Ephesians 4, Walk In A Manner Worthy Of The Calling, Our Position As Ambassadors Dictates Our Practice

2. Pastor Dave Kooyers
Valley Bible Fellowship
Box 433
Boonville CA 95415
www.ValleyBibleFellowship.org
(707) 895-2325
God bless you as you examine His Word,
Your servant in Christ, 2Cor. 4:5,
Dave

3. Ephesus

4. Eph 4:1 Walk In A Manner Worthy Of The Calling

5. Chapters 4-6 Are About Our Walk

6. The Second Half Of Ephesians
• Our Position
• Chapters 1-3 tell us about our position and
identity in the church, the body of Christ.
• Our Practice
• Chapters 4-6 tell us how our position in the
body of Christ should direct our walk

7. The Second Half Of Ephesians
• Our Position, Our Calling
• Chapters 1-3 tell us about our position and
identity in the church, the body of Christ.
• Our Practice, Our Conduct
• Chapters 4-6 tell us how our position in the
body of Christ should direct our walk

8. Let’s Read About Our Walk
• In Eph 4:1-16

9. Bible Knowledge Commentary
• Eph 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge
you… NIV
• “The NIV gives the impression that this walk
should be on the basis that Paul was a prisoner
for the Lord. However, the Greek does not
connote this. Rather it is, "Therefore (rather than
then) I, the" prisoner of the Lord (as already
stated in 3:1), beseech you to walk worthy of
your calling." Thus on the basis of what Paul
wrote in chapters 1-3 he implored them to walk
worthily…”

10. Eph 4:1, What Did Paul Write?
• Eph 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the
Lord…NKJV
• The “therefore” is there for a reason;
• Paul ties Eph 4-6 back to Eph 1-3;
• Eph 3:1…I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for
the sake of you Gentiles—
• Eph 3:13 I ask you, therefore, not to be
discouraged because of my sufferings for
you, which are your glory.
• Which causes us to reflect back on all 3 chapters
and consider what he is basing the following on;

11. Eph 4:1, What Did Paul Write?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Eph 1:4…he chose us in him before the creation
Eph 1:5…predestined us to be adopted as his sons
Eph 1:11…we were also chosen…
Eph 1:19…his incomparably great power for us who believe
Eph 2:1…you were dead in your transgressions
Eph 2:4-5…God…made us alive with Christ
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
• Eph 2:10…we are God's workmanship
• Eph 2:11-12…formerly you who are Gentiles…were
separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and
foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope
and without God in the world.

12. Eph 4:1, What Did Paul Write?
• Eph 2:13…in Christ Jesus you…have been brought near
• Eph 2:14…he…has made the two one …
• Eph 2:15…abolishing…the law with its
commandments…
• Eph 2:15…to create in himself one new man out of the
two
• Eph 2:18…through him we both have access to the
Father
• Eph 2:19… fellow citizens with God's people…
• Eph 2:20…Christ Jesus…the chief cornerstone
• Eph 2:22…a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

13. Eph 4:1, What Did Paul Write?
Eph 3:6…the Gentiles are heirs together with
Israel
Eph 3:6…sharers together in the promise…
Eph 3:17…so that Christ may dwell in your
hearts
Eph 3:17…rooted and established in love
Eph 3:19…know this love that surpasses
knowledge
Eph 3:20…his power that is at work within us

14. Therefore Our Walk…
• Since God is absolutely sovereign, we were
completely separated, God graced us, Christ
brought us near (in Him), a new man, with
access, we are being built, heirs with
Israel, sharers in the promise, Christ dwells in
our hearts, in love, and his power is at work
within us.
• Therefore because of what Paul has said in
chapters 1-3 we should walk worthily.
• Our position dictates our practice!

15. Our Position As Ambassadors
Dictates Our Practice!
• 2 Co 5:16-21 So from now on we regard no one from a
worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in
this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new
has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to
himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of
reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to
himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.
And he has committed to us the message of
reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's
ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal
through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be
reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to
be sin for us, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God.

16. Our Position As Princes/Princesses
• John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to
those who believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God—

17. Our Position As Princes/Princesses
• Phil 2:14-16 Do everything without
complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may
become blameless and pure, children of
God without fault in a crooked and depraved
generation, in which you shine like stars in
the universe 16 as you hold out the word of
life...

18. Our Position As Princes/Princesses
• 1 Jn 3:1-3 How great is the love the Father
has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God! And that is what we are!
…2 Dear friends, now we are children of
God, and what we will be has not yet been
made known. But we know that when he
appears, we shall be like him, for we shall
see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this
hope in him purifies [present active indicative]
himself, just as he is pure.

19. Ephesians 4-6, Describe Our Walk
• Eph 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech
you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were
called, NKJV
• Eph 4:17…no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles
walk…NKJV
• Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear
children…KJV
• Eph 5:2…walk in love, as Christ also has loved us…NKJV
• Eph 5:8…Walk as children of light…NKJV
• Eph 5:15…walk circumspectly, not as fools…NKJV

20. How Do We Live A Life Worthy?
• Eph 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle…
•
NET NAS ESV CSB NAU
Ephesians 4:2 with all humility
and gentleness
• The Greeks thought that humility was a
weakness, to be desired only in slaves.

21. Humility Our Goal
• Phil 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain
conceit, but in humility consider others better than
yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your
own interests, but also to the interests of others.
• Col 3:12-14 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy
and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive
whatever grievances you may have against one
another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over
all these virtues put on love, which binds them all
together in perfect unity.

22. How Do We Live A Life Worthy?
• Eph 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be
patient, bearing with one another in love.
• Isn’t there an easier way Lord?
• Couldn’t just we live a life almost worthy?
• There’s a guy hanging off a cliff by a bush…

23. How Do We Live A Life Worthy?
• Almost worthy?
• What is worthy?

24. Bible Knowledge Commentary
• Ephesians 4:1
• “The word "worthy" (axios) means "equal
weight"; one's calling and conduct should be
in balance. "The calling" refers not only to
believers' salvation (cf. Ro 1:5-6; 1 Co 1:9) but
also to their union in one body. Therefore a
Christian's conduct concerns both his personal
life and his responsibility to other believers in
the church.”

25. Eph 4:3, Keep The Unity
• Eph 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of
the Spirit through the bond of peace.
It doesn’t say to
make, build or
establish the
unity, but “keep”.
The 1st 3 chapters
showed that God
created the unity “in
Christ” already

26. Eph 4:4, Reminder Of The Unity
• Eph 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit—
just as you were called to one hope when you
were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one
baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is
over all and through all and in all.
• Paul reminds us of the unity described in the
1st 3 chapters

27. Eph 4:7, Christ Apportioned It?
• Eph 4:7 But to each one of us grace has been
given as Christ apportioned it. NIV
• Here’s a little for you, and some for you…
• NET NKJ NAS ESV NAU KJV Ephesians 4:7 But unto
every one of us is given grace according to the
measure of the gift of Christ.
• CSB Ephesians 4:7 …to each one of us
according to the measure of the Messiah's
gift.

28. Eph 4:8, Christ Gave Gifts To Men
•
•
•
•
•
•
Eph 4:8
This is why it says:
"When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men.“
He’s quoting Ps. 68

29. Ps 68:17-19, Who Ascended?
• Ps 68:17-19 The chariots of God are tens of
thousands and thousands of thousands; the
Lord [has come] from Sinai into his sanctuary.
18 When you ascended on high, you led
captives in your train; you received gifts from
men, even from the rebellious — that you, O
Lord God, might dwell there. 19 Praise be to
the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears
our burdens.

30. Eph 4:9, The Gifts Are Men
• Eph 4:8… “he ascended…and gave gifts to men”
• Eph 4:9-11 (What does "he ascended" mean
except that he also descended to the
lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is
the very one who ascended higher than all the
heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It
was he who gave some to be apostles, some to
be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to
be pastors and teachers,

32. Ephesians 4:11-14, Explained by;
www.foundationsforfreedom.net
• http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/Topics/Disciple/Flow
Ex/FlowEx6_Purpose.html

33. Ephesians 4:11-14
Comments
Future Action
4:11 And he gave some [to
be] apostles; and some,
prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers;
Notice how God saw the need
and supplied certain leaders
with gifts and positions to
train and protect the sheep.
God will be calling and raising
leaders from among our
congregations to pastor and
teach.
4:12 for the perfecting of
the saints, unto the work of
ministering, unto the building
up of the body of Christ:
The goal is simply to build up
the saints so that they can
serve. As the Christians are
built up, so the whole body of
Christ is established as each
serves the other.
The teaching leaders of the
church needs to be diligent to
equip each Christian so that
they can be involved in the
ministry to the saints.
4:13 till we all attain unto
the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a full grown man,
unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ:
The end goal requires an
ongoing process. The whole
process of training comes to
light when we keep focused
on the goal (the vision). This
is our mission.
We need to establish the
church in such a way that it
keeps growing. Programs
sounds like a bad word (and
can be) if they don’t lead
God’s people hungrily along to
the next stage closer to the
ultimate goal.

34. the saints, unto the work of
ministering, unto the building
up of the body of Christ:
the saints so that they can
serve. As the Christians are
built up, so the whole body of
Christ is established as each
serves the other.
church needs to be diligent to
equip each Christian so that
they can be involved in the
ministry to the saints.
4:13 till we all attain unto
the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a full grown man,
unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ:
The end goal requires an
ongoing process. The whole
process of training comes to
light when we keep focused
on the goal (the vision). This
is our mission.
We need to establish the
church in such a way that it
keeps growing. Programs
sounds like a bad word (and
can be) if they don’t lead
God’s people hungrily along to
the next stage closer to the
ultimate goal.
4:14 that we may be no
longer children, tossed to and
fro and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, in craftiness,
after the wiles of error.
Without this persistent
training, Christians will
stumble and fall. God has
given us the key to growing
strong godly people. We need
to be aggressive in training
them.
Christians face innumerable
dangers. We cannot identify
all these errors. Instead we
need to teach the truth so
that they individually know
and love God’s Word.

35. Eph 4:11, He Gave Some
• Eph 4:11…gave some to be apostles, some to be…
• Dr. C.I. Scofield says, “…In 1 Corinthians, the gifts
are spiritual enablements for specific service; in
Ephesians , the gifts are men who have such
enablements.”
• Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by
man, but by Jesus Christ… KJV
• Ac 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and
John and realized that they were
unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished
and they took note that these men had been with
Jesus.

36. Eph 4:12, Our Mission
• Eph 4:12 to prepare God's people for works of
service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
• Ac 6:2-4 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples
together and said, "It would not be right for us to
neglect the ministry of the word of God in order
to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men
from among you who are known to be full of the
Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility
over to them 4 and will give our attention to
prayer and the ministry of the word."

37. Our Goal Is Maturity
• Eph 4:13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become
mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness
of Christ.
• Heb 5:11-14 We have much to say about this, but it is
hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In
fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you
need someone to teach you the elementary truths of
God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid
food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an
infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about
righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who
by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish
good from evil.

38. Eph. 4:14, No Longer Be Infants
• Eph 4:14 Then we will no longer be
infants, tossed back and forth by the
waves, and blown here and there by every
wind of teaching and by the cunning and
craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
• Evangelism and scripturally defending a
doctrinal position by debating theology are
great motivators to strengthen your
foundation and doctrine.

39. Titus On No Longer Being Infants
• Titus 2:1 ". . . speak the things which are fitting
for sound doctrine."
• Titus 2:7 ". . . show yourself to be an example . . .
with purity in doctrine . . ."
• Titus 1:9 ". . . be able to exhort in sound doctrine
and to refute those who contradict."
• So, it's OK to have a disagreement with a true
brother or sister in Christ over secondary issues.
But always use Scripture, not your just own
opinions, experiences, or training to support your
position.

40. Un-Sound
Doctrine Is
A Slippery
Slope

41. • Don’t
“live as
the
Gentiles
do”!

42. • Paul gives
us clear
instructions
on how to
walk
worthy of
the calling
that God
has placed
on our lives
In Eph 4:17-32

43. Eph 4:17-19, Hopeless Condition
• Eph 4:17-19 So I tell you this, and insist on it in
the Lord, that you must no longer live as the
Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18
They are darkened in their understanding and
separated from the life of God because of the
ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of
their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they
have given themselves over to sensuality so as to
indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual
lust for more.

44. Eph 4:20-24, Put Off Your Old Self
• Eph 4:20-24 You, however, did not come to
know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of
him and were taught in him in accordance
with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were
taught, with regard to your former way of
life, to put off your old self, which is being
corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be
made new in the attitude of your minds; 24
and to…

45. Eph 4:24, Put On The New Self

47. “Be angry”?
ὀργίζεσθε verb imperative
present passive 2nd person
plural from ὀργίζω

48. Eph 4:26-27, In Your Anger
• "In your
anger do not
sin…”

49. Eph 4:26, In Your Anger Do Not Sin
•
•
•
•
Eph 4:26-28 "In your anger do not sin“...
What does that imply?
There is a righteous anger;
Mk 3:4-5…Jesus…looked around at them in anger and,
deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts…
• Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger…
• Col 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such
things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy
language from your lips. (1 Ti 2:8)
• Jas 1:19-20…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to
speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger
does not bring about the righteous life that God
desires.

50. Eph 4:28, Just Quit It!
• Eph 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal
no longer, but must work, doing something
useful with his own hands, that he may have
something to share with those in need.
• 2 Th 3:10…we gave you this rule: "If a man will
not work, he shall not eat.“…

53. Eph 4:29-30, For It Grieves God
• Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of
God, with whom you were sealed for the day
of redemption.
• The Holy Spirit;
• Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit
• with whom, not with what
• Ac 5:3…you have lied to the Holy Spirit…
• Ac 5:4…You have not lied to men but to God.

54. Eph 4:31-32, Get Rid Of It!

55. In Closing;
How Do We Live A Life Worthy?
• Eph 4:1…live a life worthy of the calling
• Eph 4:2…completely humble and gentle; be
patient, bearing with one another in love.
• Eph 4:3…keep the unity of the Spirit
• Eph 4:14…no longer be infants
• Eph 4:15…speaking the truth in love
• Eph 4:17…no longer live as the Gentiles do
• Eph 4:22…put off your old self
• Eph 4:23…made new in the attitude of your minds
• Eph 4:24…put on the new self…like God in true
righteousness and holiness

56. How Do We Live A Life Worthy?
•
•
•
•
•
Eph 4:25…put off falsehood and speak truthfully
Eph 4:26…In your anger do not sin
Eph 4:28…steal no longer, but must work
Eph 4:28…share with those in need
Eph 4:29…Do not let any unwholesome talk come out
of your mouths
• Eph 4:30…do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God
• Eph 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God
forgave you.

57. THE END

58. Bible Knowledge Commentary
• Psalms 68:15-18….was referred to by Paul in Eph 4:8 (cf.
comments there). However, rather than quoting the
Hebrew, Paul apparently followed the Jewish interpretation
of the day (the Targum), which paraphrased this verse as
follows: "You did ascend to the firmament, O Prophet
Moses! You led captivity captive; you taught the words of
the Law; you gave [not 'received,' as in the Heb.] gifts to the
sons of men." (This interpretation saw Moses as God's
representative.) Paul followed this Jewish exegesis because
it explained that the conqueror distributed the gifts to His
loyal subjects. The apostle applied that idea to Christ's
victory over the forces of evil and His granting spiritual gifts
(cf. Eph 4:11) to those on His side. By this analogy (based
more on the Jewish interpretation of the psalm than on the
exact Heb. wording) Paul Emphasized the greatness of
believers' spiritual victory in Christ.

59. Ephesians 4:11-14
Comments
Future Action
4:11 And he gave some
[to be] apostles; and some,
prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
Notice how God saw the
need and supplied certain
leaders with gifts and
positions to train and
protect the sheep.
God will be calling and
raising leaders from among
our congregations to
pastor and teach.
4:12 for the perfecting
of the saints, unto the work
of ministering, unto the
building up of the body of
Christ:
The goal is simply to build
up the saints so that they
can serve. As the Christians
are built up, so the whole
body of Christ is
established as each serves
the other.
The teaching leaders of the
church needs to be diligent
to equip each Christian so
that they can be involved
in the ministry to the
saints.
4:13 till we all attain
unto the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a full
grown man, unto the
The end goal requires an
ongoing process. The
whole process of training
comes to light when we
keep focused on the goal
We need to establish the
church in such a way that it
keeps growing. Programs
sounds like a bad word
(and can be) if they don’t