Walk Worthy

Ephesians 4:1-6
(1)  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
(2)  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
(3)  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(4)  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
(5)  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
(6)  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

In Ephesians 1-3 we are edified concerning our spiritual wealth in Christ. In chapters 4-6 we are exhorted to have a spiritual walk in Christ (4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15). Some try to separate doctrinal teaching from practical preaching, but they go together, and both are necessary. The strength of application is a solid doctrinal foundation. Sound doctrine has a life changing effect when it is believed and obeyed (Rom. 6:17).

(v.1) – The law commanded, but grace beseeches (23x’s in Paul's epistles). Vocation = calling. The Body of Christ has a high (Phil. 3:14) and holy (2 Tim. 1:9) calling. The goal of spiritual growth is getting our state lined up with our standing. We must first KNOW our standing, which is why Paul dealt with that first in this epistle. To walk worthy is to live in a way that is becoming to the sound doctrine we profess to believe (Titus 2:1, 10; Phil. 1:27). 

(vs.2-3) – Our high calling demands a lowly walk. These verses describe how the members of the one Body should treat each other (Col. 3:9-15; Phil. 2:1-5). A true spiritual knowledge of all that the grace of God has made us to be in Christ should humble us. A superficial knowledge will just puff us up (1 Cor. 8:1). Paul said that knowledge without charity is nothing. We cannot make the unity of the Spirit, but we must endeavor to keep it.  That we must endeavor to keep it implies Satan and our own flesh will oppose it.

(vs.4-6) – This passage is often misused to teach that all professing Christians should be ecumenical and come together in unity despite doctrinal differences. God is not asking us to form a unity, but rather to recognize the unity that He Himself has made in Christ. This is the unity of the Spirit and not the uniformity of the flesh (e.g. Catholicism is a unified man-made religion).

There are seven spiritual things that form the basis of the unity of the Spirit. The word “unity” only appears 3 times in the Bible (Ps. 133:1; Eph. 4:3, 13). Seven is God’s number of perfection. Ephesians is the pinnacle of revelation for the Body of Christ, like Revelation is for Israel. The number seven is prevalent in both books. The first chapter reveals seven spiritual blessings and the last chapter seven pieces of spiritual armor. 

This is our main doctrinal statement. This is the basis of our fellowship (Eph. 3:9).

1)      One body – There are many local churches (Rom. 16:4), but there is only ONE body (Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 10:17; 12:13; Eph. 2:16; Col. 3:15). There are many Christian organizations, but there is only one spiritual organism that God is building today.

2)      One Spirit (1:13; 2:18; 1 Cor. 6:17) – The Holy Spirit baptizes, regenerates, indwells, and seals every member of the Body.

3)      One hope of OUR calling (Eph. 1:15-19; Titus 2:13; Phil. 3:20) – Israel has an earthly hope: Christ to establish His kingdom on the earth after the tribulation. We have a heavenly hope: being caught up to meet Christ the air before the tribulation. We will reign with Christ in His heavenly kingdom (2 Tim. 4:18). 

4)      One Lord – Christ is the Head of the one Body. Paul was the first to preach Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Rom. 16:25; Eph. 1:20-23).

5)      One faith – “The faith” (e.g. 2 Tim. 4:7) is the body of doctrine revealed in Paul’s epistles for the Body of Christ. This “one faith” reveals the “faith of Christ” by which we are justified. Our faith is based upon this “one faith.”

6)      One baptism – There are various baptisms in the Bible (Matt. 3:11), but there is only one that makes us members of the one Body (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12). The baptism by the Spirit that takes place upon salvation and puts us into the Body of Christ is the only baptism that matters today. How sad it is that the professing church is greatly divided over a water ceremony that God never even commanded the Body of Christ to practice! The apostle Paul never commanded water baptism like Peter did (1 Cor. 1:17; Acts 10:48). Water baptism is not to be a basis of fellowship, and yet that is exactly what it is in most churches! This one baptism cannot be water baptism.

7)      One God and Father – above, through, in = all about Him. God is not the Father of the lost (Gal. 3:26). The Father, Son, and Spirit are all in the believer.