In my current Busy Mamas Bible Study I had to go through the book of Ephesians. In chapters 1-3 I highlighted everything that God has done for me. This was very eye-opening to see so clearly what God has done for me. Sometimes, a girl who was raised in a Christian home, and never committed any “major” sins, I take for granted exactly what God did when He reached out and saved my soul. Ephesians 4:1 opens with the words, “Therefore…walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” The next three chapters list command after command – each of which we are to do because of what God has done for us (chapters 1-3). It is a “reasonable” service to do these things in response to everything that Christ did for us in salvation!
- 1. 3 – Blessed us with all spiritual blessings
- 1. 4 chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world
- 1.5 predestinated us to the adoption of children
- 1.6 made us accepted in the beloved
- 1.7 redeemed us through His blood
- 1.7 forgiven our sins
- 1.8 abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence
- 1.9 revealed the mystery of His will
- 1.11 given us an inheritance
- 1.13 sealed us with the Spirit of promise
- 2:1 quickened me, when I was dead in sin
- 2:4 loved me with a great love
- 2:5 quickened me together with Christ
- 2:6 raised us up together to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus
- 2:10 created me in Christ Jesus unto good works
- 2:10 ordained that I should walk in good works
- 2:13 brought me near by the blood of Christ
- 2:14 broken down the wall of partition
- 2:16 reconciled both Jew and Gentile to God through the cross
- 2:16 slain the enmity
Our responsibility in response to these things…
- 4.1 Walk worthy
- 4.2 Keep the unity
- 4.14 Be no more children [but be mature]
- 4.15 Speak the truth in love
- 4.15 Grow up into Christ
- 4.17 Walk not as other Gentiles
- 4.22 Put off the old man
- 4.23 Renew your mind
- 4.24 Put on the new man
- 4.25 Put away lying and speak truth
- 4.26 Let not the sun go down upon your wrath
- 4.27 Do not give place to the devil
- 4.28 Do not steal, but work with your hands
- 4.29 Do not have corrupt communication
- 4.29 Speak edifying words
- 4.30 Grieve not the Holy Spirit
- 4.31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice be put away
- 4.32 Be kind
- 4.32 Forgive as Christ forgave
- 5.1 Be followers of God
- 5.2 Walk in love
- 5.3 Let uncleanness, fornication, and covetousness not be named among you even once
- 5.7 Be not partakers with the children of disobedience
- 5.8 Walk as children of light
- 5.10 Prove what is acceptable unto the Lord
- 5.11 Have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness
- 5.11 Reprove the works of darkness
- 5.15 Walk circumspectly
- 5.16 Redeem the time
- 5.17 Be not unwise
- 5.17 Understand God’s Will
- 5.18 Be not drunk with wine
- 5.18 Be filled with the Spirit
- 5.19 Speak psalms and hymns to yourselves
- 5.20 Give thanks always for all things
- 5.21 Submit yourselves to one another
- 5.22 Wives submit to your husbands
- 5.25 Husbands love your wives
- 5.28 Husbands love your wives as your own body
- 5.33 Husbands love your wives as yourself
- 5.33 Wives reverence your husbands
- 6.1 Children obey your parents
- 6.2 Children honor your father and mother
- 6.4 Fathers provoke not your children to wrath
- 6.4 Bring up your children in the admonition of the Lord
- 6.5 Servants obey your masters
- 6.7 Do your service as to the Lord and not to men
- 6.10 Be strong in the Lord
- 6.11 Put on the whole armor of God
- 6.13 Take the whole armor of God
- 6.14 Stand therefore [against the devil]
- 6.18 Pray always
- 6.18 Watch with perseverance
So, go – and walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called!
