Ephesians 4:1-6

Erik Christensen Message on January 6, 2013

Ephesians 1-3 = Our Identity in Christ
Ephesians 4-6 = Our Walk in Christ

We need to remember that our identity precedes our walk. We do not picture Christ walking alongside us, but rather He lives in us. It's not a cane, but a stretcher. It also isn't a checklist of do's or don't's.

Paul encourages us to walk worthy of our calling.

• In Love for one another.
• In Peace preserving the Unity of the Spirit
• In Hope of our calling.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

(Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV)

• I am not a prisoner of circumstances, but a "prisoner for the Lord." 
• "urge you" or implore you to come alongside You. Same words as are used for the work of the Holy Spirit. 
• We walk in a manner worth of the calling, remembering the greatness of our salvation. 

Our Calling is there because of the blood of Christ. We have been purchased by the blood of Christ

for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

(1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV)

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

(Acts 20:28 ESV)

What does a worthy walk look like?
1. In Love (verse 2)

• Humility (a low mind)
• Gentleness (meekness, not weakness)
• Strength under control
• Like breaking in a horse
• Do we explode or not even care - this gentlness resides in the middle
• Patience (long-suffering with people)
• Tolerance (to hold back; to bear with one another in love)

All of this is with Agape love. Agape love is not a feeling, but a decision. And these are all relational issues that we do based on a decision, and not on a feeling.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 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.
(Colossians 3:12-13 ESV)

2. In Peace (verse 3)

• Constant awareness to guard the unity we have in the Spirit
• Diligence - watching over something carefully
• Bond of Peace - like a bone ligament that is connected (ACL break example; very painful surgery; not good to be a part)

3. In Hope (verse 4)

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

(Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV) -- One Body

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

(Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV) -- One Spirit

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

(Ephesians 1:18 ESV) -- One Hope

• One assurance - only one way that is assured of God in Christ
• One Lord (over all)
• One Faith (conviction or firm persuasion) - Hebrews 11;1
• One Baptism (the identification with Christ; it is a picture or exterior of what God has done on the inside)
• One God and Father