Living in the Image of God M05S19
Paul’s letter to Ephesians regarding Christian living provides a three-part message. The first part is a call to Christian living, where he calls every person to depart from sin and turn to Living in the Image of God. Christian living is based on the understanding that God creates every person to represent him in human interactions with others: to interact with others as God would interact with them if he lived in human form among them. The second part of the message declares that the Holy Spirit is our partner for Christian living and enables a person to receive and follow God’s guidance to fulfill his purpose for you in every situation. Paul provides advice on being filled with the Holy Spirit, to understand God’s purpose for you in interactions with others. The third segment of the message provides examples to illustrate the individual responsibilities in human interactions for Christian living; specifically, regarding compassion, peace, mercy, and motivation for and practice of righteousness.
In this bible study, we discuss a section of Paul’s letter to Ephesians, where he provides a three-part message regarding Christian living. The first part of the message is a call to Christian living. Paul calls every person to depart from sin and turn to Living in the Image of God: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” [Ephesians 4: 22–24].
The second part of the message explains that God provides the Holy Spirit as partner in Christian living [Ephesians 5:17–19]: “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.”
In the third part of the message, Paul provides examples to describe the individual responsibilities in human interactions for Christian living. The examples include compassion, peace, mercy, motivation for righteousness, and several examples regarding practice of righteousness [Ephesians 5:4–5]: “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
Call to Christian Living
Paul’s message begins with a call to Christian living and is based on the understanding that God creates every person to represent him in human interactions with others. Christian living means Living in the Image of God, representing God among people and circumstances, and interacting with them as God would interact with them if he lived in human form among them.
Paul describes Christian living as Living to “be like God” in human interactions with others. He calls every person to turn away from sinful living and turn to Living in the Image of God [Ephesians 4: 22–24]: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” [Ephesians 4: 22–24]
Partner in Christian Living
The second segment of Paul’s message declares the Holy Spirit as our partner in Christian living. The Holy Spirit enables a person to receive and follow God’s guidance to fulfill his purpose for you in every situation. Paul provides advice on being filled with the Holy Spirit, to understand God’s purpose for you in interactions with others. Always worship and praise God in your heart and give thanks to God for everything. He will guide you to fulfill his purpose for you in every event of human interactions with others [Ephesians 5:17–19]: “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.”
Make your body, heart, and soul an environment for the Holy Spirit: “Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” [Ephesians 5:19–20].
Examples in Human Interactions for Christian Living
In the third segment of his message, Paul provides several examples to illustrate the individual responsibilities in human interactions for Christian living. The examples include compassion, peace, mercy, motivation for righteousness, and several examples regarding practice of righteousness.
Individual Responsibilities Regarding Compassion
The first example describes the individual responsibilities regarding compassion. Love and care for others as Christ loves and cares for you. Do not steal. Instead, work to develop capability to provide for your needs and the needs of others: “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need” [Ephesians 4:28].
Individual Responsibilities Regarding Peace
The second example describes the individual responsibilities regarding peace. Do not let anger drive you to sin. Avoid bitterness, rage, brawling, slander, and all forms of malice. Resolve your anger quickly within the same day [Ephesians 4:26–27 and 31]: “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
Individual Responsibilities Regarding Mercy
The third example describes the individual responsibilities regarding mercy. Open your heart to recognize when you are in position to be merciful to others. Forgive those that do wrong to you. The same way that God forgives your sin through Christ: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” [Ephesians 4:32].
Individual Responsibilities Regarding Motivation for Righteousness
The fourth example describes the individual responsibilities regarding motivation for righteousness. As your partner in righteousness, the Holy Spirit is pleased by your acts of righteousness, but grieved when you decline opportunity for righteousness or engage in sinful behavior: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” [Ephesians 4:30].
Individual Responsibilities Regarding Righteousness
Paul provides the next several examples to describe the individual responsibilities regarding the practice of righteousness. The first example in this set talks about truthfulness and using the truth only for the purpose of uplifting others. Be truthful to others so that they may rely on your information. Speak only to uplift others and motivate them to righteousness [Ephesians 4:25 and 29]: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
The second example talks about love and other person-to-person interactions. Love others as God loves you. Avoid sexual immorality, greed, envy, or any kind of unhealthy desire. Avoid obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking. Do not submit yourself to deceit by others [Ephesians 5:1–3]: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.”
Summary of What We Learned
Paul’s letter to Ephesians regarding Christian living provides a three-part message. The first part is a call to Christian living, where he calls every person to depart from sin and turn to Living in the Image of God. Christian living is based on the understanding that God creates every person to represent him in human interactions with others: to interact with others as God would interact with them if he lived in human form among them.
The second part of the message declares that the Holy Spirit is our partner for Christian living and enables a person to receive and follow God’s guidance to fulfill his purpose for you in every situation. Paul provides advice on being filled with the Holy Spirit, to understand God’s purpose for you in interactions with others.
The third segment of the message provides examples to illustrate the individual responsibilities in human interactions for Christian living; specifically, regarding compassion, peace, mercy, and motivation for and practice of righteousness.