No Longer Walk Like the Gentiles

Ephesians 4:17–19 NKJV

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

After Paul has just instructed us on how the church is to build itself up and grow into maturity to the measure and stature of the fullness of Christ, teaching us that it is through speaking the truth in love and each one of us is working and exercising our gifts.

He now returns to the subject of this chapter which going back to verse 1 we remember

Ephesians 4:1 NKJV

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

Our walk or our life or conduct or behaviour should be worthy or appropriate for our calling.

Our calling being what Paul covered in the first three chapters. But to summarise...

Ephesians 2:1–10 NKJV

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

So this is our calling. He has chosen us to be holy and without blame, He predestined us to adoption by Jesus Christ to Himself. So we are to walk worthy or appropriately.

Ephesians 4:17 NKJV

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,

Not only does he say but he testifies in the Lord. Which is to say as an apostle by the will of Jesus Christ or that he testifies in the Spirit. The point seems to be that he is speaking by the authority of Jesus Christ which add weight to what he says here.

So rather than the positive walk worthy Paul gives the negative. That is how we should not walk.

Do Not Walk as the Gentiles Walk

Ephesians 3:1 NKJV

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

These were Gentiles at least they were Gentiles after the flesh. But they have been changed so that they are no longer Gentiles in Christ.

Ephesians 2:11–13 NKJV

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:19 NKJV

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

So now you are citizens with the saints that is with true Israel. So that we no longer identify with Gentiles but we identify with God’s people. And therefore we no longer walk like the Gentiles but rather we walk like God’s chosen people.

How specifically do the Gentiles walk?

We can see a progression here in the text

Ephesians 4:17–19 (NKJV)

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,

18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

It begins with the hardness of their heart then ignorance and darkening of their understanding, next they are alienated from the life of God as He gives them over to their ways, then they become callous giving themselves over to sensuality, greed, and every kind of impurity.

Paul speaks of this same progression in Rom 1

They harden their hearts or suppress truth.

Romans 1:18–20 NKJV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Their understanding is darkened and their thoughts become futile

Romans 1:21–22 NKJV

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

They are alienated from God or God give them up to there own lust.

Romans 1:24–25 NKJV

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

They become callous and God gives them over to every kind of immorality

Romans 1:26–27 NKJV

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

Romans 1:29–32 NKJV

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

The Gentiles are futile in their minds. with blindness of understanding, hardened hearts and they have given themselves over and so God has given them over to all kinds of immorality so don’t live like they live. as Paul says But you have not so learned Christ.

You were once dead but have been made alive. You are now children of the light having understanding, So rather walk worthy. Live differently.

The only thing that sets us apart

Ephesians 2:1–5 NKJV

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Ephesians 2:8–10 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.