Ephesians 4:17-32: Principles of a New Life

17-24 HOW NOT TO LIVE

Intellect without light

Hearts without sensitivity

Actions without purity

HOW WE ARE TO LIVE

You have learned Christ Himself

You have heard the call of Christ to faith and repentance

You have been taught the truth in Jesus

To lay aside the old self

To be renewed in the spirit of your mind

To put on the new self

25-28 VIRTUES MUST REPLACE VICES

Truthfulness must replace falsehood

Righteous anger must replace sinful anger

Hard work must replace theft and we are to share with those in need

29-30 TALK BY THE SPIRIT

Choose words that build up

Choose words for fulfilling a need

Choose words for blessing

Know and remember who walks with you every step

31-32 PUT AWAY BITTERNESS AND FORGIVE

Banish every trace of bitterness

Surrender all wrath and sinful anger

Silence clamor and slander

Let go of all malice

Be kind one to another

Be tenderhearted to one another

Be continuously forgiving

Think on God's continuous forgiveness

Live by His grace and remember to forget

The last portion of chapter 4 in Ephesians has been generally referred to as "A Statement of Christian Conduct" and it is another in the several steps throughout the New Testament which call the believer to holy living. These believers in the church at Ephesus had before lived the life common to most Asian (now the country of Turkey) people which was a pagan outlook and practices whose dark side is presented in 17-19.

At conversion they exchanged these lifestyles for a new life and in this portion of chapter 4 they are strongly advised not to go back to the older ways. One way many writers have described this passage is to consider what we were in Adam (living in sin of disobedience) versus what we become in Christ (spiritual obedience which is evidence of a changed life).

These former pagans who were once ignorant are now enlightened with the true knowledge of God. Once dead in sin, they are now forgiven and raised up to new life. This new nature requires them to change the daily patterns to reflect love of truth, honesty in purpose of daily work, and a caring and compassion for others, sincere speech, no falsehoods, and a recognition that they are no longer their own people, as they were purchased by the Lord and now are "sealed" in His Spirit. These are all parts of the sanctification process where converts become more and more like Jesus as they grow in faith.

God's sovereign grace is seen clearly in Ephesians. The teaching is strong that apart from Christ, we are dead in sin, unable to save ourselves. God bestows His grace upon His elect so that we then work for His glory. When we live like unbelievers live, we deny the law God writes in our hearts and sadly choose the darkness of moral ignorance over the light of His loving and holy salvation.

Eternal punishment awaits all those who refuse to accept Jesus and the wrath of eternity first in hell and then in the lake of fire is the end of those sad souls. Jesus has broken the power of this lust for evil and worldly things and has arranged the narrow path away from such things that deny His Lordship. Ultimately those who are saved come to understand salvation is submission to His rules for life. Discipleship then is a lifelong process of relying on the grace of God to enable us to put our sin to death only by the power of the Holy Spirit working within us.

True Christian living requires mind and heart to work together in obedience to the Holy Spirit. The first three chapters of Ephesians focuses on the heart aspects of the Christian life. As we recall what our Savior has done, we grow in our affection for Him, becoming more eager to do His will, not our own. So we take off sin, and then put on Jesus willingly as verses 17-24 teach. We are then "in Christ" who is truth itself and so truth must be our highest goal.

Having been justified by the imputing of His righteousness in us through grace given in faith, we are sent forth to do good works and live unto the glory of God. Paul explains in 4:28 that glorifying the Lord means honest labor, generosity, and the refusal to take from others.

Scripture recognizes how our words can be used as weapons. The emphasis of word weapons here is how they may hurt other people. Putting off our old selves in favor of Christ means putting away vulgarity, spiteful speech, mocking the flaws of others, and other corrupt talk which may disparage other people. Paul's warning about this needed change does not mean harsh words are never proper. Sometimes only a harsh conversation ( especially in times of witness) will help others tum from sin and toward Jesus and the gospel. Our words are.to give encouragement that will advance spiritual growth. We are surely commanded by the Lord and the apostles to do all we can to help others come to salvation and we must obey that instruction as we seek to live for Him.

To put on Christ is to change life into a new pattern that pleases the Lord. As we ourselves seek to grow in faith, violating consistently the new pattern in sin not only grieves the Son who opened the way for us, it also grieves the Holy Spirit. In verse 30 we see Paul's strong teaching on this matter as he warns us not to "grieve the Holy Spirit of God". God's Spirit is especially sensitive to sin because of His close relation with each of us, since He comes to live within us. The Spirit "seals" us for the day of redemption and it is by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that we are drawn closer and closer to the image of the Son. Conforming to that image has been the goal for man since the beginning. Genesis 1 :26 allows us a glimpse into the creation conversation in the heavenly court:

"Let us make man in our image ... ".

We are created in His image and are intended to live in that image as well, reflecting His character. In that manner verse 32 teaches us that we must (as He does) practice kindness and forgiveness. This call is not optional. It is commanded of us. We each gain His kind forgiveness as we confess and repent each day. Forgiveness of others is a natural outflow of His kind forgiveness toward us. It is a further step toward a loving nature and Jesus himself taught us in John 13:35 that this nature is how we will be seen as His. Forgiveness is to be swift and complete toward others and done in kindness.

Forgiveness is not truly for those forgiven, but far more for the one who forgives, for it cleanses us and opens our hearts such that room is created for more love.