How on earth can you recognize the family of God? Look for the family that listens to its Father. When He calls, they come. As Paul began the second part of Ephesians, he based Christian living on this divine call.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called… (Ephesians 4:1).1
God’s “call” is the best and highest of all.2 The “heavenly call” 3 takes us far higher than our own efforts can possibly reach. In this sense Paul, in Ephesians, has already stressed how unworthy we are.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved… not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:4-5,9).
1. The New Testament was written in the common Greek language of the first century. Translators that give us the meaning in English often use wording that sounds natural for modern readers. At times, however, it is helpful for us to point out the more exact meaning of the Greek words. We point these out by a note that begins with “literally…,” or with its abbreviation, “lit.”
2. Research Subject – The “call” from God: Matthew 9:13; 20:16; 22:1-10; Luke 5:32; 14:15-24; John 10:3-5; Acts 2:39; Romans 1:6-7; 8:28,30; 9:11,24-26; 1 Corinthians 1:2,9,24,26-30; 7:15,17-19; Galatians 1:6; 5:13; Ephesians 1:18; 4:1,4; Philippians 3:14; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 4:7; 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 2:14; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 3:1; 9:15; 1 Peter 1:15; 2:9,21; 3:9; 5:10; 2 Peter 1:3,10; Jude 1:1; Revelation 17:14; 19:9