THE
“WALK”
An Exposition of Ephesians Chapter Four
Ephesians 4:1-6
The book of Ephesians is preeminently about
the church. The first three chapters emphasize what God, in Christ, has done
for the church. The remaining three chapters concern themselves with what the
church is to do in response to the Christ. Of these last three chapters,
chapter four stands out as one of the most powerful in all the Bible. This
challenging chapter makes it clear that not only do we have a powerful reason
for living distinctively, we have a walk worthy of our high calling. We have a
walk
that comes from God. We have a walk that will bring us to mature
unity—oneness as between the Father, Son, and Spirit.
OUR WORTHY WALK
(1-3)
1. When
we accept the calling from God we are now under obligation to walk
in His ways (I Cor. 6:19-20).
2. Loving
one another is essential (Mat. 7:12; Jn. 13:34-35).
3. Unity
is, therefore, indispensable (Jn. 17:21-23).
GOD’S CONTRIBUTION TO
THE WALK
OF MATURE ONENESS (4-6)
1. God
is One (Deut. 6:4; Mk. 12:28-29; Jn. 17:21-23)!
2. He
has given us an administration in Christ that by implication allows only a walk
of oneness (Eph. 1:10; Jn. 17:17; Jude 3; Eph. 1:22-23).
THE GIFTS GIVEN FOR
THE WALK
OF MATURE ONENESS (7-13)
1. As
promised, Jesus returned through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to bring
spiritual power to His church (Jn. 14:1821-23, 26; 16:13-14; Eph. 3:16-17; II
Cor. 3:18; Gal. 2:20; Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:27; Rom. 8:31-39).
2. The
word is the holy, spiritual bread of life that brings Jesus into our hearts and
shows us the steps in which to walk (Jn. 6:63; I Cor. 2:6-10).
3. Miracles
administered the introduction and completion of this project and then ceased (I
Cor. 13:8b-13; Heb. 2:1-4).
4. This
does not at all mean that God is no longer active (Matt. 28:20; I Jn. 5:14-15).
USING GOD’S GIFTS FOR
THE WALK
OF MATURE ONENESS (14-16)
1. The
faith has come as a “one” to bring us to mature oneness (Jude 3; II Tim. 2:15;
3:16-17; II Pet. 1:1-4).
2. We
are to grow up and work together for the success of the cause that is bigger
than ourselves (Matt. 10:34-39; Lk. 9:23).
3. Each
brother and sister has a special part to play(I Cor. 12:12-27).
4. The
church grows only when brethren work together in a mature, Christlike, walk
of devotion.
THE DECISIONS OF THE WALK
OF MATURE ONENESS (17-32)
1. No
longer walk
in: futility, ignorance, hardness of heart, callousness, sensuality, impurity,
greediness, misplaced anger, stealing, unwholesome words, bitterness, wrath,
clamor, slander, malice—all that grieves the Holy Spirit and has nothing at all
to do with Jesus, but gives opportunity to the Devil.
2. A
renewing of the mind in the image of Jesus (Rom. 8:29).
3. A
new walk
of: righteousness, holiness of the truth, truthfulness, brotherhood, honest
labor to provide for self and assist others, words that build up—timely and
gracious, being kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving, just as God in Christ has
forgiven us.
What a wonderful walk God has given us! To
the extent that we walk in it we will find peace with God and
give grace to others. Let us all renew our diligence to walk in the way necessary to
preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Edwin
11/19/00
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