Paul divided his letter to the Ephesians into two main sections, the first focused on what God has done in Christ to save them (chapters 1-3) and the second focused on what that salvation should produce in the Christian’s everyday life (chapters 4-6). Throughout the letter, Paul uses the metaphor of walking, both in negative and positive senses.
God Chose Us in Christ (Chapters 1-3)
Paul begins the letter with, “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, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”
Please notice:
- First, that God chose us.
- Second, that he chose us to bless us in Christ.
- Third, that he chose us before the foundation of the world!
- Fourth, that he chose us for a purpose—that we should be holy and blameless before him.
The theme of walking derives from that fourth point.
Every Christian used to be dead in sin, according to Ephesians 2.1-3, and we used to once walk in trespasses and sins. This was our way of life. Our normal was to follow the desires of our flesh and our mind just like the rest of the world, but praise God that he made us alive together with Christ, raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly places!
God made us a new creation in Christ for a purpose. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
We Respond to God’s Call by Walking Rightly (Chapters 4-6)
Paul begins the second half of the letter with, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 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.”
Please notice:
- First, that we have been called by God.
- Second, that we have been called to a specific type of walking (way of life).
- Third, that our walk should be characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, love, and peace.
Paul immediately writes more about the calling of God in Ephesians 4.4: “you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.”
But what of this walk to which God has called us?
Negatively, “you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds” (Ephesians 4.17). Much can be said about this, and Paul expands further in the following verses. Those who do not know Christ blindly stumble through life following their own wisdom. Their bodies become their guides; they do whatever feels good or looks good at the time. Don’t walk like that, Paul says.
Rather, “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (5.1). “Walk as children of light…and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (5.8-10). “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (5.15-17).
To Sum Up
God has called us in Christ, saved us through Christ, and seated us with Christ for the purpose of walking in obedience to him. He created us in Christ for good works, and this is the theme of Ephesians. God does not call us to perform good works in order to get into Christ (to save ourselves); instead, he chooses us and calls us to himself in order that we should perform good works. The walk of a Christian is so sweet when considered rightly in this way, for we are not walking in order to earn our place in Christ; we walk this way because we are in Christ! Blessed be the name of the Lord.