Ephesians 4 - Introduction

Section One 4:17-24

Introduction to Section One

There are many ways to hinder the Spirit of God at work in your life and grieve Him deeply. You can also bring the truth of God down in the eyes of others by displaying a lie in your life. Whenever we think like lost people, act like lost people, and fail to honor God, like lost people always do, then we are living a lie and failing to represent Him in truth (2 John 1:6).

"It is one thing to know that we have life in the Lord Jesus, together with full forgiveness and acceptance before the Father, and it is quite another to be in continual fellowship with Him--feeding upon Him by faith--making Him the exclusive food for our souls." --C.H. Mackintosh

Not only is the Christian in Christ, but also He is in the Christian as the source of new, heavenly life. The branch receives all its life from the vine; as we abide in Him we draw upon Him for the qualities of life, which are in Him alone. Often a man is heard to say, "I'm trying to live a Christian life," which means that he is depending upon himself to do it. His resource is himself. Along with many others in our churches today he is substituting a good life for a Christian life. --N.B. Harrison

"Christ in you" is unto our being "conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). It is to work in us that which has been perfected by Him. It is the whole realm of our being made Christ-like; having all the faculties and features of the Lord Jesus, which are resident in the new life received at new birth, brought to maturity. Every spiritual virtue will be nurtured and developed; love, meekness, goodness, gentleness, intelligence, etc., so that we are not just theoretical Christians, but real ones, spiritually responsible and accountable.--T. Austin-Sparks

Section Two 4:25-5:2