Ephesians
can be divided roughly in half. It may be overly simplistic, but we could call
chapters 1-3 “theology” and chapters 4-6 “application.” The reality is
though, all of Paul’s “theology” is application, and all of his
“application” is theology. Maybe it would be better to call Eph. 1-3 theology
seen and Eph. 4-6 theology lived out.
In
between these two halves of the letter comes one very important verse that ties
the whole book together: Eph. 4:1, it says,
"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy
of the calling
to which you have been called, (Eph. 4:1 ESV)
to which you have been called, (Eph. 4:1 ESV)
The
phrase “calling with which you have been called” harkens back to everything
Paul has said in chapters 1-3. This verse is often misunderstood. Calling in
this verse doesn’t refer to vocation. Paul is not saying, walk worthy of your
calling to be a businessman, or a pastor, or a mom, or a small group leader, or
whatever.
Instead
he means God called us from death to life (Eph. 2:1-10), from being
outsiders to being insiders (Eph. 2:11-21). It is the intention he had to bring
us to himself through the death of Christ (Eph. 1:3-8). It is the call to believe
in Jesus Christ and be a Christian.
Where
am I getting this idea? From looking at how Paul uses the word calling in
other places. Here is one example:
· (1Cor. 7:20-21 ESV) Each one should remain in the condition in which he was
called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it.
(But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)
· (1Cor. 7:20-21 ESV) Each one should remain in the condition in which he was
called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it.
(But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)
Paul
here is talking about conversion, not vocation. He is talking about when God
called me out and I believed in Jesus.
We’ll
talk about why this matters in the next blog.
Other
uses of “calling” in the New Testament: Rom. 11:29, 1 Co. 1:26, 1 Co. 7:20,
Eph. 1:18, Eph. 4:4, Phil.
3:14, 2 Thess. 1:11, 2 Tim. 1:9, Heb. 3:1, 2 Pet. 1:10
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