In Lesson 8 of the Deeper Christian Bible Study Series in Ephesians, we continue our study in Paul’s statement that God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be “holy and blameless.”
This in-depth study focuses on Ephesians 1:4 and discusses our calling to be holy and blameless, and how that practically affects our lives.
Lesson 08:
Called Unto Holiness
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A Simple Study Reference
Passage: Ephesians 1:4
Called Unto Holiness
Ephesians 1:3-4 – 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, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love …
- holy
- idea of separation or unlike something else
- Leviticus 11:44 – “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves….” [also see: 1 Peter 1:16]
- William Barkley [in his Commentary on Ephesians 1:3-4]: “In the early church, Christians never had any doubt that they must be different from the world; they, in fact, knew that they must be so different that the probability was that the world would kill them and certainly was that the world would hate them. But the tendency in the modern Church has been to play down the difference between the Church and the world. We have, in effect, often said to people: ‘As long as you live a decent, respectable life, it is quite all right to become a church member and to call yourself a Christian. You don’t need to be so very different from other people.’ [When] in fact, Christians should be easily identifiable in the world. Christ does not take us out of the world; He makes us different within the world.”
- blameless
- without spot or blemish, faultless
- Leviticus 22
- 1 Peter 1:19 – “[You were redeemed] … with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
- Ephesians 5:27 – [speaking of Jesus choosing His bride the Church] – “…that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
- Colossians 1:21-22 – “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight …”
- Hebrews 9:14 – “… how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
- Jude 1:24 – “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless [blameless] Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy …”
- Revelation 14:4-5 – “And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
- 3 Aspects to Our Calling to be Holy and Without Blame
- Consecration
- consecration: completely undefiled, separated, set apart, and unlike the world at any level.
- 2 Chronicles 34:33 – “Thus Josiah removed all the abominations from all the country that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel diligently serve the LORD their God. All his days they did not depart from following the LORD God of their fathers.”
- Consumption
- Holiness creates an intense consumption for God within our lives.
- He is not an “add on” to our lives … He is to be our life
- Christlikeness
- to be holy is to be like Him
- Consecration
- 6 Questions About Our Private Lives
- Is there anything in my private life I would hesitate to make known for the shame it would bring my name?
- Is there anything in my private life I would hesitate to make known for the shame it would bring His Name?
- Do I live my private moments carelessly or circumspectly?
- Do I speak the Gospel in private with my life, my actions, and my purity?
- Would the world have anything to hold over me?
- Is my private life with God different than my public life with God?
NRJohnson Commentary on “Called Unto Holiness” in Ephesians 1:4
» sorry for the delay on the commentaries, I am working on it and will have it available on here shortly. Thanks for your patience.
In Our Next Study Together …
I invite you to join me on this journey from the book of Ephesians to discover God’s eternal purpose, His plan for your
If you desire to join me in preparing for next week’s study, I encourage you to do the following three things:
- Read the book of Ephesians (preferably every day)
- Saturate in Ephesians 1:3-14 (the blessing section)
- Do a study in verse 4 and specifically examine the phrase before Him.
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The Deeper Christian Bible Study Series
The Deeper Christian Bible Study Series in Ephesians is an in-depth verse-by-verse study of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. These studies will guide you through this life-changing book of the Bible and give you practical application to help you grow in your faith, gain greater intimacy with Jesus, experience the victorious Christian life, and help you build your life around Jesus Christ.
About NRJohnson
NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson) is a Christian who has an overwhelming passion for Jesus, the
Read more about him here.
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