What does it mean to "walk in love" as Paul commands in Ephesians 5:2?

In this verse-by-verse Bible study, Nathan Johnson unpacks the radical nature of agapē love—a love that is not passive, emotional, or circumstantial, but a steadfast, sacrificial commitment modeled after Christ Himself.

Paul's command to "walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us" reveals that biblical love is not measured by our comfort or preference, but by the extravagance of God's own self-giving love. This message explores five defining characteristics of agapē love and shows why walking in love is only possible when we live out of union with Christ, who is love.

If you've ever wondered how Christian love differs from the world's version—or felt the gap between how you love and how Christ loves—this Ephesians 5:2 exposition will challenge and equip you to pursue a love that costs something.

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Deeper Christian Bible Study in Ephesians • Study 125

» Join the Deeper Christian community and receive the Deeper Digest each Saturday—which includes all the quotes, articles, podcasts, and resources from Nathan and the ministry of Deeper Christian from the week to help you grow spiritually. Sign up at: deeperchristian.com/digest

» Watch the Ephesians Bible Study studies on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIigCRFn5DR0tmIuFjc9chXIZXXRT7ouH

» Receive other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperchristian.com

In Ephesians 5:1, the Apostle Paul makes a stunning declaration about our identity in Christ—we are God's beloved children, adopted as true heirs with full access to the Father's love and affection.

In this Bible study, Nathan Johnson unpacks what it means to be God's cherished child and how this transformative truth should shape the way we live, worship, and walk with Jesus.

If you've ever questioned your worth, struggled to believe God truly delights in you, or wondered what it means to be loved by the Father, this expositional teaching will ground you in the unchanging reality of your adoption in Christ. Whether you're studying Ephesians verse-by-verse or seeking to deepen your understanding of your identity as a Christian, this message will help you grasp the profound privilege and practical implications of being called God's beloved child.

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Deeper Christian Bible Study in Ephesians • Study 124

» Join the Deeper Christian community and receive the Deeper Digest each Saturday—which includes all the quotes, articles, podcasts, and resources from Nathan and the ministry of Deeper Christian from the week to help you grow spiritually. Sign up at: deeperchristian.com/digest

» Watch the Ephesians Bible Study studies on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIigCRFn5DR0tmIuFjc9chXIZXXRT7ouH

» Receive other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperchristian.com

What does Paul really mean when he commands believers to be “imitators of God” in Ephesians 5:1? Is Christian living about striving harder to act like Jesus—or something far deeper?

In this Christ-centered teaching, Nathan explains why imitating Christ is impossible apart from Christ Himself and why true imitation must flow from divine impartation, not human effort. This message unpacks the gospel logic behind Ephesians 5:1, exposing the difference between external behavior modification and genuine spiritual transformation, and offers three essential reminders for anyone who desires to live an authentic Christian life shaped by the indwelling life of Jesus Christ.

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Deeper Christian Bible Study in Ephesians • Study 123

» Join the Deeper Christian community and receive the Deeper Digest each Saturday—which includes all the quotes, articles, podcasts, and resources from Nathan and the ministry of Deeper Christian from the week to help you grow spiritually. Sign up at: deeperchristian.com/digest

» Watch the Ephesians Bible Study studies on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIigCRFn5DR0tmIuFjc9chXIZXXRT7ouH

» Receive other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperchristian.com

What does it mean to be a Christian in every part of life—not just in belief, but in conduct, character, and conviction?

In this Christ-centered Bible teaching from Ephesians 4, Nathan Johnson takes a big-picture look at the call to live as Christians always and in all ways, showing how the gospel should radically reshape our words, actions, thoughts, and motives.

Throughout the message, we examine Paul’s vision of spiritual maturity and are reminded that Jesus Christ must be the center of the believer’s life.

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Deeper Christian Bible Study in Ephesians • Study 122

» Join the Deeper Christian community and receive the Deeper Digest each Saturday—which includes all the quotes, articles, podcasts, and resources from Nathan and the ministry of Deeper Christian from the week to help you grow spiritually. Sign up at: deeperchristian.com/digest

» Watch the Ephesians Bible Study studies on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIigCRFn5DR0tmIuFjc9chXIZXXRT7ouH

» Receive other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperchristian.com

In Ephesians 4:31–32, the apostle Paul draws a sharp contrast between the old life shaped by sin and the new life formed by Christ, calling believers to put away bitterness, wrath, anger, malice, and unforgiveness, and to instead live in kindness, tenderness, and Christ-like forgiveness.

In this in-depth Bible study, Nathan Johnson walks through Paul’s two contrasting lists—what must be put off and what must be put on—and shows that genuine Christian transformation is not achieved through self-effort but through the indwelling life of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. This teaching helps Christians understand how the gospel reshapes the heart, how forgiveness flows from Christ’s forgiveness of us, and how a life centered on Jesus produces practical holiness for the glory of God.

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• See the notes for this study

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Deeper Christian Bible Study in Ephesians • Study 121

» Join the Deeper Christian community and receive the Deeper Digest each Saturday—which includes all the quotes, articles, podcasts, and resources from Nathan and the ministry of Deeper Christian from the week to help you grow spiritually. Sign up at: deeperchristian.com/digest

» Watch the Ephesians Bible Study studies on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIigCRFn5DR0tmIuFjc9chXIZXXRT7ouH

» Receive other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperchristian.com

As Christians, we are not only image-bearers of the living God, but His Holy Spirit also indwells us. In this episode, we examine Paul’s sobering exhortation in Ephesians 4:30 to “not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,” exploring what this command actually means for everyday Christian living.

Rather than treating grief of the Spirit as an abstract theological idea, we look at how our attitudes, words, relationships, and daily choices either align with—or resist—the life and character of Jesus Christ living within us. What does it mean to be sealed by the Spirit for the day of redemption, and how should that reality shape the way we live, speak, forgive, and walk in holiness? This teaching invites believers into deeper intimacy, Spirit-empowered obedience, and a Christ-centered life marked not by self-effort, but by surrendered dependence upon the indwelling Spirit of God.

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Deeper Christian Bible Study in Ephesians • Study 120

» Join the Deeper Christian community and receive the Deeper Digest each Saturday—which includes all the quotes, articles, podcasts, and resources from Nathan and the ministry of Deeper Christian from the week to help you grow spiritually. Sign up at: deeperchristian.com/digest

» Watch the Ephesians Bible Study studies on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIigCRFn5DR0tmIuFjc9chXIZXXRT7ouH

» Receive other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperchristian.com

Every word we speak reveals what’s flowing from our hearts. In Ephesians 4:29, Paul exhorts believers to let no corrupt talk come out of their mouths, but only what builds up and gives grace to those who hear. Our speech is meant to reflect the transforming power of Jesus Christ—words that encourage, strengthen, and point others to Him.

In this study, Nathan Johnson unpacks the biblical call to use our tongues for edification, showing how Spirit-filled communication becomes a powerful testimony of God’s work within us.

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Deeper Christian Bible Study in Ephesians • Study 119

» Join the Deeper Christian community and receive the Deeper Digest each Saturday—which includes all the quotes, articles, podcasts, and resources from Nathan and the ministry of Deeper Christian from the week to help you grow spiritually. Sign up at: https://dclife.us/digest

» Watch the Ephesians Bible Study studies on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIigCRFn5DR0tmIuFjc9chXIZXXRT7ouH

» Receive other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperchristian.com

Always with something to share: the Christian's call to work and giving.

As believers, we’re not called to take but to give. In Ephesians 4:28, Paul calls Christians to abandon the old life of idleness and selfish gain and instead work diligently with their hands so they always have something to share with those in need. True Christian stewardship and generosity flow from a transformed heart—a life centered on Jesus Christ that labors not for self but for His glory.

In this study, we explore what it means to work hard for the Lord, live as channels of God’s provision, and reflect His heart of giving in a world that constantly takes.

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Deeper Christian Bible Study in Ephesians • Study 118

» Join the Deeper Christian community and receive the Deeper Digest each Saturday—which includes all the quotes, articles, podcasts, and resources from Nathan and the ministry of Deeper Christian from the week to help you grow spiritually. Sign up at: https://dclife.us/digest

» Watch the Ephesians Bible Study studies on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIigCRFn5DR0tmIuFjc9chXIZXXRT7ouH

» Receive other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperchristian.com