Living a Worthy Life: Embracing the Call of Ephesians 4
Pastor Tyler Renteria
In a world that constantly bombards us with messages about self-worth, purpose, and the pursuit of happiness, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Whether we realize it or not, we’re all searching for meaning in life. What gives our lives value? Where does our worth come from? And how do we live a life that reflects that worth?
The idea that we are "made for more" resonates deeply, and that’s exactly what the Apostle Paul addresses in Ephesians 4. This passage gives us a blueprint for living a life that isn’t just good but worthy. Worthy of the calling we've received from God. Paul takes us on a journey of transformation, starting with the foundation of our identity in Christ and moving towards the actions and attitudes that should follow. This is a journey for every believer—whether you've just started following Jesus or have been walking with Him for years.
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What Does It Mean to Live a Worthy Life?
Paul begins Ephesians 4 with a powerful challenge: live a life worthy of the calling you've received. But what does that really mean? Living a worthy life isn't just about ticking boxes or following a set of rules. It's about living in alignment with who we are in Christ.
Paul doesn't leave us guessing—he lays it out for us in Ephesians 4:2-3:
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (NIV)
Living a life worthy of our calling means modeling the very life of Jesus. It’s about being humble, gentle, and patient, even when it’s hard. It's about bearing with others in love and striving for unity, even in a world that often thrives on division.
This life, Paul says, isn't about personal glory or success; it's about serving others, just like Jesus did. And while that might sound simple, it's one of the hardest challenges we face as followers of Christ. It requires us to lay down our desires, our ambitions, and even our pride, to put others first.
Finding Worth in a World That Defines It Differently
If you ask the world what makes a person’s life "worthy," you’ll hear answers like success, money, relationships, or career. There’s a constant pressure to achieve and to prove our worth through what we can accomplish or what we have. And it’s no wonder so many people—especially young people—are anxious about their futures. They feel the weight of needing to prove that their life has meaning.
But the Bible tells a different story. Our worth doesn’t come from what we do; it comes from God. We are made in His image, and that alone gives us value. When we truly grasp that, the only natural response is to live in a way that reflects God’s worthiness.
Paul challenges us to live a life that honors that truth—a life that mirrors the love, humility, and sacrifice of Jesus. That’s what it means to live a life worthy of the calling we’ve received.
The Struggle to Live Selflessly
Living a worthy life sounds great in theory, but in practice, it’s incredibly hard. Why? Because it goes against our natural instincts. We live in a culture that tells us to prioritize our own needs, to make ourselves the center of the universe. But Paul calls us to something radically different: a life of humility, patience, and love.
Choosing to live this way requires a daily decision to put others before ourselves, to give up control, and to seek unity even when it's inconvenient or costly. It’s not about getting recognized or being celebrated for our good deeds; it’s about laying down our lives for the sake of others, just as Jesus did.
But this isn’t something we can do on our own. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us live this way. Without His help, it’s impossible to fully live out the life we’re called to.
How Are We Made Worthy?
The good news is that God doesn’t ask us to live a worthy life on our own strength. He makes us worthy through the work of Jesus Christ. Paul explains this in 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." (NIV)
The transformation begins on the inside. When we accept Jesus, we are made new. Our minds, our hearts, and our desires are transformed to reflect the heart of God. This isn’t just about changing our behavior—it’s about an inward transformation that leads to an outward change.
Receiving a New Mind
One of the first things that happens when we come to Christ is that we are given a new mind. Paul writes that we are "made new in the attitude of [our] minds." This means that the way we think, the way we see the world, and the way we approach life changes. We are no longer bound by fear or anxiety because we now have the mind of Christ.
That doesn’t mean we won’t ever experience fear or anxiety again. But it does mean we have a new way of dealing with those emotions. We can find peace and security in God’s truth, knowing that He is in control.
Receiving a New Heart
Ezekiel 36:26 says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (NIV) When we accept Jesus, we are given a new heart. This means that our desires begin to align with God’s desires. We start to love others in a way we never could before. We forgive more easily, we care more deeply, and we start to see people through God’s eyes.
Our hardened hearts are softened, and we begin to feel what God feels when He looks at the world. This new heart empowers us to love those who are difficult to love, to forgive those who have wronged us, and to serve those who need help.
Receiving a New Self
Finally, Paul tells us that we are given a new self. We are not just improved versions of our old selves; we are completely new creations. We are made alive in Christ. This means that we no longer have to be slaves to sin. We have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside us, enabling us to live a life that honors God.
This transformation is a complete overhaul of who we are. Our identity is no longer defined by our past, by our failures, or by the labels the world puts on us. We are new creations in Christ, and that changes everything.
The Challenge for Those Already Following Christ
While this transformation is beautiful, it’s important to note that Paul’s letter wasn’t written to new believers. He was writing to people who already claimed to follow Jesus. But they weren’t living like it.
Paul tells the believers in Ephesus:
"You must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking." (Ephesians 4:17 NIV)
In other words, Paul is calling out these believers for living like the world, even though they’ve been made new. He’s urging them to stop holding onto their old ways of life and to fully embrace the transformation that Jesus offers.
Specific Sins Paul Calls Out
Paul doesn’t shy away from calling out specific behaviors that don’t align with the new life in Christ. These include:
Dishonesty
Uncontrolled anger
Stealing
Corrupt language
Bitterness and resentment
Gossip
Hatred of others
These aren’t the "big" sins we often think of when we talk about turning away from sin. They’re things we might struggle with on a daily basis—like snapping at someone in frustration or holding a grudge. But Paul is clear: if we claim to follow Jesus, we need to let go of all sin, not just the "major" ones.
Paul's message is simple: you can’t live in both worlds. You can’t claim to follow Jesus while holding onto old ways of thinking and acting. The transformation Jesus offers is meant to be total. We are called to put off our old selves completely and embrace the new life He offers.
Transformation Is an Ongoing Process
One of the beautiful things about following Jesus is that transformation isn’t a one-time event. It’s an ongoing process. While we are made new when we accept Christ, we continue to grow and change as we walk with Him. This is known as sanctification—the process of becoming more like Jesus.
It’s important to remember that we’re not called to be perfect. Perfection is not something we can achieve in our own strength. Paul himself acknowledges this in Romans 7:15 when he says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (NIV) Even Paul, one of the greatest apostles, struggled with sin.
The goal isn’t perfection; it’s progress. We are called to live a life worthy of our calling, not a life of perfection. And that’s good news because striving for perfection will only lead to frustration and shame.
Worthiness vs. Perfection
Living a worthy life is about reflecting the image of Jesus, not about being flawless. We are called to be holy, but that doesn’t mean we’ll never mess up. When we strive for perfection, we put unnecessary pressure on ourselves, and when we inevitably fall short, we might feel distant from God. But God’s love for us doesn’t depend on our ability to be perfect.
He knows that we will fail, and yet, He still calls us worthy.
Want More?
Watch this message from Pastor Victoria Sowell titled Unveiling the Mystery and read the follow up blog.
Read a book about self-worth titled You Are More Than You’ve Been Told by Hosanna Wong.