Chapter with Audio
4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
The New Life
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Chapter Analysis
Ephesians 4: Walk Worthy Of Your Calling
Walk Worthy In Unity
📖 Ephesians 4:1–6
¹ Paul, as a prisoner for the Lord, urges believers to walk worthy of the calling with which they were called. ² They are to walk with humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love. ³ They must be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as believers were called in one hope of their calling. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ and one God and Father of all, who is above all, through all, and in all.
🔹 The Truth
Believers are called to live in a way that agrees with their calling in Christ.
Unity is kept through humility, gentleness, patience, love, and peace.
The unity of believers is rooted in one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father.
🔹 The Promise
God has given believers unity in Christ and calls them to walk in it by the Spirit.
✅ Conclusion
Ephesians 4 begins with a call to live out what God has already done in Christ. Believers are not told to create unity from nothing, but to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Gifts Given By The Exalted Christ
📖 Ephesians 4:7–10
⁷ Grace was given to each believer according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore Scripture says that when Christ ascended on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. ⁹ His ascending also shows that He first descended into the lower parts of the earth. ¹⁰ The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.
🔹 The Truth
Each believer receives grace according to Christ’s gift.
The risen and exalted Christ gives gifts to His people.
Jesus Christ humbled Himself, triumphed, ascended, and now fills all things.
🔹 The Promise
The exalted Christ gives grace and gifts to His people for His purpose.
✅ Conclusion
The gifts given to believers come from the victorious Christ. He is the One who descended, ascended, and now rules above all.
Built Up Until The Unity Of The Faith
📖 Ephesians 4:11–16
¹¹ Christ gave some as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ. ¹³ This continues until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴ Then believers should no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about by every wind of teaching, by human trickery, and by craftiness in deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, believers are to grow up in every way into Christ, who is the Head. ¹⁶ From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting part, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work.
🔹 The Truth
Christ gives leaders to equip the saints, not to replace the saints.
The saints are equipped for the work of ministry and the building up of the body of Christ.
God’s purpose is maturity, unity of the faith, and deeper knowledge of the Son of God.
Believers must grow in truth and love so they are not carried away by false teaching.
Christ is the Head, and the whole body grows from Him.
🔹 The Promise
Christ builds His body as each part does its work in truth, love, and maturity.
✅ Conclusion
The body of Christ grows as believers are equipped, serve, speak the truth in love, and remain connected to Christ the Head.
Put Off The Old Self, Put On The New
📖 Ephesians 4:17–24
¹⁷ Paul says this in the Lord: believers must no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸ Their understanding is darkened, and they are alienated from the life of God because of ignorance and hardness of heart. ¹⁹ Having become callous, they gave themselves over to sensuality, practicing every kind of uncleanness with greediness. ²⁰ But that is not how believers learned Christ. ²¹ If they have heard Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²² they are to put off the old self, which belongs to the former way of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires. ²³ They are to be renewed in the spirit of their minds, ²⁴ and put on the new self, created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.
🔹 The Truth
Believers must no longer live like those who are alienated from the life of God.
The old self belongs to the former way of life and is corrupted by deceitful desires.
The truth is in Jesus.
Believers are called to be renewed in the spirit of their minds.
The new self is created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.
🔹 The Promise
In Christ, believers can put off the old self, be renewed in mind, and put on the new self.
✅ Conclusion
The Christian life is not a return to the old way of living. Those who have learned Christ are called to put off the old self and walk in the new life God has created in righteousness and holiness.
Walk In Truth, Grace, And Forgiveness
📖 Ephesians 4:25–32
²⁵ Therefore, putting away lying, each believer must speak truth with his neighbor, because believers are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. ²⁷ Do not give place to the devil. ²⁸ The one who stole must steal no longer, but instead labor, working with his hands what is good, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ²⁹ No corrupt word should come out of the mouth, but only what is good for building up, that it may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom believers were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, shouting, slander, and all malice be put away. ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
🔹 The Truth
Believers are to put away lying and speak truth.
Anger must not be allowed to become sin or give place to the devil.
Work should replace stealing, and generosity should replace selfishness.
Words should build up and give grace to those who hear.
Believers must not grieve the Holy Spirit.
Kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness should mark those who have been forgiven in Christ.
🔹 The Promise
God’s forgiveness in Christ becomes the foundation for believers to forgive one another.
✅ Conclusion
The new life in Christ affects speech, anger, work, giving, words, relationships, and forgiveness. God’s people are called to live in a way that reflects the grace they have received.
Overall Conclusion
Ephesians 4 shows how believers are to walk worthy of their calling.
Because believers are one in Christ, they are called to keep the unity of the Spirit. Because Christ has given gifts, the body is to be equipped and built up. Because believers have learned Christ, they are to put off the old self, be renewed in mind, and put on the new self.
This chapter moves from unity, to maturity, to practical daily living in truth, grace, and forgiveness.
Final Questions For You
- What does it mean to walk worthy of the calling you have received in Christ?
- Why is speaking the truth in love necessary for the body of Christ to grow?
- What part of the old self does Ephesians 4 most clearly call you to put off?