TEXT:  Eph. 4:1

INTRODUCTION:

A.      “WALK” AN IMPORTANT WORD IN EPHESIANS.

          1.       Life is seen as walking a path to our eternal destiny.

          2.       “Walk” is used by Paul to describe our manner of life.

B.      USED 7 TIMES IN EPHESIANS, EACH TIME REFERRING TO THE WAY WE ARE TO LIVE.

I.      FIRST WE ARE TOLD HOW NOT TO WALK.

A.      WE ARE NOT WALK ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD

          ( Eph. 2:2 ).

          1.       The course of this world is the way of sin ( vs. 1, 3 ).

          2.       We are to be different ( Rom. 12:2 ).

          3.       All once walked this way and were dead to God.

          4.       But God made us alive to live differently ( vs. 1;  Rom. 6:4, 17-18 ).

B.      AS THE GENTILES ( Eph. 4:17-19 ).

          1.       In the vanity of their minds, trusting man’s wisdom( Col. 2:8;  1 Cor. 3:18-19 ).

          2.       The result of following human wisdom ( Eph. 4:18-19;  Rom. 1:24-25 ).

II.     PAUL ALSO TELLS US HOW WE OUGHT TO WALK.

A.      Eph. 2:10.  IN GOOD WORKS.

          1.       Christ’s purpose in redeeming us ( Titus 2:14 ).

          2.       Who determines what is a “good work?” ( Eph. 2:10;  Matt. 7:21 ).

          3.       Those “good works” are revealed in the Scriptures ( 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ).

          4.       Jude 3.  “Once for all” ( Heb. 7:27;  10:10-12 ).

B.      Eph. 4:1.  WORTHILY OF OUR CALLING.

          1.       Walking worthily involves our attitude toward one another ( vs. 2 ).

          2.       Walking worthily involves walking together ( vs. 3:  Col. 3:15 ).

C.      Eph. 5:2.  IN LOVE.

          1.       Basic to our faith ( 1 Cor. 13:1-3 ).

          2.       The effect is profound ( 1 Cor. 13:4-7 ).

D.      Eph. 5:8.  AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT.

          1.       Once we were all in darkness( vs. 8 ).

          2.       But we must now follow Jesus as he walks in the light( John 8:12 ).

                   a.       Darkness is sin and ignorance( 1 Pet. 2:9 ).

                   b.       Jesus left a sinless example( 1 Pet. 2:21-23 ).

          3.       Walking in the light means fellowship with God ( 1 John 1:6-7 ).

E.      Eph. 5:15-16.  CAREFULLY ( CIRCUMSPECTLY ).

          1.       Because there is much evil in the world ( Eph. 5:16 ).

          2.       Because there is a predator stalking us ( 1 Pet. 5:8 ).

          3.       Because there are many distractions ( Heb. 12:1-2 ).

CONCLUSION:  PAUL SPEAKS OF WALKING IN “NEWNESS OF LIFE” ( Rom. 6:4 ).

A.      THE BEGINNING OF THIS WALK IS BAPTISM ( vs. 6:3-4 ).

B.      THE RESULT OF THIS NEW LIFE IN CHRIST INVOLVES A CHANGE OF MASTERS( vs. 17-18 ).

C.      ARE YOU WALKING IN NEWNESS OF LIFE?