Gospel = Whole Manner of Living

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Eph. 4:1)

Here’s a monumental point to be made about this verse: A worthy walk is fundamentally one that embodies the values found in the Gospel that called you to salvation.

Paul’s arguing that the believer’s conduct must be a direct consequence and a reflection of the values in the gospel. Consider these passages in Titus 2:11-12: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Notice that the grace found in the gospel actually teaches you how to live. The gospel isn’t just a means of salvation. The gospel also embodies a whole way of living.

This is why Paul says in Rom 2:16, “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” Unbelievers won’t be judged simply for the fact that they rejected the gospel. Plus, unbelievers aren’t going to be judged according to the law either. The law is dead. It died with Christ. But at the Great White Throne, the secrets of unbelievers will be held up to the light of the gospel. Why? Because the gospel isn’t just a means of salvation. The gospel also embodies a whole way of living. The grace found in the gospel teaches all of us about how we should live as well.

The Lord will look at the secrets, the motivations, and the works of unbelievers and compare all of that to the light of the gospel. And that comparison will determine degree of eternal punishment.

Thus, in Eph. 4:1, to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called is to live in a way that embodies the value system in the gospel, to live according to what the grace of God in the gospel teaches you about how you should be living now that you’re saved. The values inherent in the Gospel—God’s calling—must define the values of your daily walk.

What are those values? Titus 2 listed some for us. Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Our walk should embody the rightness of God as demonstrated to us by the sacrifice of His Son. If we’re going to live righteously like Christ who died for us, then we must by necessity reject everything that is ungodly, including all the worldly lusts, all the deeds of the flesh. We should live soberly (in the sense of not being under the influence of anything in the world – you’ve taken this life of faith seriously, gravely).

And of course, your walk should embody, the grace, the love, the humility, the self-sacrifice, the forgiveness, mercy, peace and reconciliation, fellowship and unity, holiness, purity, truth and faith all found in the gospel.

In Paul’s epistles, the Indicative (what God has done) always precedes and informs us about the Imperative (what we must do).

In the first half of Eph. 5:8, Paul says You are children of light. So in the second half of Eph. 5:8, Paul says, Therefore, walk as children of light. You are light so live like it. What God has already done informs us about what we must do.

In the first half of Eph. 5:2, Paul says, Christ has loved us and given Himself for us. So in the second half of Eph. 5:2, Paul says, Therefore, walk in love. What God has already done informs us about what we must do. He loved us so we must love also.

In Eph. 4:32, God hath forgiven you. Therefore, you forgive others. What God has done informs us about what we must do.

The same is true about the Gospel. What God has done at Calvary informs us about how we must live in light of Calvary. So to “walk worthy” is to live a life that embodies the attributes of Godthat we see in the Gospel. If the act of total love and sacrifice is the foundation to God’s calling in the gospel that brought you into a position of perfect standing before God, then you know the gospel already defines how you should live your life. A worthy walk is precisely a walk that embodies, displays, and harmonizes with the values of the gospel that called you to salvation. A “worthy walk” is living in a way that reflects the message that saved you.

1. Because the gospel brought you peace → be at peace with others.
2. Because God forgave you through the gospel → forgive others.
3. Because the gospel revealed Christ’s love → walk in love.
4. Because the gospel made you light in the Lord → walk as children of light.
5. Because you’re identified with Christ’s death and resurrection → walk in newness of life.
6. Because your salvation was by grace → live a life of grace.
7. Because of Christ’s humility at Calvary → be humble.
8. Because the gospel is Christ-centered → be Christlike.

The gospel’s heartbeat is God’s grace to the undeserving and Christ’s love for His enemies. So a worthy walk therefore must be marked by:

1. Grace toward others (4:32)
2. Love that sacrifices (5:2)
3. Humility instead of pride (4:2)
4. Peace instead of hostility (4:3)
5. Unity instead of division (4:3)
6. Forgiveness instead of retaliation (4:32)

You can’t walk worthy if your walk contradicts the gospel that saved you.

Putting It All Together:

Everything God made you in chapters 1–3 becomes everything God calls you to live in chapters 4–6.

1. Doctrine becomes duty.
2. Position becomes practice.
3. Calling becomes conduct.
4. Grace becomes godliness.
5. Heavenly identity becomes earthly lifestyle.

The first half tells you what God has done for you in Christ. The second half tells you what God can do through you because you are in Christ.

No Excuses

Your calling tells you not only why to walk and how to walk… but what a worthy walk actually looks like. The calling defines the conduct.

You were called into unity → therefore walk in unity (4:2–3).

You were called out of death → therefore walk as children of light and life (5:8–14).

You were called into love → therefore walk in love (5:2).

You were called into grace → therefore be gracious and forgiving (4:32).

You were called into one Body → therefore build up the Body (4:12–16).

You were called into holiness → therefore put off the old man and put on the new (4:22–24).

You were called to a heavenly position → therefore walk wisely with divine thinking (5:15–17).

The calling (chapters 1–3) provides the blueprint for the walk (chapters 4–6).