Ephesians 4:1-3

-Growing up I had a hate/love relationship with school. I loved my friends. I loved break time. I loved sports- football, basketball, tennis. I hated class, studying, taking tests. But I could not go to school just for sports, break time, and to hang out with friends, I had to study as well, I had to do both

-Too often in the Christian life people want one thing over the other. You have those who just want to know Biblical doctrine. So they study the scriptures, they read theological books, they fill their minds with doctrine but they do not care about application and living out that doctrine. Then you have others who just want application and are focused on how they live but do not care to study the scriptures to understand right doctrine, both groups are wrong

-You cannot know how to live for Christ without right doctrine

Martyn Lloyd-Jones - There can be no true sanctification without an understanding of doctrine

-doctrine and now application

-the Christian life is not just filling our heads with doctrine and showing no fruit in our lives

-Paul could have ended the letter just focused on doctrine and filling the mind with doctrine, but it is equally important that doctrine produces fruit in our lives

-Therefore = God’s grace in our salvation, one in Christ

-urge = call to one’s side

-walk = live Ephesians 2:2 - once walked in sin, now walk in Christ

in a manner worthy

of the calling

-the calling of what? some have suggested a vocational call, but Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus and in the context has written about the calling of salvation

-some try to stay away from this idea of calling unto salvation - but salvation is a call, it is the Holy Spirit summons us to turn from our sins and to turn to the perfect Lamb slain on our behalf

Romans 8:28–30 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:23–24 ESV

23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

2 Timothy 1:9 ESV

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

John 6:44 ESV

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

-The effectual call

-If we have been called into a right relationship with Christ, if we have been brought out of death in to life, then we way we live should reveal that

-What is the result of one who has been called, knows right doctrine and is living for Christ:

Humbly

-the opposite of having an exalted view of oneself

-doxology - to Him be the glory

-the understanding that we having nothing on our own but are in need of God

Psalm 50:19 ESV

19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.

CS Lewis - humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less

Philippians 2:3 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

-When we are changed by the gospel, when we are studying right doctrine, than we are living with an attitude that is not impressed with our own importance, but we long for Christ to be glorified and to look to the needs of others

Gently

-polite, courteous

2 Corinthians 10:1 ESV

1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—

-Does not mean that we should never be bold at times

-But we may be faced with situations that we could mishandle, we could let out anger get out of control

-situations that we see in Scripture:

one who is caught in sin

Galatians 6:1 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

others are quarreling or gossiping

Titus 3:2 ESV

2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

-The idea of being gracious even when humanly we might feel warranted to respond like the world, we are humble and gentle because we have experienced the grace of Christ ourselves

Patiently

-what does Paul mean by patiently?

-perhaps it is a reference to persevere in a our convictions even in difficult circumstances

2 Timothy 3:10 ESV

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

-two ways: do not give in under worldly pressure, be patient with those who do not know the grace of Christ

Lovingly

-bear with - to put up with, the idea of something annoying

-What annoys you? One of mine is when the kids get loud in the car, I like peace and quiet

Colossians 3:13 ESV

13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

-the idea of even if someone has a right to complain, we forgive and bear with one another in love

United in the Spirit

-all the previous qualities are fruits of the Spirit

-concern is their relationships with one another in the church, regardless of differences they are united in the body of Christ

-Unity has already been accomplished by Christ, He has destroyed the dividing wall, He has brought both Jews and Gentiles to peace with God

-The instructing here is to maintain the unity

-bond = fastener

thread that holds clothing together

ligament that holds muscle to the bone

-What is this bond of peace? What holds the church together in unity?

Colossians 2:19 ESV

19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

-The point is that Christ holds us together, in the fact the whole point is about Christ

We are humble as Christ is humble

We are to have the gentleness of Christ

We are to love as Christ loves

-The question is: are you living worthy of the calling to which you have been called? Are you striving to bear fruit because you have bought for such a price, and what price is that? The blood of Christ.

If not where is the issue? Is it not understanding right Biblical doctrine? Is it not applying that Biblical doctrine to your life? Is it that you have not responded to the call of salvation, that you are still in your sins?