The Adventure of a Lifetime (Ephesians 4:1)

You have a calling on your life from the King of kings. He has invited you to share in something far more than a profession or obligation.

In this study, Nathan Johnson examines our high and holy calling from Ephesians 4:1 and gives two powerful illustrations of how God has invited you into the adventure of a lifetime.

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Key Passage: Ephesians 4:1-3

Ephesians 4:1-3 – Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

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A Simple Bible Study Resource

• 2 Words for Calling
  • Called (kaleō)
    • 2nd one (kaleō): to bid, invite, name, summon, or to call aloud
    • To be subject to an authoritative demand for one’s presence and/or participation
    • This is the same root for “implore” (also translated: beseech/exhort) in the passage (urge, implore, exhort, earnestly encourage a response/action)
    • An “invitation” with a thumb in the back (you are a servant of the King and He is summoning your participation in something) … your calling
  • Calling (klēsis)
    • Klēsis: calling, invitation, position
    • Comes from the root kaleō
    • Used 11x in NT
    • Every time it is used it is something bigger than a profession or something I do
      • 2x in the context of salvation
      • 9x it contains idea of salvation but even bigger
    • the idea of intimacy, embrace, being filled and sourced by Spirit
    • the calling is everything he talked about in chapt. 1-3: IN Christ
    • Ephesians 1:18 – I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints …
    • 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 – To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
    • 2 Timothy 1:8–9 – Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called (kaleō) us with a holy calling (klēsis), not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity …
    • Philippians 3:10–14 – … [my goal and desire is] that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of [seize, grab a hold of] that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
• 2 Pictures
  • 1. Giving of a Name
    • the earliest usages of this word was to name something (same word for Adam giving names to all the animals and God calling day “day” and night “night”)
    • In Hebrew, word is used almost 700 times in OT: naming places, people, etc
    • NT: idea of intimacy and relationship is often attached
      • in the embrace of intimacy and closeness to Jesus, we receive a name – a special name, a lover’s nickname.  
      • Revelation 2:17 – He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.
  • 2. Invitation to a Banquet
    • Greek: call or invitation to a feast or banquet
    • Song of Solomon 2:4 – He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love.

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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 life, and learn how to practically live out an abundant and fruitful Christian life. 

• The focus of our next study: Ephesians 4:1
• We continue to look at how to “walk worthy” of our high and holy calling that Paul talks about in Ephesians 4:1.
• I encourage you to read through Ephesians a couple of times this week and focus specifically on Ephesians 4.

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About The Deeper Christian Bible Study Series

The Deeper Christian Bible Study Series in Ephesians is a Christ-centered practical in-depth verse-by-verse study of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Join NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson) as he expositionally preaches from this incredible book – which will help you grow in your faith, gain greater intimacy with Jesus, and understand how to study God’s Word.

Many Christians feel frustrated because they don’t grow spiritually. Deeper Christian equips Christians to understand the Word of God and cultivate a passionate love for Jesus that turns the world upside down.

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About NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson)

NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson) is a Christian who has an overwhelming passion for Jesus, the Gospel, and Studying God’s Word. He is a writer, teacher, and communicator who helps Christians discover and experience a passionate love for God and His Word so that they can grow in their faith, live victorious lives, share the Gospel boldly, grow in their intimacy with Jesus, and transform the world through the indwelling life of Christ.
Read more about him here.