Grace-driven efforts we are to make as Christians: (Eph 5:1-10)

  1. Imitate Jesus by becoming holy (v. 1)
  2. Walk in love (v. 2)
  3. Avoid sexual immorality (v. 3)
  4. Watch your mouth (v. 4)
  5. Figure out what pleases God and do it (v. 10)
There are more mentioned, but I will stop there. I do not need to tell you that we do these things not in order to become God’s children but because we are made His children. Verse 7 says, “do not become partners with them (sins); for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” 
 
Being gospel-driven and believing in the sovereignty of God, we may become passive and inactive in our own sanctification. We may think, “No matter what I do, what will happen will happen. And since God loves me, He will make everything happen for me that is good.” But not according Paul, the very author who wrote about God’s absolutely control and predestination, etc.
Our human wisdom dictates that if God is in absolutely control, then it matters not what I do. On the other hand, if God is not in absolutely control, then I must determine my own fate. But the Bible says neither. God IS in absolute control, AND I must do something to bring about what God intends!
So, we strive for holiness. We walk in love. We avoid sexual immorality, etc, etc.
“Active dependence” is how I would phrase it. Actively depend on God by striving to be what God called you to be!
PH