulfil the desires
- Philo- This love is mutual both are benefited. They love because both take advantage of each other
- Agape- This is the true love. Love unconditionally. Love someone who doesn’t deserve to be loved. “love your enemies”. This comes deep from the heart. A godly person can only practice such love. Love without murmuring.
A child of God must practice the ‘Agape” love. Do not do anything for gain – Love others more than yourself. Mathew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ In these all the rest of the commandments consist. Practice love appropriately. Have perfect wisdom in exercising love. Ask God for wisdom. That is the one thing God gives lavishly James 1:5-6 Believers are part of one body ‘the church”.
- Enduring to keep the unity of the Sprit in the bond of Peace
Keeping ‘unity and peace” should be the mission and vision of our Christian life. In John 14:27 our Lord declared “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”. We do not need to create unity and peace. We have it in us from Christ. Just maintain it. Our endurance should be to keep peace and unity. If you believe that Christ has saved you, then you have peace with God, then express it to the world. We were once enemies of God. Christ our Lord gave his peace to us. We have to recognize /realize the peace and rest within ourselves. The basis of this attitude must be the love towards others not the love to their deeds.
May the name of the our Lord be glorified.
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