Today's Message: Ephesians 4

Today we learned that chapter 4 marks a major transition in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. In chapters 1-3 Paul describes all the blessings believers have by virtue of being "in Christ." For example, we have "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places," we are chosen in Christ, we are adopted as children of God in Christ, we have forgiveness and redemption in Christ, we have an inheritance in Christ, and all these are guaranteed with the seal of the Holy Spirit. Given these wonderful truths, Paul begins chapter 4 with "Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling which you have been called...." In this way Paul introduces us to how believers ought the live in light of all the blessings we have in Christ and our identity in Christ that he shared with us in chapters 1-3. It could be said that chapters 1-3 are about a believer's justification, salvation, or positional sanctification, while chapters 4-6 are about the believer's practical sanctification. Practical santification is a work the Spirit does in the life of a believer to conform their life to match the positional sanctification they already have in Christ. Practical sanctification adds NOTHING to one's salvation. Salvation comes from belief only (John 6:29). But once a person is saved by belief in Christ, they should want to grow in their relationship with Him, and that is the purpose of practical sanctification. We learned the key to practical sanctification is not "trying harder" to be a good Christian, but admitting to God that you cannot live the Christian life on your own and giving your all to Him to work in and through the believer (John 15:5). As pastor Bob George once said, "He [Jesus] gave His life for you, so He could give His life to you, so He could live His life through you." This is the key to living "in a manner worthy of your calling."