God's Word For You is a free Bible Study site committed to bringing you studies firmly grounded in the Bible – the Word of God. Holding a reformed, conservative, evangelical perspective this site affirms that God has provided in Jesus Christ his eternal Son, a way of salvation in which we can live in his presence guilt free, acquitted and at peace.

 
 

THOUGHTS FROM EPHESIANS

29 WORTHY OF YOUR CALLING

A mediation on Ephesians 4:1.

How should the Christian live? 

Paul has spent three chapters explaining and rejoicing in the reality of salvation, and now, on the basis of this incomparable and immeasurable salvation, he summarizes the answer to this question in a few words: ‘live a life worthy of the calling you have received’ [Ephesians 4:1].  

What is the calling which we have received and of which our life is to be ‘worthy’? In the previous chapters Paul has called Christians  

Blessed [1:3]

Chosen [1:4]

Holy and blameless in God’s sight [1:4]

Adopted as God’s sons [1:5]

The recipients of his free, lavish and incomparably rich grace [1:6,8; 2:7]

Redeemed and forgiven [1:7]

Marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit [1:13]

Guaranteed an inheritance [1:14]

God’s possession [1:14]

Alive with Christ [2:5]

Seated with Christ in the heavenly realms [2:6]

God’s workmanship [2:10]

Brought near to God through the blood of Christ [2:13]

Reconciled to God through the cross [2:16]

Admitted into God’s presence [2:18; 3:12]

Fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household [2:19]

Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets [2:20]

A holy temple in the Lord [2:21]

A building in which God lives by his Spirit [2:22]

The goal of God’s secret eternal purpose [3:2-6,8-10]

Sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus [3:6]

Responsible for making known God’s wisdom [3:10]

 

In the chapters that follow Paul calls Christians 

God’s people [4:12]

The body of Christ [4:12; 5:23]

God’s dearly loved children [5:1]

God’s holy people [5:3]

Members of the kingdom of Christ and of God [5:5]

Children of light [5:8]

 

Knowing this, believing this, possessing all of this, what manner of people ought we to be!

Copyright Rosemary Bardsley 2006, 2011