Living Out Our High Calling in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Living in Gratitude for God's Actions

Our Christian life is founded on what God has done for us, not on our actions for Him. This understanding shifts our motivation from trying to earn God's love to responding to it with gratitude. In Ephesians 4, Paul emphasizes that our response to God's incredible blessings and high calling should be a life lived in gratitude. This gratitude is not just a feeling but a way of life that reflects the high calling we have received in Christ. It is about living in a way that honors God and acknowledges His work in our lives. [05:54]

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can express gratitude to God today through your actions or words?

Day 2: Maintaining Unity Through Humility and Love

Unity in the body of Christ is a spiritual reality created by the Holy Spirit. Our role is to maintain this unity through humility, patience, and love, recognizing that our shared faith in Christ is greater than any differences. Paul urges believers to "walk worthy of the calling" by embodying these virtues, as friction and conflict are inevitable among believers. This unity transcends structural or denominational boundaries and is rooted in our shared faith in Christ. [10:55]

"Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." (Philippians 2:2, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life where unity is lacking. How can you take a step towards fostering unity through humility and love today?

Day 3: Embracing and Utilizing Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts are given by grace to equip believers for ministry. These gifts, including apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers, are not a hierarchy of importance but are meant to build up the body of Christ, leading to maturity and unity in faith. Paul emphasizes that these gifts are given not based on merit but by grace, and their purpose is to equip the saints for ministry and edification of the body of Christ. [22:31]

"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching." (Romans 12:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one spiritual gift you believe God has given you. How can you use this gift to serve and build up your church community this week?

Day 4: Transforming into the New Self

Our transformation in Christ involves putting off the old self and putting on the new self. This change is not about external rules but a renewal of the mind, leading to a life that reflects the righteousness and holiness of God. Paul calls believers to a fundamental change in their thinking and orientation, living distinctively and not conforming to the ways of the world. This transformation is about reflecting the character of Christ in our daily lives. [59:04]

"And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one old habit or mindset you need to "put off" to embrace your new identity in Christ? What practical step can you take today to begin this transformation?

Day 5: Living Out Our Identity in Christ

The Christian life is about living out our identity in Christ, not conforming to the world. We are called to be distinct, living in a way that honors God and reflects the new life we have in Him. Paul encourages believers to live in a way that is worthy of their calling, reflecting the character of Christ and not conforming to the patterns of the world. This distinctiveness is a testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel in our lives. [53:53]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel pressure to conform to the world? How can you choose to live out your identity in Christ in that area today?

Sermon Summary

In Ephesians chapter 4, we transition from understanding the theological truths of what God has done for us to how these truths should manifest in our daily lives. The first three chapters of Ephesians focus on the incredible blessings and high calling we have in Christ, emphasizing that the foundation of Christianity is not what we do for God, but what He has done for us. As we move into chapter 4, Paul shifts to practical application, urging us to live in a way that reflects our high calling.

Paul begins by urging us to "walk worthy of the calling" we have received. This worthy walk is characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, and a commitment to unity. These virtues are essential because friction and conflict are inevitable among believers. The unity of the Spirit is a gift from God, and our role is to maintain it, not create it. This unity transcends structural or denominational boundaries and is rooted in our shared faith in Christ.

Paul also discusses the distribution of spiritual gifts, emphasizing that they are given by grace and not based on merit. These gifts, including apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers, are meant to equip the saints for ministry, leading to the edification of the body of Christ. The goal is to bring believers to maturity, unity, and a deeper knowledge of Christ.

The latter part of the chapter focuses on the transformation that should occur in believers' lives. We are called to put off the old self and put on the new self, which is created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. This transformation is not about following a list of rules but about a fundamental change in our thinking and orientation. We are to live distinctively, not conforming to the ways of the world but reflecting the character of Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The foundation of our Christian life is not our actions for God but His actions for us. Our response should be a life of gratitude, living in light of the high calling we have received in Christ. This understanding shifts our motivation from earning God's love to responding to it. [05:54]
2. Unity in the body of Christ is a spiritual reality created by the Holy Spirit. Our role is to maintain this unity through humility, patience, and love, recognizing that our shared faith in Christ is greater than any differences. [10:55]
3. Spiritual gifts are given by grace to equip believers for ministry. These gifts are not a hierarchy of importance but are meant to build up the body of Christ, leading to maturity and unity in faith. [22:31]
4. Our transformation in Christ involves putting off the old self and putting on the new self. This change is not about external rules but a renewal of the mind, leading to a life that reflects the righteousness and holiness of God. [59:04]
5. The Christian life is about living out our identity in Christ, not conforming to the world. We are called to be distinct, living in a way that honors God and reflects the new life we have in Him. [53:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction to Ephesians 4
[01:32] - The Shift from Theology to Practice
[03:33] - Walking Worthy of Our Calling
[06:12] - Characteristics of a Worthy Walk
[09:39] - Maintaining Unity in the Spirit
[13:09] - Spiritual Unity vs. Structural Unity
[19:27] - Spiritual Gifts and Their Purpose
[27:25] - Offices in the Church
[37:13] - Equipping the Saints for Ministry
[45:35] - The Goal of Unity and Maturity
[50:58] - Walking in the New Man
[59:04] - Putting Off the Old, Putting On the New
[66:19] - Prayer and Conclusion

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 4:1-24
- Romans 12:2
- 1 Corinthians 14:29

Observation Questions:

What does Paul mean by urging believers to "walk worthy of the calling" they have received? How does he describe this worthy walk? [03:33]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of the unity of the Spirit, and how are believers instructed to maintain it? [10:55]
How does Paul describe the distribution of spiritual gifts, and what is their purpose within the church? [22:31]
What transformation does Paul say should occur in believers' lives, and how is this transformation described in the sermon? [59:04]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of "walking worthy" of our calling challenge the common perception of the Christian life as a list of dos and don'ts? [03:17]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that unity in the body of Christ transcends structural or denominational boundaries? How might this understanding impact inter-denominational relationships? [11:11]
How does the sermon explain the role of spiritual gifts in achieving maturity and unity within the church? What might this imply about the importance of each believer's contribution? [22:31]
What does it mean to "put off the old self and put on the new self," and how does this relate to the renewal of the mind mentioned in Romans 12:2? [59:04]

Application Questions:

Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel you are not "walking worthy" of your calling in Christ? What steps can you take to align your daily walk with this high calling? [03:33]
Consider a situation where you have experienced conflict within the church. How can you apply the principles of humility, patience, and love to maintain unity in such situations? [10:55]
Identify your spiritual gifts. How are you currently using them to build up the body of Christ? If you're unsure of your gifts, what steps can you take to discover and develop them? [22:31]
Think about a specific area in your life where you struggle with conforming to the world. How can you renew your mind in this area to reflect the character of Christ more fully? [59:04]
How can you actively participate in fostering a spiritual unity within your church community, especially with those who may have different practices or beliefs? [11:11]
Reflect on a recent decision or action. Was it motivated by a desire to earn God's love or as a response to His love? How can you shift your motivation to be more aligned with gratitude for what God has done for you? [05:54]
Identify one specific way you can "put on the new self" this week. What practical steps will you take to live out this transformation in your daily life? [59:04]

Sermon Clips

The foundation of Christianity is not what you do for God but what he has done for you in Jesus Christ, and over the previous several weeks, we've seen Paul spell out in incredible majesty with great eloquence all that God has given. [00:55:52]

We don't walk worthy so that God will love us. No, we walk worthy because he does love us. The walk is motivated out of gratitude, not out of a desire to earn merit. [00:57:00]

Unity of the Spirit is something so powerful. I think sometimes we can understand best what it is by understanding what it is not. It does not say to endeavor to maintain the unity of evil, the unity of superstition, or the unity of spiritual tyranny. [00:11:56]

The purpose of these gifts of leadership is also clear. It is so that the Saints, right, God's people as a whole, we all understand, don't we, that when we say Saints, we're not just talking about the Special Forces among the church, right? [00:37:43]

The Christian life is about living out our identity in Christ, not conforming to the world. We are called to be distinct, living in a way that honors God and reflects the new life we have in Him. [00:53:53]

The new man is the new creation created in conversion. It's the person created according to the image of Jesus Christ, instinctively righteous and holy. It's in contrast to the old man. The old man was crucified with Christ. [01:03:30]

The greatest Christian in all the world lives inside of you. Understand that you are indwelt by the greatest Christian ever, Jesus Christ himself. I don't think any of us can be a better Christian than Jesus. [01:04:51]

We see our identification with him. We understand that we live in that. We relish that. I don't know of a better way to do that if you meditate on the things in the first three chapters. [01:06:48]

This isn't the to-do list, is it? Oh, this is so fundamental to Christian character and Christian living and not being worldly and living for the glory of Jesus Christ. [01:07:02]

Before Paul is talking about the to-do list, and he'll get to a to-do list, don't worry about that, but before he gets to it, he understands that those things have to be built upon spiritual foundations. [01:08:59]

The spiritual foundation is you are a new man in Jesus Christ. You are a new woman in Jesus Christ. Put on the new man and live like it. That's who you are, Christian. Understand who you are and live that way. [01:09:11]

In this Christian life, I see many people in the Christian world today, and their Christian lives are filled with frustration and defeat, and it's because they want to go immediately to the to-do list. [01:10:28]

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