8. Lesson 8 Ephesians Chosen to live worthy Ephesians 4 verses 1 to 6

Church of Christ Dapto The letter to the Church in Ephesus Lesson 8 - Chosen to live worthy Ephesians 4:1-6      Ephesians Chapters 1 to 3 - the Foundation That I am chosen by God for ... Chapters 4 to 6 – the Application How my life is to show that I have been chosen.      Live worthy Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Paul is in prison because of his obedience to Christ. He is not being punished for any crime, but is there because of God’s plan. He is suffering but persevering through the power of the Spirit. Paul is showing that he lives what he knows to be True. I have a choice about how I live. I can live in a way which honours the fact that I was chosen in Christ. Or I can live in a way which brings dishonour to Christ and His Church. I am to live worthy of the calling or choosing I have received. The calling I have received I have been chosen … to be holy in Christ to know by Grace to do good to share for power to live a life worthy Ephesians 1:18-19 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 8 Chosen to live worthy November 10, 2019 Page 2 How to live worthy In humility Ephesians 4:2a Be completely humble and gentle; In my relationship to my brothers and sisters in the Church I am to show that I am worthy by my humble and gentle response to them. I am not part of the Church to satisfy myself, but to satisfy Christ and help others grow into Him. In patience Ephesians 4:2b be patient, bearing with one another in love. I am to be patient with my brothers and sisters in the Church, just as I expect them to be patient with me. I am to show my patience by putting up with what I see to be their faults if they are not sins against God. In unity Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. I am to strive in the Church, as much as depends on me, to keep unity. It is not the unity of compromise, or a veneer of oneness. It is the unity of those who have the same Spirit within. The Spirit does not tell me one thing and contradict Himself in another. The unity is maintained by the Spirit. The unity is founded on the bond that we all have of peace with God. In One Body Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called The whole Body of Christ is One. All members of the Body have the same hope, whatever their position, their age, their experience or their wisdom. with One Lord Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; The unity of the Church is based on having only One Lord in the Church, of having only faith in Him in the Church, of all being baptised into Him in the same way. and One Father Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. The unity of the Church is founded in the same God, who is Father of us all, Who rules above all, and Who gives us all that we are and have. Acts 17:28 For in him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:25b He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 8 Chosen to live worthy November 10, 2019 Page 3 What does this verse mean for my life? I must examine my life to see if it is worthy before Christ. I have been called and chosen in Him for a holy life which brings glory to God. If my life does not bring glory to God by revealing to all the power and strength of the Spirit within me, then I am not living the life He died to give me. If I am not living worthy, then I am living to satisfy myself and demanding that others satisfy my needs. If I am not living worthy, I am denying the Truth that God is the One who has given me all that I am and have. To live a life worthy of Him, I am to live by His commands. I am not earning my right to salvation by proving that I am worthy of it. I am showing, in my life, the life that He died and rose from the dead to create in us. My life is worthy if I live in humility, patience, gentleness, and unity with all the members of His Church. My life is worthy if I live like that because only Christ’s Spirit within me could make such a change in my life. My life is worthy if I live to display the power of God in Christ through His Spirit within me. My life must match my words. My life must show that I truly believe in Him. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfil every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Living worthy is a choice. I must make that choice every day.  Next Lesson: Chosen to grow Focus Verse: Ephesians 4:15       Ephesians 4:7-16        He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4