The non-Christian is separated from God’s life—the Christian is united to God’s life. This says it all, doesn’t it? The non-Christian does not have the vitality, insight, enthusiasm, wisdom, strength, joy or fruitfulness of the Christian. Do we as Christians live in the power of what we DO have precisely because we are united to God’s life, his eternal life?

Sometimes the best example is the worst example. In my years of teaching and coaching at the high school and college levels, I often revealed to my students and athletes not merely how I wanted something done, but how it was often done incorrectly. Do a wrestling move incorrectly and you might end up on your back counting lights, or hurting yourself. Run with poor form during a three-mile race and you are sure to wear yourself out more quickly and spend more time running.

God’s word certainly tells us how to live, but have you ever noticed how much of the history recorded in Scripture is filled with negative examples. Consider those mentioned in Hebrews 11, the supposed “Hall of Fame of Faith.” While we are told of the faith in God that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Gideon, David, and others exercised, each of them did some very bad things.  Their lives served as both good and bad examples. Of course, the worst examples are those who consciously rebelled against the Lord.

In Ephesians 4:17-19 Paul calls upon Christians to not walk or live as the Gentiles do. By “Gentiles” Paul was referring to the non-Christian. In those verses Paul dissects the “Gentile Way of Life”, and thereby implies what marks the true “Christian Way of Life.” His negative example serves to equip the true Christian to live pleasing to the Lord.

As Paul distinguishes what marks a non-Christian, he thereby implies what marks the Christian. Notice this: It is not that these things should mark the Christian; it’s that they do. Implications? Well, there are several, but among them is that we have in the apostle’s description a measuring device by which we can evaluate our life and that of others. We have a description of what both constitutes the life of the non-Christian and the Christian. Paul begins with an all-encompassing statement and then he breaks it down for us.

The non-Christian is separated from God’s life—the Christian is united to God’s life

This says it all, doesn’t it? The non-Christian does not have the vitality, insight, enthusiasm, wisdom, strength, joy or fruitfulness of the Christian. Do we as Christians live in the power of what we DO have precisely because we are united to God’s life, his eternal life?

The non-Christian has a futile mind—the Christian has a fruitful mind

Because the non-Christian does not know truth, he or she cannot produce thinking that results in constructive projects and pursuits; the non-Christian can only, at least in an ultimate sense, tear down or destroy. The Christian does bear fruit. The Christian has a mind that produces thoughts that result in life, in encouraging people toward the good, the true and beautiful, that are filled with ingenuity, good ideas, or fruitful plans.

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