Paul tells us in the first verse in Ephesians chapter four that we should walk worthy of the calling that we have received. We have all felt the pressure to walk in a worthy manner. The problem lies in the fact that we often fall far short. In those times of failure we can hear the familiar refrain loud and clear coming directly from our conscience: “And you call yourself a Christian?!”

The beauty of the gospel is that we have already received the calling. It is referred to in the past tense: “received.” We do not walk to gain our calling; we walk because of it. God does not torment us with impossible exhortations. If perfection was what God wanted from us no one would make it. We live TOWARD the goal of being conformed to the image of his Son.

The reason we can be given such an exhortation is because of what Paul has revealed to us in the first three chapters of Ephesians. Without the first three chapters of Ephesians the exhortations in the fourth chapter would be impossible – and dangerous. The more we know who we are in Christ the more power we will have to live the way God intends for us. In times of failure when that same old tape plays in our minds – “And you call yourself a Christian?!” – we’ll have an answer ready: “No. That’s what God calls me.”

“The Ephesians 4-11 Church”
Ephesians 4:1-16

1 EXHORTATION

2-6 WALK IN LOVE

7-13 WALK IN SERVICE

Hebrews 5:11-6:3

2 Timothy 2:2

14-16 WALK IN MATURITY

Romans 12:1-2