Walk Like You Believe It

In our study of Ephesians so far, we’ve visited the mountaintop of the Christian life where we live in Jesus Christ. Now we turn to our daily walk at street level. Are we able to translate the truths of the mountaintop into how we live each day?

Up until now, Ephesians has been glorious declarations, but now God will give us commands—more than 35! If we have been called to an exalted place, then we must live worthy of that calling. The invisible church is to make itself visible where it meets in a local neighborhood.

These 35 commands only apply to those who are in Christ. If you are not a Christian, God doesn’t ask you to do these things. First, you must become His child through faith in Christ. Dead men can’t walk no matter how much we urge them to. The dead man lost in his trespasses and sins must first be made alive.

Ephesians 1-3 tells us all God has done for us as believers. Now, Paul begs us to walk worthy of the life we have been called to live, worthy of our position in Christ. (See also Colossians 1:10 and 1 Thessalonians 2:10.) “Worthy” literally means “in balance”; what we believe is to be balanced by our way of life.

People may not say this outright, but they evaluate whether you are a real child of God by your walk. To walk in step with God, you must walk in the light of His Word (see 1 John 1:7).

You accept life with patience, making allowances for each other because you love each other. You bear with each other even when it’s not fun.

You accept life with humility—the opposite of pride, just as the Lord lived here (Matthew 11:29 and Philippians 2:3). Humility is the willingness to stand and do the will of God regardless of the cost.

You keep your temper. Only the Spirit can give you this control.

Finally, because you’re called to travel on the same road and in the same direction as each other, stay together. We are one in Christ.

Now we each are to walk as a new person in this world, a witness to the life we have in Christ Jesus. This takes some growing up. God knows what we need to grow up. He gives each of us gifts suitable for us to grow and bless the church. No gift is for private use only or personal profit.

The purpose of the church is to show the world Jesus Christ—this is the goal of the unity of the faith.

The Lord Jesus gave apostles to the church; an apostle saw the resurrected Christ and enjoyed a special inspiration. He gave the church prophets—people to whom He gave particular insight into the doctrines of the faith through the Spirit’s immediate influence and inspiration. No one has the office of apostle or prophet in the church today.

Jesus Christ gave evangelists to the church. The evangelists were traveling missionaries, like Paul. They went into new territory and did it all alone with the Spirit of God to lead them.

He also gave the church pastors—shepherds of the flock. The pastor teaches the Word of God so those he leads might do the work of the ministry. If you are a Christian, you are as much a minister as he is. All believers need to be trained in the Word of God so they can do the work of the ministry.

He gave teachers—those who were to instruct the flock in correct doctrine. (See Romans 12:7, 1 Corinthians 12:28-29, and 1 Titus 3:2.)

God designated all these giftings so the church might fully grow up and do the work of ministering and building up the body of Christ.

Next: When you become a new person in Christ, a radical change takes place, and people notice it.