Ephesians 4:17-19 - "Therefore" Walk Differently

An episode of the Pastor Mike Impact Ministries podcast, hosted by Michael L Grooms, titled "Ephesians 4:17-19 - "Therefore" Walk Differently" was published on December 15, 2025 and runs 5 minutes.

December 15, 2025 ·5m · Pastor Mike Impact Ministries

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Summary

Todaywe are moving into the final section of Ephesians chapter 4:17–32. In theseverses, we learn that the Christian—the believer in Jesus Christ—is not onlycalled to walk in unity within the body of Christ (vv. 1-16), but also to walkdifferently from the world around us, from those who are unsaved. Paul refersto these unbelievers as “the Gentiles”—those who do not know God, who do notfollow Jesus Christ, and who have never been spiritually regenerated. Inthe first part of this section, verses 17–19, which we will be looking at overthe next few days, Paul gives a vivid description of how the Gentiles walk—howthey live. And his message is clear: as followers of Jesus Christ, we are to bedifferent. In verse 17, Paul exhorts believers not to walk as the Gentileswalk. He describes their lives as empty in their thinking, darkened inunderstanding, alienated from the life of God because of ignorance andspiritual blindness. He goes on to describe a lifestyle marked by moralinsensitivity, impurity, and greed. (Read the above verses again.) Myfriend, that is a very apt description of much of America today. Many peoplehave little understanding of spiritual truth—of the Bible, of God, or of livinga life marked by respect and responsibility. Instead, they live selfishly,seeking only to please themselves, always wanting more—more possessions, morestatus, more of the newest and the best. That is exactly what Paul isdescribing. And he makes it clear that as believers, we should be different.Yes, we are to walk in unity as a body of believers, but we are not to walk asthe Gentiles walk. Ibelieve the Bible is a book written to be obeyed, not merely studied ormemorized. That is why we repeatedly encounter words like “therefore” and“wherefore.” In fact, between Ephesians 4:1 and Ephesians 5:24, those wordsappear at least eight times. Paul is essentially saying that because of whatChrist has done for us—especially in the first three chapters and the firsthalf of chapter 4—there is now a clear responsibility for how we are to liveand walk for Jesus Christ. TheApostle James reminds us of this truth in James 1:22-25, where he tells us tobe doers of the Word and not hearers only. Otherwise, we are like someone wholooks in a mirror, notices what needs to be fixed, and then walks away withoutdoing anything about it. That is not how God intends us to live. Jesus Himselfwarned that hearing the Word without obeying it is like building a house onsand (Matthew 7:24-27). Our lives should be different. Thefact that we have been called in Christ (Ephesians 1:18) should motivate us towalk in unity (Ephesians 4:1–16). The fact that we have been raised fromspiritual death (Ephesians 2:1–10) should motivate us to walk in purity(Ephesians 4:17–5:7). Paul also reminds us in Romans 6:4, that because we havebeen identified with Christ in His death, we are now called to walk in newnessof life. It is a different life altogether. Weare alive in Christ. We are no longer dead in our sins. Therefore, we are toput off the old self and put on the new self (Ephesians 4:22-24). Just as Jesuscommand that Lazarus have his grave clothes removed (John 11:44), we too are totake off the old grave clothes of our former life and put on the grace clothesof our new life in Christ. We are to walk in God’s wonderful and marvelousgrace. AsPaul begins this section of Scripture in verses 17–19, it comes as a strongwarning—a negative admonition. We are no longer to walk as the Gentiles walk.We will be exploring this more in the coming days. Itrust that today you will determine with all your heart to be a follower ofJesus Christ who lives a different life. Godbless!

Episode Description

Inthe first part of this section, verses 17–19, which we will be looking at overthe next few days, Paul gives a vivid description of how the Gentiles walk—howthey live. And his message is clear: as followers of Jesus Christ, we are to bedifferent. In verse 17, Paul exhorts believers not to walk as the Gentileswalk. He describes their lives as empty in their thinking, darkened inunderstanding, alienated from the life of God because of ignorance andspiritual blindness. He goes on to describe a lifestyle marked by moralinsensitivity, impurity, and greed. (Read the above verses again.)

Myfriend, that is a very apt description of much of America today. Many peoplehave little understanding of spiritual truth—of the Bible, of God, or of livinga life marked by respect and responsibility. Instead, they live selfishly,seeking only to please themselves, always wanting more—more possessions, morestatus, more of the newest and the best. That is exactly what Paul isdescribing. And he makes it clear that as believers, we should be different.Yes, we are to walk in unity as a body of believers, but we are not to walk asthe Gentiles walk.

Ibelieve the Bible is a book written to be obeyed, not merely studied ormemorized. That is why we repeatedly encounter words like “therefore” and“wherefore.” In fact, between Ephesians 4:1 and Ephesians 5:24, those wordsappear at least eight times. Paul is essentially saying that because of whatChrist has done for us—especially in the first three chapters and the firsthalf of chapter 4—there is now a clear responsibility for how we are to liveand walk for Jesus Christ.

TheApostle James reminds us of this truth in James 1:22-25, where he tells us tobe doers of the Word and not hearers only. Otherwise, we are like someone wholooks in a mirror, notices what needs to be fixed, and then walks away withoutdoing anything about it. That is not how God intends us to live. Jesus Himselfwarned that hearing the Word without obeying it is like building a house onsand (Matthew 7:24-27). Our lives should be different.

Thefact that we have been called in Christ (Ephesians 1:18) should motivate us towalk in unity (Ephesians 4:1–16). The fact that we have been raised fromspiritual death (Ephesians 2:1–10) should motivate us to walk in purity(Ephesians 4:17–5:7). Paul also reminds us in Romans 6:4, that because we havebeen identified with Christ in His death, we are now called to walk in newnessof life. It is a different life altogether.

Weare alive in Christ. We are no longer dead in our sins. Therefore, we are toput off the old self and put on the new self (Ephesians 4:22-24). Just as Jesuscommand that Lazarus have his grave clothes removed (John 11:44), we too are totake off the old grave clothes of our former life and put on the grace clothesof our new life in Christ. We are to walk in God’s wonderful and marvelousgrace.

AsPaul begins this section of Scripture in verses 17–19, it comes as a strongwarning—a negative admonition. We are no longer to walk as the Gentiles walk.We will be exploring this more in the coming days.

Itrust that today you will determine with all your heart to be a follower ofJesus Christ who lives a different life.

Godbless!