Our Wealth and Our Walk

Our Wealth and Our Walk

Your wealth will influence your walk. If you seek after worldly wealth, the way you live will reflect the values of the flesh. But if you pursue spiritual wealth, you will walk like a child of God.

The epistle to the Ephesians demonstrates this truth because the Ephesian Christians were poor in worldly wealth, but they were rich in spiritual blessings. Because of the importance of the source of their true wealth, Paul spends the first three chapters of the epistle reminding them of their position in Christ. This position comes with several possessions:

  • Adoption
  • Redemption
  • Inheritance
  • Power
  • Life
  • Grace
  • Citizenship
  • Love of Christ

There are no imperatives in the first three chapters of Ephesians; Paul describes the work God has done in them through His sovereignty. Their spiritual wealth comes only from God and not from themselves, and it is for this reason their position before God is secure.

The second three chapters of Ephesians, on the other hand, contain 35 imperatives. Our identity in Christ comes first, and out of that we learn how to live. God calls us to progressively become in our practice who we are in our position. When we do so, we live “to the praise of the glory of His grace” (Ephesians 1:6 NASB).

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