Walk Worthy

Ephesians 4:1-6 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

‘You that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called.’ Six exhortations to the Ephesians: Walk worthy of your calling (4:1). Walk in all lowliness or humility of mind (4:2; Acts 20:19; 1Pet. 5:5). Walk in meekness (4:2; Matt. 5:5). Walk in longsuffering (4:2; 1Cor. 13:1-13). Forbearing one another in love (4:3). Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (4:3).

‘Endeavouring’ [Greek: spoudazo] be forward (Gal. 2:10); be diligent (Tit. 3:12; 2Pet. 3:14); do diligence (2Tim. 4:9, 21); give diligence (2Pet. 1:10); labour (Heb. 4:11); endeavour (4:3; 1Thess. 2:17; 2Pet. 1:15); and study (2Tim. 2:15).

‘One body, and one Spirit’ – There are seven ones in Ephesians 4:4-6: One body, the body of Christ consisting of all reborn Christians. One Spirit, the Holy Spirit. One hope, the Christian calling. One Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ. One faith, the gospel form of doctrine. One baptism, a baptism into the body of Christ (1Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3-7). One God, the Father of all.

‘One baptism’ The one baptism of seven that saves the soul – a baptism into Christ and into His body. There are three baptisms for believers: [1] Into Christ or into His body at repentance and the new birth. Called “one baptism” (4:5), because it is the only baptism that saves the soul and brings into the body of Christ. Baptism into Christ and into His body (Rom. 6:3-7; 1Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12). [2] Water baptism after one is saved. This is the Christian baptism in water (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-41; 8:12-16, 36-38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16; 1Cor. 1:13-17; 1Pet. 3:21). [3] Spirit baptism, the enduement of power for service (Matt. 3:11, 14; 20:22-23; Mark 1:8; 10:38-39; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; 7:37-39; Acts 1:5; 11:16; 19:2-3). It can take place before water baptism (Acts 10:44-48) or after it (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-11; 8:12-21; 19:1-7). The Holy Spirit is the agent to baptize into Christ and into His body (1Cor. 12:13); Christ is the agent to baptize in the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11; John 1:31-33); and the minister is the agent to baptize into water (Matt. 28:19).