Page 111 - Ephesians

Let me show you three ways these chapters are frightening. The
first is by comparing chapters 1-3, with 4-6. When you contrast
those two sections, its’ frightening because of Luke 12:48,
“To whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be
required.”

You see chapters 1-3 tell you how much you have been given.
Chapters 4-6, tell you how much will be required. Because of our
great wealth, there are tremendous responsibilities. You don’t
have to meditate long, to realize how frightening it would be on
the level of earth, that God requires in proportion to what He
gives. It would be nice in one sense if He wasn’t such an
abundant giver. But He gives and gives and gives and then He
requires in response to that.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful, I speak as a fool, if we could have all
that wealth in Christ, with no responsibilities? Some Christians
think that’s how it works. They live their lives like it all ends with
chapter 3. They go around with a mystical look in their eye.
Spiritual sounding phrases dripping from their lips saying, “I’m rich
in Christ. I’m waiting for the Lord and I’m resting in Him. God
doesn’t see me! I’m covered. He only sees Jesus. Christ is
everything. The only thing that matters is fellowship with Him. I
don’t need form or rules or regulations or other people. I only
need the Lord. I have Christ and He loves me and that’s all that
matters.”

Then you look at their lives, and there’s no walk! They aren’t
walking worthy of their calling. They are in bondage to the old sin
nature. They are worldly, proud and selfish. Living careless, slip-
shod lives. They joke about the things of the Lord. They have the
looks and the words. They write the tunes, and sing the songs.
But there’s no walk.

One thing that I get from the study of Ephesians: No walk, no
wealth. It doesn’t matter what you say, and how you claim you
are resting in Christ. If it doesn’t introduce a holy walk, you