Ephesians 4-6: Walking worthy
Ephesians 1-3 reveals the grace of God and the rich blessings on the Church, chapters 4-6 urge us to respond to this revelation in a worthy way.
The rich blessings given to the Church to unify and empower us for God’s glory should raise in us the desire and earnest commitment to live our lives in a way that is consistent with what God has called us to be. The centre point of the book of Ephesians acts like a hinge joining what’s true to what we should do. We’re urged to live in a way worthy of the great things that have been given and revealed to us.
Scripture
Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Bible Study Questions
The grounds for the call to walk worthy
The word therefore bases the coming call to unity on the teaching that has already been given. What wonderful riches has God given freely to us as the Church for which we should respond in diligent and earnest gratitude?
Ephesians 4:1a ESV I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,
Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Who’s prisoner was Paul?
Paul could have said he was a prisoner of Rome or of Caesar. What does this tell you about his attitude towards his arrest and imprisonment?
Ephesians 4:1a ESV …a prisoner for the Lord,
John 19:10-11 ESV So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
Acts 5:25 ESV And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”
Acts 12:6-8 ESV Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
Acts 16:25-26 ESV About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.
The motivation for unity
Is Paul urging and encouraging the Church to live in a certain way in order to gain something from God, or in gratitude for what He’s already given us?
Ephesians 4:1b ESV urge you to walk
Romans 4:20-25 ESV No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
From faith to fruit
God calls us to faith and we respond by His grace. When we believe by faith, and that faith is real - what should come out of our faith?
Ephesians 4:1c ESV in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
James 2:21-23 ESV Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
How to walk together
There is a path to walking together in unity that starts with humility. What else should flow from humility and how should it progress?
Ephesians 4:2a ESV with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
1 Peter 5:5-6 ESV Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
Luke 6:41-42 ESV Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.
Matthew 18:21-22 ESV Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Urgently guarding the peace we’ve been given
The Holy Spirit of God is given to the Church to unite and empower us for worship and service. How do we protect the peace that the Holy Spirit gives us?
Ephesians 4:3a ESV eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit
Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Prisoners of peace?
Paul starts out by reminding us that he’s imprisoned for Jesus, which has not happened without His sovereign permission. What does the phrase bond of peace mean to the unity of the Church?
Ephesians 4:3b ESV in the bond of peace.
Acts 8:23 ESV For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
Colossians 2:18-19 ESV Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
Colossians 3:12-15 ESV Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.