The Character of God’s Kingdom (Ephesians 4-6)

What does the Christian life actually look like?

In Ephesians 4–6, the apostle Paul moves from theology to practical living and shows us the character of God’s Kingdom and how believers are meant to live as citizens of heaven.

In this study, Nathan Johnson steps back to give a big-picture overview of Ephesians 4–6, revealing how the gospel changes everything—from our character and relationships to our daily conduct and spiritual battle.

Discover how Paul calls believers to walk in unity, holiness, love, light, wisdom, and spiritual strength as we live from the reality that we have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. If you want a clearer understanding of what the Christian life should actually look like and how the gospel reshapes every area of life, this overview of Ephesians 4–6 will help you see the powerful vision Paul lays out for believers.

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Key Passage: Ephesians 4–6

The Big Picture

• Ephesians 1–3: Our Seated Position (IN Christ)
  • IN (en) – a fixed (permanant) location or residence
  • 30x in Ephesians 1–3: “in Christ” “in Him” “in whom”
  • Everything you need for life and godliness is found IN Him
  • Ephesians 1:3 – 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 …
  • 2 Peter 1:3 – … seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the full knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
• Ephesians 4–6: Our Walking Response
  • Ephesians 4:1 – Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called … 
  • 1 John 4:9 – By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

The Character of the Kingdom

• “Kingdom” language is used in 5:5
  • Ephesians 5:5 – … inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
• Citizenship of heaven
  • Philippians 3:20 – For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ …
  • Matthew 6:10 – [Lord’s Prayer] Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
  • What is taking place in heaven is to take place on earth in and through our lives (and the Church)
    • WILL (thelēma) – will, inclination, desire, design, purpose, plan, intent … often used with the assumption of obedience (to “do” God’s will – see Matthew 7:21; 12:50; 18:14; 21:31)
  • Colossians 1:13 – Who rescued us from the authority [domain] of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love …

Connection of the Kingdom (partnership) – Ephesians 4:1–16

• Guard and protect the unity of Church, building up the body in love, measured by the fullness of Jesus.

Clothing of the Kingdom (position) – Ephesians 4:17–32

• Ephesians 4:22, 24 (MEV) – … put off the former way of life in the old nature, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts … and put on the new nature, which was created according to God in righteousness and true holiness.
• Put Off / Put On (Jesus in every area)
  • 4:25 – Lying / Truth … for we are members of one another
  • 4:26–27 – Anger motivated by self / Anger motivated by love … don’t give place to the devil
  • 4:28 – Stealing / Work … that you might have something to give those in need
  • 4:29 – Unwholesome language / Edification … may impart grace to the hearers
  • 4:30 – Do not grieve the HS / Honor and obey … you are sealed for the day of redemption
  • 4:31–32 – Bitterness, Anger, Wrath, Shouting, Slander, Malice / Kindness, tender-heartedness, forgiveness 

Content (love) of the Kingdom (passion) – Ephesians 5:1–7

• Ephesians 5:2 – … walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us …
  • Contrasted with lust and sexual immorality

Conversation of the Kingdom (promotion) – Ephesians 5:4

• Is your communication marked by thanksgiving or the foolishness and filthiness of the world?
• Which kingdom are you promoting in your speech?

Contrast of the Kingdom (partition) – Ephesians 5:8–21

• Ephesians 5:8 – … for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light …

Cooperation of the Kingdom (posture) – Ephesians 5:22–6:9

• Cooperation – both parties are working to the same goal: unity, growth, building each other up in love
  • Submission, Serving
• Ephesians 5:21 (ESV) – … submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
  • 5:22–33 – Husbands and Wives
  • 6:1–4 – Children and Parents
  • 6:5–9 – Servants and Masters (employees and employers)

Covering of the Kingdom (protection) – Ephesians 6:10–20

• Armor of God

Character of the Kingdom

• Jesus!
• Am I living in light of the new Kingdom reality which Christ has purchased?
• Colossians 1:13 – Who rescued us from the authority [domain] of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love …
• Ephesians 4:22, 24 (MEV) – … put off the former way of life in the old nature, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts … and put on the new nature, which was created according to God in righteousness and true holiness.
• Frank S. Thielman – “Those for whom God has done so much should live in a way that is consistent with what God has done for them.” ⁽¹⁾

Power of the Gospel

• You can’t, but He can
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
  • “But that is just my personality!” “But that is my identity!” “But …”
  • Either the power of the Gospel radically transforms a life or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t, we have no hope in this world. If it does, why are we not living in the new Kingdom reality, marked by the victory, purity, holiness, godliness, righteousness … the life and character of Christ?

Imitation by Impartation

• Ephesians 5:1 – Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children …
  • Not WWJD!
  • Ian Thomas – You can’t, but God never said you could. He will, and God always said He would.
  • Oswald Chambers – The secret to imitation is impartation.

FOOTNOTES

(1) Frank S. Thielman, “Ephesians,” in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI;  Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic;  Apollos, 2007), 819.

Photo Credit: Jerry Kavan

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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 5:3
  • We are going to examine God’s standard for sexual purity, specifically as Paul talks about it in Ephesians 5:3.
  • I encourage you to read through Ephesians a couple of times this week and focus specifically on Ephesians 5.