“The Fruit of Christian Love” Part 1 (The New You S1E53)

In the book of Ephesians, the Holy Spirit emphasizes the love of God and the obedient life that results from our exposure to God’s love. He employs the term translated “walk” (how one orders his or her life, one’s behavior) to show how God’s grace, mercy, and love change our lives so that we walk with God.

1. The FORMER Walk (Ephesians 2:1-3)

a. He says, “who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked” (Eph. 2:1-2a).

b. Notice the emphasis upon the type of people that the Ephesians brethren USED to be.

c. The thought transitions in Ephesians 2:4ff. They went from “dead” to “alive” (Eph. 2:1, 5)!
They had gone from “disobedience” (Eph. 2:2) to “saved” (Eph. 2:5, 8) by God’s grace!

d. Notice the motivator: “But God, who is rich in mercy because of His great love…” (Eph. 2:4). God’s mercy, love, and kindness (Eph. 2:7) work together in God’s grace toward us to make our salvation possible. The love that God has shown us – while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8) – has drawn us into His saving message.

e. Truly, “we love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

2. The FAITHFUL Walk (Eph. 2:10; 4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15)

a. The church at Ephesus, having been drawn from their former walk by God’s love, would manifest their love for God through their faithful walk with Him.

1. They would walk in the good works that God has appointed (Eph. 2:10).

2. They would walk worthy of the calling (Eph. 4:1: cf. 2 Thes. 2:13-14; 1 Thes. 2:12; Col. 1:10).

3. They would walk as the new man (Eph. 4:17-24; Rom. 6:4; 8:1, 4).

4. They would walk in love (Eph. 5:2).

5. They would walk in light (Eph. 5:8; cf. 1 John 1:6-7; Rom. 13:13).

6. They would walk in wisdom (Eph. 5:15).