Ephesians 4:17
“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.”
There is a way to walk that is negative and harmful to the name of Christ. Christians are not to walk as those who have not been called. Paul notes that these two ways to “walk” are opposed to each other. One cannot walk as a Gentile and as one who is keeping in step with the Spirit or walking worthy of the call of God. All humanity lives and produces a lifestyle. That way is in “the futility of their minds.” What they produce in all their walking and living is futile, does not last. It does not actually have substance that produces life or joy. Believers are not to live in this way.
Because the identity of Christians is no longer to be producing what a futile mind produces, our manner of living must be in direct opposition to what makes sense to the “natural mind.” Gentiles do not think that their lives are producing emptiness and vanity, but that is the path that they are on. But the way that the Lord looks and desires for Christians to live is not in the same way that unbelievers live. Living must no longer produce futility and emptiness but the “good works” that God planned for them.
Theology Implication: The Christian life is proof and evidence to point out if they are living as the world lives. This is evidenced in the common thinking of the world. The world will pursue and conduct business, life, and leisure in a certain way because of their identity and thinking. Christians must not live and walk on that path.
Article By: Caleb Nedimyer
Cross Hope 