Walk This Way.
Ephesians 4.
The apostle Paul now leaves the great new testament doctrine of Ephesians chapter 1 through chapter 3.
And now the reader is to venture own into a land, a land of practicality and doing this Word. -This great doctrine!
Ephesians is one of the apostle Paul’s prison epistles. I love the fact that Ephesians chapter 4, and chapter 5 begin in such a similar fashion.
The apostle speaks of being a prisoner for the Lord, and then he beseeches all of the followers of Jesus, to walk in love and unity, which is the seal of the new covenant.
Ephesians 4:1-3NKJV “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
The apostle Paul urges followers of Jesus Christ to walk worthy of the calling in which you were called.
What is it about this calling? Romans 11:29NIV for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Irrevocable, meaning they cannot be withdrawn or changed. It is part of Paul's argument in Romans 11 about God's sovereignty and mercy...
The Called are those who have been summoned by God.
Called to salvation (Rom. 8:30)
Called both Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:24)
Called "with a holy calling" (2 Timothy 1:9)
Called with a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1)
Called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Pet. 2:9)
Called to walk worthy (Ep 4:1).
Called by grace (Gal 1:6)
Called through the "gospel" (2Th 2:14)
Called "into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9)
Will be called "with Him" at the end of this age (Rev. 17:14).
Ephesians 4.1b-3TM “I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.”
Ephesians 4, gives the believer a good look at servanthood and humility. I think its safe to say, “This is the mark of good Bible doctrine.”
Ephesians 4.4-6NKJV There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Again, one body, one Spirit, You were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, He’s above all, through all, and in you all!
The apostles Paul once more gives each reader of, Ephesians 4, good Bible doctrine.
Ephesians 4.7NKJV But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
The measure of Christ gift is without measure. P.H
Ephesians 4.8-10NKJV Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Listen, Jesus ascended and descended...And as He was nailed to the cross...He forgave! P.H
Never forget our doctrine. Jesus, born a virgin birth, obedient parents for 30 years. His ministry on earth lasted 3 years, he ministered to everyone. Jesus unjustly accused, beaten, and hung and died a criminals death, crucifixion. Jesus rouse on the 3rd day. He was seen by hundreds for 40 days, before He ascended, He gave the church the Holy Spirit, and now for the big one, Jesus is coming again!
Ephesians 4.11NKJV And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
This call can’t, nor will be given by no other source, other than Jesus! P.H
Ephesians 4.12-13NKJV for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called "House of Dying," where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention.
Watching Mother Teresa minister to these people, feeding and nursing those left by others to die, Hatfield was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers face daily.
"How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?" he asked. Mother Teresa replied, "My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful."
The fullness of Christ means to fill up something completely, or to bring it to a completed state.
There is nothing lacking in him and because of that, he is completely able to rescue us from our sins and make us also complete, Colossians 2.10.
Ephesians 4.14NKJV that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
Listen, if you believe good Bible doctrine, you won’t be deceived. Every wind, trickery of men...
Ephesians 4.15-16NKJV but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4.17-19NKJV This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 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; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Again, what causes this behavior?Laziness, irresponsibility of the word, but primarily, vs.18, because of the ignorance that is in them,...
Hosea 4.6aNLT My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me.
Ephesians 4.20-22NKJV But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
The old man which grows corrupt, and produces deceit.
Ephesians 4.23-24NKJV and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
What was Paul’s plea? Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. For every saint is created by God in true righteousness and holiness!
I find this verse very interesting, Ephesians 4.25NKJV Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
From the very beginning, Cain ask the question, “I’m I my brothers keeper?”
Ephesians 4.26-28NKJV “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Ephesians 4.29NKJV Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Degrading, judgmental, faithless- thinking and talking. P.H
Ephesians 4.30NKJV And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Wisdom states you were sealed for the day of redemption!
The Holy Spirit is God’s seal on His people, His claim on us as His very own.
The Greek word translated “earnest” in these passages means “a pledge,” that is, part of the purchase money or property given in advance as security for the rest.
The gift of the Spirit to believers is a down payment on our heavenly inheritance, which Christ has promised us and secured for us at the cross. It is because the Spirit has sealed us that we are assured of our salvation. No one can break the seal of God.
Ephesians 4.31-32NKJV Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
