Foundations In Grace – Walking Worthy of Our Calling
Kenny Hodges
November 14, 2019

Foundations In Grace – Walking Worthy of Our Calling

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” Ephesians 4:1

The word translated “walk” in the O.T. carries the idea of “manner of life.” “Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Genesis 5:22-24

“These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:9

Sometimes we are encouraged to walk in something, meaning that we live our lives in accordance to that thing.

“Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.” Psalm 86:11

“How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.” Psalm 119:1

“Walk in love…” Ephesians 6:1,

“Walk in Him…” Colossians 2:6

“ Walk in the light…” 1 John 1:7

The N.T. word for walk is peripateo which means, “To walk, to make one’s way, progress.” The “walk” passages all relate to how we live our lives on a daily, moment by moment basis. This walk can be seen both negatively, ways that we should not walk, and positively, ways in which we should walk.

Walk – In a negative sense

-Not according to the flesh… “…do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:4

-Not in craftiness… “…not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God…” 2 Corinthians 4:2a

-Not in sins… “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked…” Ephesians 2:1-2
-Not as Gentiles… “…walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk” Ephesians 4:17

-Not in the darkness… “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 1:6

Walk – In a positive sense

-In newness of life…

“…walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4

-In love… “and walk in love…” Ephesians 5:2

-By faith… “for we walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7

-By the Spirit… “But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16, 25

-In good works… “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

-As children of light… “… walk as children of light.” Ephesians 5:8

-In the light… “… walk in the light as He Himself is in the light…” 1 John 1:7

-As wise men… “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise. Ephesians 5:15

-In a manner worthy of the Lord… “…walk in a manner worthy of the Lord…” Colossians 1:9-10

-In Christ… “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” Colossians 2:6

-According to His commandments… “… walk according to His commandments…” 2 John 1:6

-In truth… “…you are walking in truth…” 3 John 3-4

-Worthy of our calling… “…walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” Ephesians 4:1

Sumner Wemp writes of three walks the believer should experience:

  1. With God – That is our purpose! Genesis 6:9b

  2. After Christ – That is our pattern! Matthew 4:19

  3. In the Spirit – That is our power! Galatians 5:16

“Walking in the Spirit must also be a conscious dependence. It is not a subconscious nor an unconscious dependence but a conscious and calculated dependence…. This conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit cannot be stressed too strongly, for here is the real reason so many people don’t experience its reality. You cannot be passive about it.” (Sumner C. Wemp, How On Earth Can I Be Spiritual? 1978)

It is in moment by moment dependence upon the Holy Spirit, and confession when we do fail, that we have the power to walk in the Spirit. This ‘Spirit walk’ will produce in us all the things that make our walk worthy of His calling!

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9