New Standard In Christ

Introduction

Life in Christ changes everything about ourselves, from the past couple weeks in our sermon series, “In Christ,” we have learned what it means to possess new life in Christ and then live in a new society of believers.

In this message we are going to see what Paul teaches on accepting the call of God for our lives and how this call comes with ethics and grace.

We recall from last time we met how God draws the church together as one body. Now Paul communicates to his church that we are to listen to the voice of God and follow after the one call from heaven.

Hearing God's calling

Ephesians 4:1–16 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

If you have not notice yet, the idea of oneness appears in many places in the book of Ephesians. Then Paul challenges you and me to walk worthy of the call in which we have been called. This one calling is connected to our one Lord, faith, baptism, and God and Father.

We can aspire to this call by the help of those given to the church which is our church leadership. They are the ones helping reach our potential to growing up in our salvation.

Paul says our church leaders are the ones who equip us, build us up, and mature us in our faith. Without them it very difficult for us to walk out our calling. They are given to the church as a gift to help the rest of us to continue to walk in love towards God and his people.

Walking in a manner worthy of your calling is going to be difficult. Humility others’ needs higher than yours. Gentleness is restraining from anger and responding with compassion and mercy. Patience is the call to bear suffering for the sake of others and doing it in love. When we do these acts of charity and mercy, God can bring peace into the situation.

New standards in Christ

Yet, we do not stop at hearing our call from God. We have to remember, God saved us so can be new people made in the likeness of his son’s image.

Paul then goes on telling us that once we’re made new through the salvation act of God, that we should never return to the former ways.

Ephesians 4:17–32 ESV

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Paul reference the Gentiles because for Paul’s listeners they would be accustomed to the sinful habits of those in Ephesus. There minds are darkened by the power of sin and their callous hearts have prevented them from seeing the truth.

On the contrary, we who know God are to take off the old self and put on the new. The language of taking off your old clothing would have been a big deal in ancient times. Common people would have one possession of clothing, so removing what you have was a big deal to Paul. We have to be clothed with Christ (Gal 3:27). Removing the old life is a normal battle we’re task that we’re going to have to do daily.

Then to overcome the dark thoughts of the past, we are to renew our mind with the spirit. I believe when we give ourselves over to the Spirit through Christian mediation, prayer, singing psalms and praise, God is able to clear our minds and enable us to put on Christ again.

Then Paul tells us what we never return too again: lying, excessive anger, stealing, fowl language. These died with us when we were united to Jesus Christ. The main obligation we carry is to continue forgiving, being kinds, and loving others. These are the way we exhibit the new standards in Christ.

Walking in love

Why is this important to walk according to our calling? It so we can be imitators of our God and represent him well as his children.

Paul then speaks how much love Christ had for us and in doing so we must turn away from every evil thing and not let it be mentioned among us.

The church is called to exposed the evil in the world.

My former soccer coach back at my old bible college runs a ministry called Rescue Innocence. In which his ministry helps people to get out of sex trafficking and shed a light of those exploiting the vulnerable. Paul calls Christians to call a spade, a spade. We recognize whats wrong and we sin for what it is.

Ephesians 5:1–21 ESV

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Christians are to be wide, smart with their time, understand the will of God and be filled with the Holy Spirit. In doing so, we submit to all believers to the best of our ability so we can love as God calls us to love the entire church.

When we conform to the world, it hard to see that we are set apart people. That’s why it’s important we live according to our calling and so that we can expose evil and show our heavenly Father that we love him dearly.

Be in the world but not of the world

I think about my Amish/Mennonite brothers and sisters down the road. Every knows them to be different because of different style clothing and transportation.

But what if the this church, Ubly Christian chose to be different by how we listened to God’s commands?

I believe people would be interested in the gospel if outsiders witness us behaving differently than them.

When we chose to live as we’re already in heaven, it will be hard for those on the outside to deny the Christian gospel. Will you challenge yourself to pick up your cross and kill your old self and it’s passion?

Being unified in Christ, means we have a new life, society, and standard. Let’s live our faith and prove we belong to our one and only God.