Ephesians 4 Walk worthy of your calling

“Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (4:1) Ephesians 4:1-16 The Unity of the Spirit Growth in Love (4:13-16) Grace and Gifts (4:7-12) Bond of Peace Attitudes (4:2-3) Lowliness Gentleness Longsuffering Forbearance Love Endeavor Worthy Walk “Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (4:1) Basis (4:4-6) One… Body •Spirit Hope •Lord Faith •Baptism God and Father

Walk Worthy of Your Calling Put off old man--Put on new man Ephesians 4:17-24 Purity of the church, Col. 3:1-4; Eph. 5:25-27 Emphasis given the new man: Character (heart), Eph. 4:17-24 Conduct (life), Eph. 4:25-32

Put Off…Put On Ephesians 4:22-24 OLD MAN Former conduct Grows corrupt (moral depravity) Deceitful lusts NEW MAN Spirit of your mind Created (Eph 2:10) Righteousness (just, upright) Holiness

The Character of Christians Ephesians 4:17-24 The new man: Righteousness and holiness of truth, 4:20-24; Col. 3:8-10 (Eph. 2:15) New character: The pattern of Christ New (4:24): “Renovated, better, of higher excellence” (Moulton) New birth – New creature, Jno. 3:3, 5; 2 Cor. 5:17

The Character of Christians Ephesians 4:17-24 The new heart in Christ, 4:17-19 Once walked as the Gentiles walk, but no longer… Futility of mind: Vanity, emptiness, devoid of truth, depravity, Rom. 1:28-32 Understanding darkened: Faculty of thinking (emotion and intellect), Rom. 1:21

The Character of Christians Ephesians 4:17-24 Once walked as the Gentiles walk, but no longer… Alienated from the life of God: Without God, 2:12 (Rom. 1:21, 23, 25, 28) Ignorance: Lack of moral knowledge, Rom. 1:24 Blindness of heart: Hardened, Rom. 1:28 Past feeling: Apathetic, cease to feel pain, no shame, 1 Tim. 4:2

The Character of Christians Ephesians 4:17-24 Once walked as the Gentiles walk, but no longer… Gave themselves over: to deliver into custody, to hand over, Rom. 1:24, 26, 28 Lewdness (lasciviousness): Unbridled lust, Rom. 13:13-14; 1 Pet. 4:3 All uncleanness: Moral impurity, Rom. 1:24 Greediness: Covetousness, Rom. 1:29

The Character of Christians Ephesians 4:17-24 How you learned Christ, 4:20-21 Heard Him through His gospel, Heb. 1:2; Rom. 10:17 (Acts 8:12, 35) Taught by Him, Matt. 11:28-29 (Lk. 10: 16; Jno. 13:20) By hearing and learning the truth, Jno. 8:31-32 (14:6)

The Character of Christians Ephesians 4:17-24 Renewal of the mind, 4:23 (Eph. 2:3) Without a change of heart there will not be a change of life, 4:24 (Rom. 12:1-2)

The Conduct of Christians Ephesians 4:25-32 Put away, Eph. 4:22, 25, 31 The result of repentance, Acts 17:30 (Lk. 3:8, 10-14)

The Conduct of Christians Ephesians 4:25-32 OLD MAN Lying Anger and wrath Stealing Corrupt words Grieve Holy Spirit Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, malice NEW MAN Speak truth No place to the devil Working / Giving Impart grace Believe His word Kind compassion that forgives like God forgave us

The New Man’s Conduct Ephesians 4:25-32 Honesty, 4:25 (Col. 3:9); Zech. 8:16-17 God hates a lying tongue, Prov. 6:17 Abolished in the body of Christ Self-control, 4:26-27 (Psa. 4:4) Anger (orge): Settled, abiding provocation Wrath (thumos): Agitated outburst, fierce exhibition of anger

The New Man’s Conduct Ephesians 4:25-32 Labor, 4:28 Honest labor avoids lacking the necessities of life as well as the corresponding temptation to steal (1 Ths. 4:11-12) Equips us to help others (Acts 20:33-35)

The New Man’s Conduct Ephesians 4:25-32 Purity, 4:29; Jas. 3:8-11 Take care of what and how we speak Concerned for the purity of others Purity attempts to edify others Godly motives, 4:30-31 Sin pains, sorrows and distresses the Holy Spirit who secures us, 4:30 (1:13) Purge ungodly motives, 4:31

The New Man’s Conduct Ephesians 4:25-32 Kindness, 4:32 In contrast to sinful agitation, loud quarreling and hurtful language, 4:31 Since God is kind to the unthankful and evil, we can (must) “be kind to one another”, Luke 6:35-36 Compassion and forgiveness personify kindness, Col. 3:13

Put on the New Man Ephesians 4:24 Practical changes: Put away falsehood, wrath, stealing, corrupt speech and ungodly motives Put on honesty, self-control, labor, purity, godly motives and kindness God has created us to be “new creatures” in Christ, 2:10; 4:24; 2 Cor. 5:17