Campus CrossWalk Magazine: 2007 Summer Issue -- Walking in Grace (Ephesians 4-6)

Saved by Grace

Ephesians 1: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.; ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

God has chosen us to be holy. He has adopted us as His own children. He has forgiven our sins. He has incorporated us into the body of Christ. And He has given us His Spirit.

What incredible hope we have in Jesus. Such an astonishing inheritance awaits us. How amazing that God’s incomparably great power works for us and through us. God’s power, which raised Jesus from the dead, has raised us from the death of our sins and made us alive in Christ. God’s power, which exalted Jesus above all other powers in the heavenly realms, has also placed us in the heavenly realms in Christ.

Ephesians 2: ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

How have we received every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ? Only by the grace of God—the unmerited favor of God—the free gift of God. We have been brought near by the blood of Jesus and reconciled to God and one another through the cross of Jesus Christ. It's God's doing, not ours—his grace, not any goodness of our own.

Since that is true, what is our motivation? Since we are saved by grace, why change our lives? Since we are saved by grace, why obey, or serve, or give, or do anything else God wants us to do? How should we live in response to what God does for us?

Walking in Grace

Ephesians 2: ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

God intends for those who receive His grace to be transformed by His grace. God intends for us to function as His workmanship, created in Christ for good works. God intends for those who are saved by grace to walk in the good works He has prepared for us—a point that Paul elaborates on in chapters 4-6.

Ephesians 4: ¹ Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

Clearly, God has some expectations for those who have been saved by His grace. There are people who wish to be saved by a cheap grace, a grace that expects nothing of them, a grace they can exploit. And some of us may object to the very idea of being saved by grace, because we think God should require more—not understanding how much God’s grace does expect of us. Both extremes are equally misguided. So here it is in a simple statement. Those who are called to be saved by God’s grace (Ephesians 1-3) are also called to walk in God’s grace (Ephesians 4-6).

Those who are called to be saved by God’s
grace are also called to walk in God’s grace.
Objections to Grace

Some of us read as far as Ephesians 2:8-9 and come to a screeching halt. Saved by grace through faith . . . How can that be? It doesn’t make sense. It can’t mean what it says. We object.

Are we afraid that some people will exploit God’s grace, intentionally take advantage of God’s grace by continuing to sin? That is a legitimate concern, which Paul corrects in this same letter. How could anyone read Ephesians 4-6 and think that God’s grace allows Christians to continue to sin?

We may fear that some people will rationalize that God’s grace provides us with no purpose, no responsibility, no standard, no rules. If we are saved by grace, does that mean there is no standard for living the Christian life? Can we just do whatever we want (or refuse to do what God wants), knowing that God will save us anyway? Doesn’t the doctrine of grace encourage people to be selfish, divisive, detached, spiritually lazy and sinful? That is also a legitimate concern, which Paul addresses in Ephesians 4-6. An overview of those chapters should convince us that grace is not cheap or easy or for the spiritually lazy.

Ephesians 4-6 overrules all of our rational objections to salvation by grace and assuages all our concerns about God’s grace resulting in a spiritually lazy and irresponsible form of watered down Christianity. For grace requires far more of us than we would ever require of ourselves.

Grace requires far more of us than
we would ever require of ourselves.
Cheap Grace—What We Expect of Ourselves

Cheap grace is the grace we bestow upon ourselves.

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession.

Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Cheap grace is the grace we bestow upon ourselves. Let’s unpack that statement, by considering what many church members might require of themselves. Then we’ll compare our own expectations to what God’s grace expects of us, according to Ephesians 4-6.

What do we require of ourselves? We may think we are required to attend a worship assembly every week, sing a few songs, utter a few prayers, perform a few rituals, give a few dollars, or endure another sermon.

Our personal list may include a Bible class or a group meeting for an hour or two each week. Perhaps being a member of the right kind of congregation with a certain name, one that does things the right way. Obeying certain prohibitive commands (whether divine or man-made). Observing certain traditions and institutionalized protocols we value. And sadly, some of us include judging those who do otherwise, in order to feel justified in what we practice.

But such things are so superficial compared to walking in grace. God expects us to be His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. God expects us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling—having been called to grace, to walk in grace.

Walking in Grace—What God’s Grace Expects of Us

The most powerful idea that’s entered the world in the last few thousand years—the idea of grace— is the reason I would like to be a Christian. Though, as I said to [U2 guitarist] The Edge one day, I sometimes feel more like a fan, rather than actually in the band. I can’t live up to it. But the reason I would like to is the idea of grace. It’s really powerful.

(Bono, U2, in a 2001 interview)

We can’t live up to it, either, can we? But the reason we would like to live up to what we should be as Christians is (or should be) grace. God’s grace is so powerful, so amazing, so stunning, that it should change us and move us to walk in grace.

Numerous other letters in the New Testament also tell us how we should live in response to God’s grace. But within the context of this series, here’s an overview of walking in grace according to Ephesians 4-6.

If we walk in a manner worthy of the grace that saves us . . .

A. We will be as gracious to one another as God is to us. (Eph 4:1-6)

Ephesians 4: ¹ . . . walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,; ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love . . .

If we have truly wrapped our hearts and minds around the astounding spiritual realities of God’s grace to save us, then we will extend the same grace to one another that we have received from God. But if we have no grace to share with each other, that’s a clear sign that we have not accepted God’s grace in our own lives. In my observation, those among us who balk and squawk loudest at the good news of God’s grace are most likely to abuse other Christians and divide the church.

Grace does not excuse us to mistreat one another or to divide over our preferences, personalities, traditions or opinions. With all humility and gentleness, with patience, we should show tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

I don’t need those spiritual virtues in order to get along well with people in the body of Christ who are the most like me. I need humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, love and diligence to preserve unity precisely because, by the grace of God, the body of Christ includes people who are not like me. And the same is true for you.

Cheap grace, the grace you bestow on yourself, may only require you to get along with the people you find easy and comfortable. But God’s grace requires you to walk in grace with other Christians who are not at all like you. God’s grace has provided us with the unity of the Spirit. If we walk in grace, we will be diligent to preserve it.

If we walk in a manner worthy of the grace that saves us . . .

B. We will fit and function within the body of Christ, serving by
His grace. (Eph 4:7-16)

Ephesians 4: ⁷ But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. . . .; ¹⁵ . . . we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,; ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Grace does not excuse us to be detached, isolated, uninvolved or lazy. Each one of us, in receiving saving grace, has also received serving grace. God expects us to connect, to be involved, to participate in the life of the body of Christ. He expects us to find our fit and to function as parts of the living, breathing, body of Christ; the church.

Cheap grace, the grace you bestow on yourself, may only require you to attend worship assemblies and Bible classes. Cheap self-bestowed grace may only require you to go through the motions, perform the rituals on your checklist, and then selfishly excuse yourself—to keep your time and talents for yourself instead of using them in service to others. But God’s grace requires you to fit in and function, to use the gifts God has given you to supply and to serve the body of Christ.

If we walk in a manner worthy of the grace that saves us . . .

C. We will not walk in the wicked ways of the world. (Eph 4:17-28)

Ephesians 4: ¹⁷ . . . walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk . . . .; ²² that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,; ²³ and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,; ²⁴ and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Grace does not excuse us to continue walking in the sins and trespasses in which we were dead prior to being saved by God’s grace. Grace does not let us off the hook to immerse ourselves in the wicked ways of this world. Grace expects us to lay aside the old self—to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. Grace expects us to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Cheap grace, the grace you bestow on yourself, may allow you to rationalize your behaviors, excuse yourself to continue in your favorite sins, and to justify yourself with self-delusions that it’s okay for you to walk in the ways of the world. But God’s grace requires renewal, transformation, a new self that walks away from the wicked ways of the world. Walking in grace means walking in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

If we walk in a manner worthy of the grace that saves us . . .

D. We will not talk in the wicked ways of the world (Eph 4:29—5:2)

Ephesians 4: ²⁹ Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. . . .; ³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Grace does not excuse us to continue talking in the spiritually deadly ways we talked prior to being saved by God’s grace. We don’t walk in the wicked ways of the world. So why would we talk in the wicked ways of the world? Why would we say things that are unwholesome or unfitting? Why would we say things that tear down rather than build up? Having received God’s grace, how dare we speak in ways that are a disgrace?

Cheap self-bestowed grace may allow you to lash out at others in anger . . . or to gossip . . . or to lie . . . or to tear down other people (even other Christians) behind their backs. But God’s grace requires that no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. God’s grace requires that you put aside all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice. God is so gracious that He does not do that to you—He doesn’t think, feel or talk that way about you. So don’t you do that to others. Let your words give grace to those who hear.

If we walk in a manner worthy of the grace that saves us . . .

E. We will walk as children of Light, not darkness. (Eph 5:3-20)

Ephesians 5: ⁸ for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light; ⁹ (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),; ¹⁰ trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.; ¹¹ Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness . . .

Grace does not excuse us to walk in the darkness of immorality, impurity, greed, covetousness—in a word, idolatry. Grace does not excuse us to walk in the unfruitful deeds of darkness—or even to talk about such things improperly. Grace does not excuse us to walk unwisely, in foolishness, or in drunkenness.

Cheap grace, the grace you bestow on yourself, may let you off the hook to stand with one foot in the darkness and one foot in the light. But God’s grace allows no such kind of spiritual multiplicity. For either you are in God’s Light or you are in the darkness. God’s grace requires you to walk in grace—to walk in love—to walk as a child of Light—to walk in spiritual wisdom.

If we walk in a manner worthy of the grace that saves us . . .

F. We will walk in submission, humbly sacrificing ourselves for
each other in our relationships. (Eph 5:21—6:9)

Ephesians 5: ²¹ and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

God’s grace does not excuse us to be self-centered, self-serving, controlling or manipulative. God’s grace does not excuse us to be proud little lords, each waiting for others to bow to our demands and serve us. God’s grace does not excuse us to insist on having our own way, in any relationship.

Cheap self-bestowed grace may allow you to seek for self and to live for self. But God’s grace—which was delivered to you by the service, suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross—requires that you walk in that same grace toward others. Walk in the grace of submission and service and self-sacrifice in all your relationships, starting with your family and God’s family.

If we walk in a manner worthy of the grace that saves us . . .

G. We will put on the full armor of God and engage in spiritual
warfare. (6:10-18)

Ephesians 6: ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Grace does not excuse us to watch the spiritual battlefield as casual observers (like watching coverage of Middle East violence on CNN). Grace does not allow us to desert when the going gets tough or when Satan attacks us personally. Grace places us in the heavenly realms to engage the enemy.

Cheap grace may allow you to excuse yourself from spiritual battles – or worse, to launch your own attacks on members of the Lord’s army (how ridiculous). But God’s grace requires you to know your true enemy, to prepare yourself for battle and to engage in spiritual warfare. God’s grace requires you to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. God’s grace requires you to put on the full armor of God, to resist evil, and to take your stand on the battlefield. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Grace Requires More

Cheap grace is the grace we bestow upon ourselves. God’s grace—the only grace that saves us—requires more of us than we would ever require of ourselves. I doubt that any of us would have written Ephesians 4-6 to express what we expect of ourselves.

How could anybody think that grace is cheap, or easy, or that it let’s us off the hook, or that it excuses us to be spiritually lazy and irresponsible? Accepting God’s grace means accepting the expectations of God’s grace. Those who are saved by grace should walk in a manner worthy of grace. And God’s grace requires far more of us than we would ever require of ourselves. But those who truly embrace God’s grace are enlightened, elevated and empowered to walk in grace.

Brian Cobb is a servant of the gospel of the grace of God to the Manhattan, Kansas, Church of Christ and Cats for Christ at K-State. He functions as editor for the Kansas Directory of Churches of Christ, a publication he started in 1988. A CCW board member since 2003, Brian serves Campus CrossWalk in the role of web designer / publisher.