"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)
calling to which you have been called," (Eph 4:1 ESV)
If
“calling” refers to my call to be a Christian (see
last blog), what does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of that call?
It
means living a life that lines up with what God has done in me.
I
was once dead in my sins. Not dying. Dead. But God made me alive together with
Christ. I have been made alive! (Eph. 2:1-9). What should that mean for my life
that I now walk in new life? The answer comes in chapter 4-6.
I
was once separated from God and alienated from God’s people and without hope
in the world (Eph 2:11). But now, by the blood of Christ, I have been brought
near! (Eph 2:13). How should that effect my everyday life? Why does that matter
to me? Chapters 4-6 bring that out.
God
has made those who weren’t his people—the Gentiles—to be fellow heirs with
the people of God. We partake in Jesus, the savior promised to the Jews, through
the gospel (Eph 3:4-6). How should I live my life now that I belong to God? Paul
explains that in chapters 4-6, especially 4:17-24.
This
is critical to see: everything that Paul commands us to do in Ephesians 4-6 is
based on what God has already done in chapters 1-3. It isn’t the way we
earn a spot in God’s kingdom; it is how we should act because we are already
in God’s kingdom. We can live a life glorifying to God because God works in
our hearts and gives us the strength to do so. We live because we were made
alive with Christ. It is based on grace.
Does
this give you hope? I hope it does!
Photo from: flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/
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