Walk worthy and walk in unity! These are the marching orders by Paul to the church of Ephesus and to the greater body of Christ.  How many of us believers adhere to this mantra?  If we were to compare the believer with the unsaved, would we see a difference in the behavior of the believer? This has become a major area of focus as we are seeing the decline of the Church.  Recent surveys have found that an increased number of millennials are turning away from church and the faith.  In our article titled, Why are millennials leaving the Church and why is there a drop in the number of believers in America?, we examine this issue and speak about the complacency and apathy towards the faith by believers which is the cause of this phenomena.  Well, to walk worthy and walk in unity, is the answer to this deficiency and decline.   In this week’s Bible study, we’ll be studying Ephesians 4:1-5:

4 I, therefore, the prisoner [a]of the Lord, [b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in [c]you all.

These six verses can be organized into two categories: 1) worthiness and 2) unity.  Why does Paul focus on these two global points?  If we truly comprehend the fundamentals of the Christian faith, we will see that it requires a sober and serious approach. At no point in our walk in the faith are we able to afford to lose focus and commitment to the direction that the Lord has established.

In the battle against the powers and principalities that we engage daily, only true warriors of Christ are capable of continuing the battling for the lost souls.  Our marching orders are one: preach the Gospel and baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  In order to pursue this mission, you must walk worthy and walk in unity.  The calling to be a warrior is defined by those who are committed, disciplined, and follow the orders of God in a fearless and bold manner – obey God and fear not.

Paul provides the explanation for each category.  To walk worthy is defined as seriousness in the faith, commitment to the faith, and in a specific demeanor and actions.  For example, Paul uses the words lowliness (humble), gentleness (caring), longsuffering (patiently) – bearing one another.  These examples of the type of person who is worthy, implies that we must operate in the manner that is pleasing to the Lord.  Our walk must be different than the characterizes that is considered virtuous by the world.  Here are a few verses that validate this point that we are not of this world:

John 15:19 – if you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 17:16 – They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

James 1:27 – 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

James 4:4 – Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

As you can see, the rules of the Kingdom of Heaven are different than this world.  This world is under the rule of Satan, however, as ambassadors of Christ, we step forward to repel Satan and his army, act as the salt and light and bring the message of salvation to the unsaved.

Paul shifts into the second point which is how the worthy must walk.  The answer is unity! Why unity?  Well, unity is the way that the Holy Trinity operates, and as ambassadors of Christ this must be our approach as well.  As such, we must resemble our Lord and operate in the same manner that the Holy Trinity operates.  Their (Holy Trinity) modus operandi is one body, one message, one direction and one purpose.  Therefore, Paul describes it as unity in the Spirit and in the bond of peace – executed harmoniously.

The final statement that is part of the unity category is, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in [c]you all.  The God of the heaven and earth is in us, those that profess Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Therefore, we must act honorably, seriously and determined to do the will of the Father.  If you have not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, and want to receive Him, pray this prayer: Lord Jesus I know that I am sinner and I ask you forgive me of my sins.  I believe that you were crucified for my sins and through your blood I have redemption and salvation.  Please come into my heart and I receive you as my God.  I pray in Jesus name. AMEN