Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT
[1] “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. [2] Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. [3] Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”
I was taught, at Bible School, that when you see a “therefore”, you must ask what it’s there for. That may not be good English but it’s good theology!
Paul’s ‘therefore’s’ always follow his teaching. Most of his letters begin with explanations about the Father and His actions and intentions through Jesus. The Holy Spirit also features in these teachings in His function as administrator of God’s purposes on earth. So, Paul’s letters highlight great themes on God’s nature (for example, righteousness – in Romans…grace in Ephesians), and what He does.
However, theory without practice is sterile. If we don’t respond appropriately to who God is and what He has done, our faith is of no consequence.
James 1:22 NLT
[22] “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”
Trouble is that many of those who claim allegiance to Jesus have not grasped this truth. Life goes on with the flesh still in charge, unfortunately bringing disgrace on the one who bought us.
Paul addressed this issue in his criticism of the Jews in his letter to the Romans.
Romans 2:22-24 NLT
[22] You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? [23] You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. [24] No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”
The Gentiles, although many believed in Jesus, in the main, brushed aside the claims of the Jewish faith because God’s people did not live up to God’s requirements. Instead, the Jews lived like pagans but were still proud of the faith they failed to obey.
Now, Paul says, we have an obligation to become what God has recreated us to be.
Colossians 3:10 NLT
[10] “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”
Fortunately, for his readers and for us, Paul gives clear instructions on how to work out what God has worked in us. We learn from the failure of God’s people to obey the law, that living righteously is impossible without…
- A new life.
God has given us that new life.
Ephesians 2:1, 4-6 NLT
[1″Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins…
[4] But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, [5] that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) [6] For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”
This new life radically changes us from the inside. We have a connection with God that transforms our attitude to Him, ourselves, and the world. We are a new creation. If this has not happened, despite our claim to faith in Jesus, we have not been born again.
- The power of the Holy Spirit.
God has given us His Spirit to overcome our old sinful nature.
Romans 8:12-13 NLT
[12] “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. [13] For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.”
The Holy Spirit, now living in us, alerts us to the sin we were comfortable with before we received Jesus. He leads us away from rebellion and disobedience towards submission to Jesus and His authority over us.
- His very great and precious promises.
God has promised us grace and power to overcome sin and live righteously.
2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT
[3] “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. [4] And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
Love and unity are the GOAL of the church and love and unity can only be achieved by obedience to Jesus empowered by His Spirit. Love and unity are also our Guarantee that we will inherit eternal life. God has promised us an inheritance so precious that He keeps it safe for us in heaven and He guarantees that promise by the presence of the Holy Spirit in us now.
1 Peter 1:4 NLT
[4] “… We have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”
Ephesians 1:14 NLT
[14] “The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.”
However, this inheritance, which Jesus shares with us, is only for those who obey Jesus and are led by God’s Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-21 NLT
[19]”When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, [21] envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.“
Galatians 5:22, 23 NLT
[22] “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:23 NLT
[23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Jesus told the religious leaders who refused to receive Him…
Matthew 21:43 NLT
[43] “I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NLT
[9 “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, [10] or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. [11] Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
So, Paul encouraged and warned his Roman readers…
Romans 8:9-14 NLT
[9]”But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) [10] And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. [11] The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. [12] Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. [13] For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”
How important, then, that we take Paul’s ‘therefore’ seriously. What follows in Ephesians 4-6 are the building blocks of the life of faith. Every ‘therefore’ adds to the lives we are to live and qualifies us to receive the inheritance God is keeping for us in heaven.
In no way does our salvation depend on what we can do or what we can add to what Jesus has done for us. “It is finished!” Complete! Done!
However, our inheritance depends on how we respond to His work in us. Those who do nothing about gaining mastery over the flesh will have no part in the rewards God has prepared for those who are faithful to Him. “If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him.”
Romans 5:17-18 NLT
[17] “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. [18] Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.”
Paul grieved over those who claimed salvation but lived by their evil desires.
Philippians 3:17-19 NLT
[17]”Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. [18] For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. [19] They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.”
Therefore, a life worthy of the salvation that we have received is the evidence that we are children of God.
1 John 3:2-3 NLT
[2]”Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. [3] And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.”