As we have studied, Paul's letter to the Ephesians is divided into two sections of three chapters.
Chapters 1-3 give us the doctrine / the wealth / the information the Church needs to become this living, breathing entity known as the body of Christ, the Bride awaiting the appearing of her beloved Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Chapters 4-6 give us the duty / the work / the application of the doctrine of the first three chapters.
Today, we started unpacking the last 15 verses of chapter Four – v.15-32.
V.1-8 explain who we are in Christ – the body of Christ
V.11-16 explain what we do as the body – build up and strengthen the body of Christ
V. 17-32 explain how we are to be who we should be as individuals within the body
As we saw in V. 1, Paul pleads with us to “walk worthy” of the lifestyle to which we have been called. Then, in V.17-19, he commands us to “walk not” like the rest of the Gentile world, that we were saved out of.
Ephesians 2:1-3: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
James 1:21-25: Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
We began the second section of the “How to be who we should be” in v.20-24, but had to close our study. We will pick up our study in these verses this coming week. Please take time to read Colossians 3, 2 Timothy 2:19-22, 1 John 2:15-17, and 1 John 3:1-3 this week in preparation for our study.
