Living Differently Than the World

What can we learn from Ephesians 4:17–19?

A Different Way of Living

In Ephesians 4:17–19, Paul speaks very plainly. He tells the believers in Ephesus that they should no longer walk as other Gentiles walk (i.e., their way of life). Many of the Ephesian Christians were Gentiles themselves, so he's talking about the old way of life they once shared with "other" Gentiles before coming to Christ.

What Was That Walk? [For deeper reading if time permits.]

“Vanity of their mind” — thoughts that are empty, unproductive, and disconnected from God’s truth. 

“Having the understanding darkened” — spiritual and moral blindness that cannot see God's truth clearly. 

“being alienated from the life of God” — cut off from God’s saving, spiritual life – not sharing in his life, joy, and power. 

“the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness [hardening] of their heart.” — a deliberate resistance or indifference toward God that eventually becomes a hard heart. 

“Who being past feeling” — a conscience that has become calloused, through repeated refusal of God’s truth and repeated indulgence in sin. 

“have given themselves over unto lasciviousness” — unrestrained sensuality or shameless behavior, especially in sexual matters. 

“To work all uncleanness with greediness” —  suggests active pursuit: not just occasional lapses, but a pattern of seeking out impurity, doing so with a kind of greed or appetite for more.

Overview [Back to the general devotion.]

Paul describes people whose thinking has become empty and darkened. They are separated from the life God gives because they have closed their hearts to Him. Over time, their conscience becomes less sensitive. What once felt wrong no longer bothers them. They give themselves over to sinful desires and continually seek more.

There is a sad progression in these verses. People do not usually wake up one morning completely hardened against God. It happens little by little. A person ignores God's truth, resists His voice, and keeps moving in the wrong direction. Eventually, what once troubled the conscience begins to feel normal.

Paul is speaking to Christians. He wants them to recognize the difference between the life they left behind and the life they now have in Christ.

We live in a world that constantly shapes our thinking. The books we read, the entertainment we enjoy, the conversations we join, and the values we absorb all leave their mark on us. It is worth asking ourselves from time to time: Am I becoming more sensitive to the Lord, or less?

The closer we walk with Christ, the more clearly we begin to see things through His eyes. And when He shows us areas that need to change, that is not something to resist. It is one of His mercies toward us.

Growing into Christ

What can we learn from Ephesians 4:15–16?

In the previous verses, Paul described what spiritual immaturity looks like. Immature believers can be pulled in different directions by (A) trendy new teaching not grounded in Christ-centered truth and (B) by persuasively deceiving people promoting these doctrines. Now he shows us a better path.

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"

Truth and love belong together.

Some Christians are eager to speak the truth to one another but forget kindness. Others want to be kind but avoid difficult truths. Paul brings both together in one simple phrase: "speaking the truth in love."

This kind of growth shapes how we talk to fellow believers, how we respond when brethren are struggling, and how we help each other follow Christ.

Notice where this growth is leading. Believers are to "grow up into him"—into Christ Himself. He is the pattern. He is the goal. The more believers learn of Christ and walk with Him, the more they begin to reflect His character.

"From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part..."

Paul returns to the picture of the church as a body.

A healthy local body has many different parts working together. No single part does everything. Each part contributes something.

That is how Christ designed His church.

Some people teach. Some encourage. Some serve quietly. Some help carry burdens. Some pray faithfully for others. Not every role is visible, but every role matters.

Paul says that when every part does its share, the body grows.

"...maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

This growth does not happen because of one gifted leader or one hardworking brother/sister.

It happens as believers serve one another in love.

That is where Paul has been leading us throughout this section of Ephesians. We have one Lord, one faith, and one body. Christ gives different gifts to different people. He gives leaders to help His people grow. As believers mature and serve one another, the whole church becomes stronger.

What can we glean from this passage?

Healthy Christian growth is not meant to happen alone—it happens within the church.

Christ is the Head of the church, and every believer has a place in the body. As we learn the truth, speak it with love, and use what God has given us to help one another, the church grows the way God intended.

The goal is not for a few people to become strong Christians while everyone else watches. The goal is for the whole body to grow together, with Christ directing and supplying what is needed every step of the way.

Two Sides to Spiritual Growth

What is the Lord teaching us in Ephesians 4:13–14?

In the previous verses, we saw that Christ gives pastors, teachers, and other leaders to help His people grow. Now Paul tells us what that growth should look like and why it matters.

"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"

Paul is not talking about becoming perfect in the sense of never making mistakes. He is talking about becoming mature.

When children are young, they need constant guidance. As they grow, they learn, gain understanding, and become more stable. Paul uses a similar picture here.

Christ wants His people to grow together in their faith and in their knowledge of Him. This is one reason He gives teachers and pastors to the church. Their work is not simply to pass along information. They help believers grow stronger in their understanding of God's Word and in their walk with Christ.

Growth takes time. None of us arrives overnight. Yet little by little, Christ is working to shape His people so that they become more like Him.

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"

Verse 14 shows the other side of spiritual growth.

A child can be easily influenced. One day he believes one thing. The next day he believes something completely different because someone sounded convincing.

Paul says that spiritual immaturity can look much the same.

There will always be new ideas, popular teachers, and confident voices claiming to have the latest answer. Some are helpful. Some are not. A believer who knows God's Word is less likely to be pulled in every direction.

This is why spiritual growth matters. It is not about collecting Bible knowledge or winning arguments. It is about becoming steady.

What can we glean from this passage?

Christ does not want His people to remain spiritual children.

He gives leaders to teach us, encourage us, and help us grow. As we grow, we become more grounded in the truth and less likely to be carried along by every new idea that comes our way.

A healthy Christian is not someone who knows everything. A healthy Christian is someone who is growing, becoming more like Christ, and learning to stand firm when confusing voices arise.

That is where Paul is leading us in this chapter: united believers, using different gifts, growing together, and becoming stable in the faith.

What About These Gifts?

What is the Lord teaching us in Ephesians 4:11–12?

Up to this point in Ephesians 4, Paul has reminded us that we share one faith, one Lord, and one hope. Then he showed us that Christ gives different gifts to different believers. Now he takes another step forward and shows how those gifts help the whole church grow.

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"

When people talk about gifts, we often think about abilities. But in these verses, the gifts are people.

Christ gives certain people to the church to help others grow. Some of these roles were especially important in the early days of the church. Others continue today as men preach the gospel, teach the Bible, and care for God's people.

If you've ever had a faithful pastor, teacher, or Christian mentor who helped you understand God's Word, you've experienced one of Christ's gifts to His church.

This is another reminder that we need one another. The Christian life was never meant to be lived alone.

"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"

Verse 12 explains why Christ gives these leaders.

Their job is to help believers grow and become ready to serve. The picture is not a church where one person does all the work while everyone else watches.

A healthy church looks more like a family working together. Some teach. Some encourage. Some visit the sick. Some pray faithfully. Some help quietly behind the scenes. Not everyone serves in the same way, but everyone has a part.

As each person serves, the church becomes stronger. People are encouraged. Needs are met. The body of Christ is built up one act of service at a time.

What can we glean from this passage?

Christ has not called most Christians to stand behind a pulpit. But He has called every Christian to be part of His work.

The leaders Christ gives to a church are there to help God's people grow, learn, and serve. Their goal is not to gather all the work to themselves but to help others become useful in the Lord's service.

In the first part of Ephesians 4, we saw that we are united in Christ. Then we learned that Christ gives different gifts to different people. Now we see why: so the whole church can grow together.

Every believer matters. Every act of service matters. And Christ is the One who puts it all together.

Variety in Unity

What is the Lord teaching us in Ephesians 4:7–10?

"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."

After talking about the unity Christians share, Paul turns our attention to something else. While we all belong to the same body, God has not made us all exactly alike.

Verse 7 says that grace is given to each believer according to the measure of Christ's gift. In other words, Christ gives to each person as He chooses. Some serve in one way, some in another. Some are able to teach, encourage, organize, give, lead, or help behind the scenes.

That can be easy to forget. Sometimes we compare ourselves with other Christians and wonder why we aren't more like them. But Christ never asked us to be someone else. He gives what He gives on purpose.

"When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."

Paul quotes from Psalm 68 to remind us that Jesus is the victorious King.

After His death and resurrection, Christ ascended to heaven. He defeated sin, death, and the grave. Now He gives gifts to His people.

When we come to verse 11, we'll see some of those gifts more clearly. For now, it is enough to notice where they come from. Whatever ability we have to serve the Lord did not begin with us. It came from Christ.

"(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?...)"

Before Jesus ascended, He first came down.

The Son of God entered this world, lived among ordinary people, suffered, died for our sins, and rose again. The same Jesus who walked the dusty roads of Galilee is now exalted in heaven.

Paul seems to be drawing our attention to that simple fact. The One who gives these gifts is not distant from us. He knows what it is like to live in this world. He came down before He went up.

What's the takeaway?

The church is united, but that doesn't mean every Christian serves in the same way.

Christ gives different gifts to different people, and He does so wisely. That means we don't need to compete with one another or measure our usefulness by someone else's abilities.

Whatever grace, opportunity, or ability we have comes from Him. Our part is simply to use what He has given and leave the measuring to Christ.

Aiming for Unity

How easy is it to focus on the things that divide Christians instead of the things that unite them?

Ephesians 4:4–6

One Foundation

As Paul continues his call for believers to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Ephesians 4:1), he turns their attention to something they already share.

In verses 4–6, the word “one” appears again and again: “one body,” “one Spirit,” “one hope,” “one Lord,” “one faith,” “one baptism,” and “one God and Father of all.”

Paul wants believers to think about these things because they are bigger than the differences that often get our attention.

Every true believer belongs to the same body. Every real believer has received the same Spirit. Every sincere believer looks forward to the same hope and follows the same Lord.

In Our Churches

We can see why this matters when we think about church life.

People in a church may come from different backgrounds. They may have different personalities, preferences, and experiences. Sometimes misunderstandings happen. Sometimes people disagree about matters that aren't so critical.

Yet we can gather around the same Saviour.

When we keep that in mind, it becomes easier to be patient, listen carefully, and show grace to one another.

Beyond Our Own Congregation

Paul is thinking about more than one local church.

Around the world, believers worship in different places, speak different languages, and live under very different circumstances. Still, they belong to the same family of God.

Paul also mentions “one faith.” Christians are joined together by the truth God has given them. The unity described here grows from a shared faith in Christ and the gospel.

Walking Together

People naturally separate into groups. Paul points believers in another direction. He wants them to remember what they share in Christ.

As you go through your day, is there a fellow believer you can view a little differently when you remember that you belong to the same family of God?

Walk Worthy

Ephesians 4:1–3

When you think about your relationships, what kind of person is easiest to be around—and what kind is hardest?

Walking Worthy

Ephesians 4 begins a new section of the letter. For three chapters, Paul has explained what God has done for us in Christ. Now he turns to how we should live because of it.

Paul writes, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (v. 1). The word walk refers to our daily conduct—how we live, speak, think, and treat others. Paul is not telling believers to earn God's favor. Rather, because we have received such grace, our lives should reflect it.

The Christian life doesn't stop at believing, but also about how those beliefs shape our character.

The Character of a Worthy Walk

Paul mentions four qualities: lowliness (humility), meekness (gentle strength), longsuffering (patient endurance), and forbearing one another in love (bearing with one another's weaknesses).

These qualities are often tested in ordinary situations. A family member says something irritating. A coworker disappoints us. A fellow believer sees things differently than we do. Our natural response may be frustration, pride, or impatience.

Yet Paul points us toward a different way. Humility reminds us that we are sinners saved by grace. Gentleness helps us respond without harshness. Patience gives others room to grow, just as God patiently works with us.

Guarding Unity

Paul then urges believers to be “endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (v. 3). Notice that we do not create Christian unity; God has already created it through Christ. Our responsibility is to preserve it.

That often happens through small daily choices—choosing patience over irritation, understanding over assumptions, and peace over unnecessary conflict.

As we walk this way, our lives quietly reflect the grace we ourselves have received from the Lord.

To God Be the Glory

Ephesians 3:20–21

Have you ever faced a problem that seemed too big for you to handle? What did you do?

Paul ends this part of Ephesians by reminding us of something important: the Christian life was never meant to be lived in our own strength. 

Over the last few chapters, Paul has been showing believers how much God has done for them. God forgives sinners, gives new life to those who are spiritually dead, brings people into His family, and fills them with His love. None of this happens because people are strong enough or good enough. It happens because God is gracious and powerful.

That is why Paul ends by saying that God is able to do "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think."

Sometimes we look at our struggles and think, "I'll never change." Maybe we lose our temper, worry too much, feel left out, or find it hard to obey God when friends are going a different direction. We see our weakness and wonder if we'll ever grow.

Paul reminds us to stop looking only at ourselves and start looking at God. The same God who saved us is still working in us.

Then Paul says, "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus."

God's goal is not simply to make our lives easier. His goal is that people would see His goodness, grace, and power through His people. When believers trust Him, forgive others, show kindness, stand for what is right, and keep following Christ even when life is hard, God receives the glory.

As Ephesians moves forward, Paul will begin talking about how Christians should live. But before he tells us what to do, he reminds us who God is: the God who is able.

As you go through today, what is one situation where you need to stop focusing on your own ability and trust God's help instead?