Ephesians 4 - What Does It Mean To Lead A Life Worthy Of Your Calling?
In chapters 4-6, Paul turns to practical application of the doctrine he laid out in chapters 1 - 3. Ephesians was probably the largest church at this point in the first century, and also very strategically located, It was sophisticated in its culture, which presented many challenges for these young Christians.
Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Paul starts by transitioning and saying as a disciple of Christ I urge you to, "Live a life worthy of the calling they had received from Jesus." This is often my prayer. It doesn't say you better lead a good life, or you won't be worthy of your calling. It is not saying you have to prove you are worthy. You are worthy because of Jesus' calling on your life. You are worthy because Jesus thought so much of you he died for you on the cross.
Paul then talks about the importance of unity in the church. We are to make every effort to keep the unity in the church. If merely being right will cause disunity in the church, we should put our selfish pride aside for the sake of the church. Paul then uses the word "one" to point out key aspects of the faith that are not to be divided or changed.
1. One body of Christ made up all those who believe in Jesus.
2. One Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and Son is worshipped and glorified.
3. One hope. The only hope we have for salvation is through Jesus Christ. If there were another way to be saved then Christ died for nothing.
4. One Lord. Jesus is Lord of all. If there was something or someone more powerful than Jesus, He would not be Lord of all.
5. One faith. All roads do not lead to God. Only faith in Jesus we restore our relationship with a holy God. We don't need to add works to our faith to be saved. Good works flow from and out of faith.
6. One baptism. There is only one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. If you are baptized as a baby, you don't need to be re-baptized as an adult. Their is not a, "Second baptism in the Holy Spirit'. You receive the Holy Spirit when you believe and are baptized. No one needs an additional experience to obtain the Holy Spirit.
7. One God and Father of all. We are monotheistic, not polytheistic. We believe in One God revealed in the Three Persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
This is one of three places where Paul talks about the spiritual gifts that are given each believer from the Holy Spirit. (See also Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12-14) When we believe in Christ and are baptized, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives gifts to each believer as the Spirit determines to build up the body of Christ.
Many times the list of gifts in Ephesians 4 is called the, "Five fold gifts of ministry" They can also be seen as the five purposes of the church.
1. Apostle - The word apostle means "messenger" or "one who is sent". This can be someone sent to plant a church, new ministry, or bring the gospel to an unreached people group (aka missionary).
2. Prophets - Most people assume this means "predictive prophesy" but the word means to "speak forth the Word of God". Prophets preach God's Word even when it is uncomfortable. I.e. The church needs to be rebuked because it has strayed from God's Word.
3. Evangelist - Everybody is called and gifted to share the gospel, but an "evangelist" is someone who uniquely called to preach to unbelievers, which leads to saving faith in Jesus. Think Billy Graham.
4. Pastor - This word also means '"shepherd". Someone who watches over God's flock. Jesus called Peter as the "chief shepherd" to feed His sheep. Shepherds make sure the church is well fed with God's Word, and also protect it from the wolves who look to come into the flock and devour it. I.e. False Teachers.
5. Teacher - Someone who is gifted to teach the bible, so that people can understand and apply it in their lives. They are able to take the bible, which can be very challenging to read, and make it simple. Teachers build up the church to know what Christians believe and how to live lives in alignment with Jesus' way of life
Note the end of the passage which implies that all five should be equipping others in the church so we may all grow that we may mature believers in Jesus. The word for "mature" can also be translated, "perfect or complete". This means to become what you are intended. This is your best life. The life You've always wanted!
Do any of these five seems interesting to you? Do you see these gifts active in your life in some way? Talk to your pastor as to how you much take a small step to see if God is calling you to one of these roles. I.e. If God might be calling you to be a teacher, start in a small group or in a Sunday School class.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
As each of these five areas of ministry thrive in the church, we will grow up to be mature followers of Christ. We won't be subject to false teachers, or a culture that tries to get us to compromise the gospel to its ways.
Paul says in Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
Note Paul uses the phrase, "Speaking the truth in love." There will always be conflicts and disagreements in the church. There will also be people who need to be reigned in, as they are having a negative effect on the church. Rather than giving these people free reign, someone needs to speak the truth in love to them. They need to know their behavior won't be tolerated because of how it affects the body of Christ. But this needs to be done in a loving and respectful ways, which hopefully lead to repentance and restoration.
Matthew 18:15-19 gives specific steps for resolving conflict in the church. Oddly enough there is no better teaching on conflict resolution anywhere. What true in the church is true in the world.
Instructions for Christian Living
17 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. 18 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. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
Paul describes what happens when someone's heart becomes hardened to point where they are given over to sin. Having lost all sensitivity to God's Spirit, they become addicted to sensuality and indulgence in the flesh which often in our world leads to addiction.
As we see what is happening in our culture regarding human sexuality, we see these teaching in plain view. I.e. There is nothing new under the sun.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 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; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Paul says the difference with the Ephesians is that they have been taught what it means to leave this life and follow Christ. They have seen the benefits of being freed from their sinful nature to live a life of freedom and service to God. They are a new creation in Christ. The old is gone the new has gone.
But this doesn't mean someone can't through disobedience return to their old way of life. We see it all the time unfortunately. But after returning to the flesh, it makes it harder to go back. One risks hardening their hearts, so they can't repent and return to the body of Christ.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Paul then gives several practical examples of what it looks like to live a life worthy of our calling in everyday life.
1. Don't life but always speak the truth.
2. Don't let anger get a hold of you that leads you into sin.
3. Don't go to bed angry but resolve it as soon as you can. Paul adds, "Don't give the devil a foothold". This shows that anger which is not resolved can be used by the evil one to cause all kinds of havoc.
4. Don't steal, but work an honest day of work.
5. Share with those who are TRULY in need.
6. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit. When we sin, we grieve the Holy Spirit. We grieve the Spirit when we do not obey or respond to His promptings.
7. Do be kind and compassionate to each other forgiving them as God in Christ has forgiven you.
Are you leading life worthy of your calling? Chapter 4 gives us many examples of what this looks like. We will never be perfect and will consistently fall short, but as Paul says,
"Forgetting what lies behind, I press on to win the prize of the heavenly calling in Christ Jesus, my Lord!"
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