By Robert L. Olsen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
Walking Together
Ephesians 4:1–10
Walking Worthy (1–3)
Having established valuable Christian doctrine in the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul now turns to the practical applications that necessarily follow. The “therefore” in the text indicates what Paul is about to say builds on the previous material.
It is often said today, “We just need to love people; we need to show them the love of Christ. Theology isn’t important.” However, the practice of loving others devoid of a doctrinal underpinning is hollow and will not last. If Christians only try to be kind to other people how is this any different than the Peace Corps? Don’t they do the same thing? This is not just hypothetical.
Christian missions suffered at the beginning of the 20th century because so many Christian denominations believed the gospel was about helping people get out of poverty. It is not difficult to see the implications of this.
If the gospel is reduced to helping other people with their economic problems then there is no real drive to take the message of redemption to the farthest reaches of the world. Instead one travels abroad to help people physically. Biblically all this does is allow people to face eternal separation from God — only well fed and with finances.
Conversely focusing on doctrine and not living it out is equally defective. Sometimes Christians focus on having the right doctrine but they don’t practice the implications of such doctrines. Historically this often leads to legalism, where Christianity focuses more on believing the right thing rather than living it out.
Both of these approaches — love with no truth and truth with no love — carry negative consequences. This is why Paul connects the two. The word “therefore” puts the two sides together: doctrine and practice.
Furthermore Paul mentions Christians have received their calling and they must live worthy of it. This is important to note. The fruit of being a Christian follows the actual becoming a Christian. Many think they have to get their lives right in order to follow Christ.
However, it is not possible to get your life right apart from God. This means that first one believes in Christ and repents and then he or she changes and begin to produce the fruit of the Spirit and good works. Many religions teach that people have to strive to get their lives right so God will accept us. Christianity teaches the opposite. We believe and then Christ makes us acceptable to God.
Living Unified (4–6)
Christians are to be characterized by unity based upon the fact that there is one Lord and one Church made up of all believers in Christ. While many denominations exist, as long as they base their salvation upon Christ we can consider them brothers and sisters in Christ, making us part of the same body.
Enjoying Victory (7–10)
Paul turns from unity in the body of Christ to the individuality of the members within the Church. He references Psalm 68 for support, a psalm pertaining to David’s triumph in battle. Just as a king returning from battle would provide gifts to his people the same applies to Christ our heavenly King.
God gives each believer at least one spiritual gift for the purpose of edifying the Church. Each gift is to be used to support the body of Christ.
Therefore while the Church is unified it is comprised of individual Christians each caring for one another and utilizing their gifts to help one another and to bring praise to God.
We need to take stock of how God has gifted us so we can be used by the church to edify and encourage other believers and glorify God. By doing so we can create unity and be effective witnesses for Christ.
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