Walk

Paul writes to the church at Ephesus with some of the most glorious truths. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places," (Eph 1:3) he begins and then launches into a listing of the spiritual blessings with which we are blessed (Eph 1:3-14). He repeatedly reminds us that we are blessed with these blessings for the purpose of glorifying God (Eph 1:6, 12, 14). He prays they would see the glory of Christ (Eph 1:16-23) and contrasts that with the natural human condition (Eph 2:1-3) which only serves to magnify God's love and mercy in saving us (Eph 2:4-10). He explains to the Gentile believers that they were without hope but are now part of the covenant (Eph 2:11-22). He prays that they would "know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge" (Eph 3:19) and almost loses the ability to express God's capability to do more than we ask or think (Eph 3:20-21). And then he says,

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. (Eph 4:1)

"Walk in a manner worthy of the calling." You see, there is a correlation between right thinking and right living. There is a correlation between "cold hard facts" and "how we live". Paul says, "Look at the manner in which you were called (see the previous 3 chapters) and then walk accordingly."

How does Paul suggest, in light of our calling, that we walk? Well, he first offers a quick summary--"with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph 4:2-3) But, after explaining the function of the Spirit, the unity of the Body of Christ, and the function of the Church (Eph 4:4-16) (The function of the Church, basically, is "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up the body of Christ ..." (Eph 4:12).), Paul goes into more detail. He does it by means of contrast. "This is what those who are not saved are; you should be different." So he begins,

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ! (Eph 4:17-20)

What follows after that is the contrast (Eph 4:22-32). "Don't be that; be this." But look at that characterization of the unbeliever. What are the key components to avoid?

1. Walking in the futility of their minds

Note, first and foremost, that the remedy to this is not "be mindless". It is not "stop thinking". Some suggest we should simply follow the leading of the Spirit. Paul says, "Be renewed in the spirit of your minds." (Eph 4:23). (See? That's the contrast to "futility of their minds".) It isn't that we shouldn't use our minds. It is that we need to recognize that Natural Man suffers from brain damage due to sin (Rom 1:21-23, 28). So do you. (All of us come originally from the breed known as "Natural Man".) It is not a command to not use your mind, but to not use it in futility.

Have you ever wondered why they can't see that homosexual behavior is a sin when it's so clear in Scripture? Futility of mind. Have you ever wondered how it is that sexual immorality has become so prevalent in all aspects of our society? Futility of mind. "Why can't they see that abortion is killing a baby?" Futility of mind. Have you ever come across a command--say, "Love your neighbor" or "Make disciples, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you"--that you do not seek to obey? That's futility of mind. We all have it. We all suffer from it. We have the Truth in written form and in Christ within, so avoid futile thinking and renew your mind.

2. Darkened in understanding

With ineffective thinking comes darkened understanding. Paul says, "The Natural Man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor 2:14). Thus, "avoid that."

3. Alienated from the life of God (due to ignorance and hardness of heart)

Natural Man lacks spiritual life which can only be supplied by God. His ignorance and hard-heartedness makes it certain. Are you expecting something more from them? More importantly, are you addressing the certain remnants of ignorance and hard-heartedness in your life?

4. Callous

"Callous" means "past feeling", and you might be tempted to question this claim given the prevalence of operating all of life on the basis of feelings. Remember, though, that the point is right thinking, functioning understanding, a connection with God. The unbeliever doesn't care about these things. Do you?

5. Given to sensuality

Not caring about proper thinking or a right relationship with God, what do they care about? Sensuality. Satiating the senses. Paul warns a few verses later that the old man "is corrupt through deceitful desires" (Eph 4:22). Our desires deceive. And we indulge them. Oh, how true it is! Think just for a moment about a clear example. What, to the Muslim mind, is "heaven"? 72 virgins. Really? "Heaven" is defined as sensual satisfaction? Why not, when the bulk of our society lives with the same mindset? Do you? That's the real question. Are you all about appeasing the senses? Are you aware that it's a lie?

6. Greedy to practice impurity

We live in a culture seemingly structured around illustrating this truth. They aren't simply given to sensuality. They aren't simply practicing impurity. They are greedy for it. They work it. They dig for it. They invent it. There are evils occurring today that wouldn't have occurred to earlier times in our society. But we're working hard at it because we are greedy to practice all manner of moral impurity. And again I ask, "Are you?"

Paul gives some helpful positives, a nice list of things to aim for rather than this list that we should avoid. Go there (Eph 4:22-32). Do it. If you are a member of the Body of Christ, pursue those things. Be sure to recognize 1) that Natural Man is faulty and 2) such were you. We need to both move toward and move away from. And don't expect them to be better than God says they are.