Ephesians 4:1-16

Read Ephesians 4:1-16

RAMP: READ / ANALYZE / MEDITATE / PRAY

R: Read the Passage

• You know the drill — read it twice!

A: Analyze

There’s a shift that happens at this point in the chapter, where what we’ve learned is now put into practice. Remember the two themes: 

1. who were were/are now in Christ

2. how to live like it. 

We’re entering into the practical ways we should live as adopted sons and daughters of a Holy God.

1. What does this say about God and/or Jesus Christ?

I giggle at this idea of God being like our view of Oprah — you get a gift, and you get a gift and you get a gift! Everyone gets a gift! (Note: Oprah is probably one of the farthest examples from God, so don’t call me out on heresy! But you know you giggled too).

2. What does this say about you?

There are a lot of characteristics of living a life worthy of our call — list them all here and let the Holy Spirit encourage and convict as He will. 

3. Is there a command to follow?

Those characteristics give us a pretty solid picture of what God expects and deserves from the life of Jesus followers.

4. Is there a sin to repent of? 

Yep, probably so for all of us. Be honest here and let the Holy Spirit bring to mind the places you are falling short of those expectations.

5. Is there a promise to claim?

I love this part — because, what is the promise/reward of all Christians living like we actually are Christians? Attaining the full measure of the fullness of God IS a promise because we will understand the fullness of God in eternity — the ultimate reward!

Nicole’s Notes:

Now that we have a solid understanding of the Gospel from the first three chapters, Paul now wants us to know what to do with all that knowledge and understanding — live differently because of it. Live a life worthy of it.

We know we are actually not worthy of anything in our own strength or abilities. We don’t even have the power to understand the ‘mystery’ of the Gospel without the Holy Spirit helping us. So as we seek to live a life worthy of the Gospel, it’s not an effort thing. It’s an honor thing. How can we live our life in a way that honors the work of Christ. We were not worthy to receive it, but we should and can live a life that reflects its worth. 

Here’s a truth that can be hard for us to fully grasp — there is no longer a difference in our secular lives and our sacred lives. I’m not just talking out Monday - Friday vs. Sunday. We’re at a heart level now, where our whole lives should honor Christ’s work, not just a switching of our hearts and minds from secular to spiritual, from real life to spiritual life. No! Our sacred leads our secular. We live our real life from our sacred life. Our practice of Christianity comes from our position as Christ followers.

I love that God’s word never gives us an expectation without also giving us what we need to live a life He desires. I’m a details, practical steps kind of girl. I love a big idea all day long, but my mind is always working to map out how to accomplish the big idea through the most practical and effective steps. Paul helps a sister out when it comes to this, and God’s word penetrates my heart with both a big idea and a roadmap. So let’s walk through some of these characteristics and see what it looks like to live in a way that honors Christ’s work -- verses 2 and 3: be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to pursue unity through peace. Oneness.

Sounds like a great idea and characteristics we want to embody. But are living fully in them? We can look to Jesus as the perfect example. Below are a few reference scriptures to see how Christ himself exemplified the characteristics necessary for living a life that reflects the worth of His sacrifice and love:

• Humility — Philippians 2:5-11 (one of my personal favorite passages in all of scripture)

• Gentleness — Matthew 11:28-29

• Patience — 1 Timothy 1:16

• Love — Romans 5:8

• Peace — Ephesians 2:14

Let’s walk through a few of these characteristics a little more:

Humility isn’t actually a valued characteristic in our world. In our relationships and families, maybe, but not in the world around us. Pride has more value, actually. According to the world, pride gets you promotions and raises. Pride gets you what you want and deserve. On the flip side, humility is mocked and and seen as weakness or a lack of assertiveness. 

But when our sacred leads our secular, humble believers live for the good of others. 

Pride is being full of self. Humility is being full of God.

Gentleness looks like being self-controlled with others. Living out gentleness comes from living in God’s gentleness toward us.

Patience is so hard when we try with our own effort. You know the secret to patience? A lack of patience is really a lack of humility. Ouch. 

Biblical patience is not short-term patience. Biblical patience is a long-suffering for the sake of love. If you’re married, you are living this every day for all those years. Patience is not a short game, it’s a long game. 

So much of this passage is rooted in God’s idea of unity, and His expectation for it among believers. It’s interesting the language of this passage is to KEEP the unity. We aren't expected to create it. Christ did that on the cross. Our work is to keep it. But how? In Christ. There is only ONE way: ONE body, spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism God and Father. 

So if HE is what we are uniting around, we may not have as many difference as the world tells us we do. Hello. 

Unity does not equal sameness. Diversity is beautiful within our unity. We have been given diverse gifts with diverse responsibilities for using those gifts. 

Think about this (verses 9-13) — When Christ ascended to Heaven with full authority (after accomplishing His work on the cross), He used that authority to GIVE us gifts for us to USE for His work and His glory. 

When we are using these gifts for His glory, it’s a sign of maturity. Truth and love are accomplished by truth in love. Achieving the full likeness of Christ ultimately happens in Heaven, when all things are glorified in Him. But for now, we grow and we journey toward that end.

Want to know your progress in that growth and journey? Here are two marks of maturity we can take from this passage:

• Embodying verses 2-3 as Christ does

• When the people in our wake are loving Christ more as a result of our life — a direct result of us using our gifts for His glory.

M: Meditate

I don’t think you’re lacking on what to meditate on at this point! But here are a few to help guide all your thoughts:

• Where is there a gap in your sacred and your secular lives?

• Are you using your gifts? Do you know your gifts/purpose? Ask God to show you, help you understand. Ask God to show you how/where you can use them (Tip: a great place to use your gifts to build up the Church (big-C church, kingdom of God) is your local church. Using them in your church helps build your confidence to use them in the world. Try a few things — if you fail, try again. What places make you feel like you’re alive? What places make you feel defeated? Take note of that and serve accordingly. It’s OK if you love serving babies and don’t love serving teens. Or if your gifts are best used behind the scenes. Remember — diversity is beautiful within our unity).

• Do you feel a little tossed by the teachings/expectations of the world? Constantly feeling like you’re trying to please moving targets? We grow in maturity through holding fast to God’s word.

• What characteristics in verses 2-3 do you feel growth in? Which ones feel like you’re still an infant?

P: Pray

Surrender this whole thought process to God. 

• Ask for forgiveness where necessary

• Ask for courage to use your gifts

• Ask Him to grow you — with His gifts in you and for His glory.