Understanding Ephesians 4:20-21 in Simple Terms
What Does It Mean That Christ Is Our Lesson and Our Teacher?
If you open your Bible to Ephesians 4:20-21, you’ll see that the Apostle Paul is talking to Christians in the city of Ephesus, reminding them of what life was like before they met Jesus. Their old environment was full of things that went against God—people didn’t care about right and wrong, and many made choices that led to all sorts of problems. Paul tells these Christians that they’ve now been rescued from that way of living, but the influences of their old lives are still all around them. That’s why Paul spends time teaching them (and us!) how to live differently, starting with the basics like being honest and not stealing.
But before giving practical advice, Paul makes a bigger point: if you want to live a good, new life, you first need to “learn Christ.” This phrase is unusual—after all, we’re used to learning about math, science, or history, but not usually about a person. Here, Paul means something special: we don’t just learn from Jesus as a teacher; we learn who He is and what He’s done. Jesus isn’t just someone with good advice; His life and His example are the very lessons we’re supposed to follow.
1. Christ Is Our Lesson
Think of it this way: you can read about kindness or love, but in Jesus, you see what those things actually look like in real life. The Gospels (the first four books of the New Testament) tell us about how Jesus lived, how He treated people, and how He handled difficult situations. When Paul says, “learn Christ,” he means we should study Jesus as the perfect example of how to live. He is the standard for what’s good, loving, and true.
What makes this special is that, unlike other teachers or role models whose lessons you can separate from their personal lives, Christianity is all about Jesus Himself—His actions, His words, and His love are inseparable from the message. To be a Christian is to get to know Him, not just His teachings.
2. Christ Is Our Teacher
Paul also says that these Christians “heard Him and were taught in Him.” Even though the people in Ephesus lived long after Jesus had walked the earth, Paul says they’ve heard Jesus speak. How? Through the message about Him, through the Bible, and by His Spirit working in their hearts. Today, we can also “hear” Jesus when we read about Him, pray, reflect, and sense what’s right and wrong in our hearts. Jesus still teaches us, guiding and helping us understand how to live.
It’s not just about having a list of rules to follow. Jesus’ teachings are personal, and He wants to help each of us learn and grow. He isn’t a distant figure from history—He is alive and still teaching those who want to listen.
3. How Do We Learn From Christ?
Paul uses an important phrase: “in Him.” This means that to really learn from Jesus and hear His teaching, we have to stay close to Him. It’s like being connected to a power source—if we stay plugged in, we have the energy and direction we need. We do this by:
· Spending time reading the Bible, especially the stories about Jesus
· Praying and talking honestly with God
· Trying to live out what we learn, even when it’s hard
· Letting Jesus’ example influence our choices, big and small
If we forget to stay close—if we don’t think about Him, read about Him, or try to follow Him—His lessons won’t make much difference in our lives. But if we keep our focus on Him, His influence shapes who we are and how we act.
4. The Result: Becoming Different From the World
Finally, Paul points out that truly learning from Jesus will make us stand out in a good way. We won’t just blend in with everyone else, especially when others are doing things that go against what God wants. Being a Christian isn’t about being weird or trying to look “holier than thou”—it’s about letting Jesus shape our hearts so that we act with kindness, honesty, and love, even when it’s not popular.
Paul’s challenge is for us to ask: “Are my choices and actions showing that I’ve really learned from Jesus?” If we’re just like everyone else, maybe we need to go back and listen to our Teacher again. But when we stay close to Jesus, His love and example start to show in our lives, and that’s what makes all the difference.
Summary
· Jesus is both our Lesson (the perfect example) and our Teacher (the one who guides us).
· We learn from Him by getting to know Him, not just by following rules.
· Staying close to Jesus helps us really change and live in a way that’s good and different from the world around us.
So, in simple terms: If you want to know how to live well, get to know Jesus. Watch how He lived, listen to His words, and let Him teach you through your daily life. That’s the heart of what it means to be a Christian.
Minister A Francine Green
February 2026
afrancinegreen.com 