Walking Through Life With Jesus Christ Series

Walking through Life with Jesus Christ

Ephesians 4:17-28

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Series: The Book of Ephesians

(Prepared May 10, 2024)

BACKGROUND:

*Remember that the Apostle Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote four letters. Three were sent to churches, and one was to a Christian friend. All were included in the New Testament, including Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. That's why these four books are called the Prison Epistles.

*Bible scholars generally agree that they were written during Paul's first Roman imprisonment. Acts 28 records a little from this season in Paul's life, and Acts 28:30-31 says, "Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him."

*John Phillips explained that "Paul was not at liberty to go where he wished, but he was at liberty to receive all who cared to come to him. And Paul’s hired house in Rome became the headquarters of world evangelism. The Apostle could not go, but others could go. He led people to Jesus, and inspired many others to keep spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul even led soldiers in the Roman guard to faith in Jesus Christ. Paul used all of his authority as an Apostle to keep spreading the gospel and the building the Lord's Church. (1)

*Paul opened this part of his letter in Ephesians 4:1-3 by writing, "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

*William MacDonald highlighted the fact that although Paul was a prisoner of Rome, "he did not speak of himself as a prisoner of Rome. That might have indicated a sense of defeat, a feeling of self-pity, or a craving for sympathy. Instead, Paul called himself a prisoner of the Lord, speaking from a heart filled with faith, dignity, and victory. Ruth Paxson said, 'There was no stench of prison in Paul's heart, for he was not bound in spirit.'" (2)

*What was the secret to such a victorious outlook? Paul was walking through life with the Lord Jesus Christ, probably as close as anybody ever has. And that's the way God wants us to walk with Him today. Please think about this as we read Ephesians 4:17-28.

MESSAGE:

*There are a lot of things I know how to do in life, -- compared to a little baby. I know how to walk and talk. I know how to eat, -- usually without making a big mess. And I know how to read, even though I didn't learn my ABCs until the first grade.

*There are a lot of things I know how to do in life. But there are a whole lot more things that I don't know. And I am still working on the most important thing of all: How to walk through life with the Lord Jesus Christ. Today's Scripture can help us do it.

1. FIRST: WE HAVE TO LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT THE LORD.

*We have to learn the truth about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And to show us how crucial this is, Paul gave us a picture of people who don't know God. Please take a look at these very lost, ungodly people in vs. 17-19. Here Paul tells Christians:

17. 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 hardening of their heart;

19. who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness (that's unbridled lust), to work all uncleanness with greediness.

*Those lost Gentiles definitely did not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, so in vs. 17 their lives were futile and empty. And in vs. 18 Paul explained why. Their understanding was darkened. They were alienated or separated from God's life. They were ignorant about the truth, and their hearts were hard. In other words, they were as spiritually blind as anybody could be. That's why in vs. 19, they were given over to shameless, unbridled lust, and they were full of greed. Those Gentiles were as lost as they could be, and they didn't have a clue about it.

*They desperately needed to learn the truth about Jesus Christ. That's what everybody needs! And vs. 20-21 remind us that ultimately, the Lord Himself is the one who can teach us. Here Paul speaks to all Christians, and says, "But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus."