Bible in Life

Why Should We Live Differently?

Why should we as Christians change the way we used to live? Why should we live differently than the culture around us? 

Related to that...

-Why does the world around us seem so confused about life? 

-Why can’t they see the falsehood of their ideas when it seems obvious? 

-Why do people do such rotten things to each other? 

-Why should we who know Christ reject the beliefs and behaviors of the world around us?

And "why" is the key word here. We're not ask "what," as in what should we do differently, but why should we do differently. 

Ephesians 4:17-21  

17 So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,  

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Equipping the Saints  

Ephesians 4:7-16 reminds us that church is a people, not an event and not a religious organization. As such, our time, money, energy, and planning should be aimed towards growing people not growing an organization so more people come to events. 

Paul describes it as equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). What does that entail? Listen to this episode of the Bible in Life podcast for a few of my thoughts on this subject. 

Ephesians 4:7-16  

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When He ascended on high,
He led captive the captives,
And He gave gifts to people.”

9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.  

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

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Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

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Beautiful Oneness  

Ephesians 4:4-6 lists all the ways God has made Christians one. It is a oneness Christians enter into and experience in God who experience perfect oneness between Father, Spirit, and Son. It is a oneness that transcends differences of culture, class, ethnicity, and more. 

Ephesians 4:4-6  

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.  

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

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Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Connect with John:

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Walking Worthy  

Ephesians 4 begins a new section in the book of Ephesians. In Ephesians 1-3, Paul describes who God has called Christians to be. In Ephesians 4-6, Paul calls Christians to live a life worthy of that calling. This is the consistent way the Bible describes Christian living. It is a response to what God has done for us in grace by which we live out who we are. We walk worthy of the calling with which we have been called.  

Ephesians 4:1-3  

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

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Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Connect with John:

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A People Filled with God  

Ephesians 3:14-21 records Paul's prayer for the Ephesians. This prayer reminds us that the church is not first and foremost a place, event, or religious organization. It is a people... a people in whom Christ dwells and who are growing deep in the love of God. The culmination of all of this is Paul's request that they be filled with all the fulness of God. 

Ephesians 3:14-21  

14 For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.  

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Connect with John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.