Ephesians 4:25-29
Paul began Ephesians talking
about the eternal plan of God, the heavenlies and
being in Christ. He has now brings these concepts down to earth into our daily
lives and includes them in our conduct in speech, emotions, work, etc.
Chapter four began by
talking about the church and the Spirit of unity. The vices Paul now identifies
and tells us to replace with virtues are directly (in context and in
application) to keeping the bond of peace in the church so that the unity of
the Holy Spirit may be seen.
Purpose:
1. Good personal
relationships result in
2. Unity in the body of
Christ which manifests
3. The Holy Spirit (Ep.
4:1-3)
4:24
Romans 12:1-13:14 -
"Put on the Lord Jesus"
According to God = "in
image of God
Colossians 3:10 - new man
Concepts and Conduct:
Knowledge of God (word)
always produces Walking with God (holiness)
Walking with God (holiness)
comes from Knowledge of God (word)
4:25
Vices counter balanced with
Virtues:
The vices identified by Paul
are counter balanced with the virtues of God's nature.
|
VICE |
VIRTUE |
|
Falsehood |
Truth |
|
Anger |
(reconciliation,
action, resolution, etc.) |
|
Thief/Stealing |
Labor/Giving |
|
Corrupt Speech (promotes
evil) |
Edification Speech
(promotes grace) |
|
Harshnessq |
Kindness |
|
Anger |
Forgiving |
|
Clamor |
- |
|
Slander |
- |
Falsehood - Zechariah 8:16=
Keep Covenants
God keeps his Word and this
Word reflects his nature
We must keep our Word since
our new nature is like God
If we lie we reflect the nature
of the world, flesh, devil
This conduct of honesty is
important when dealing with:
1. those
outside the church (Col. 4:5) 2.
Members of the one body (Col. 3:9)
4:26
Anger is mentioned in both
Ephesians and Colossians
Matthew 5:22 - Angry with
brother = judgment
"Anger" in Greek
has idea of retribution
Psalm 4:4 - In anger (or,
righteous indignation) do not sin
Not sinning in anger can be
done by:
1. Time Limit - deal with your anger immediately instead
of letting it manifest in any of a wide variety of
ways.
2. Unburden your heart by letting it go, accepting the
wrong, forgiving
3. No vengeance - do not seek vengeance.
4. Resolve the issue that causes the anger, seek reconcilation
Anger is not a sin. God
becomes angry but God does not sin, so anger in itself is not sin.
Three commands listed here
by Paul concerning Anger:
1. Sin not
2. Do not let sun go down,
deal with it soon
3. Do not give the Devil a
foothold
"Foothold"
literally means "place" and it signifies "possibility,
opportunity, chance". The same word is used in
reference to giving God place, or leaving room for God in Romans 12:19.
4:27
Proverbs 30:33 - fanning
anger leads to strife, conflict and Satan's activity
Proverbs 6:19 - sows discord
This fanning and sowing
discord results in the sin we are to avoid which gives Satan a chance.
2 Corinthians 2:10-11
"Diabolos"
("devil") is used only here and 1 Tim. 1:20; 5:15. Paul usually uses
the name "Satan" instead
Anger is not the problem but
what mishandling anger can result in:
1. lack
of resolution
2. lack
of reconciliation
3. breaking
of relationships
4. seeking
vengeance
5. wrongful
talk
James 1:19-20 - man's anger
does not bring about God's desire
4:28
Do not lie: Exodus 20:15;
Dt. 5:19; Mark 10:19; Romans 13:9; 1 Corinthians 6:10
Do not be a thief and steal,
but instead get a job and give
Grace of generosity is part
of the Christian's new life:
Luke 6:29-36 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 2 Cor. 9:6-12
"Work with ones own
hands" is mentioned here and three other places by Paul.
1 Corinthians 4:12 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Acts 20:34
4:29
Adding to the list of vices
that destroy relationships and upset the bond of peace in the church is
"foul language".
Note: this does not say no
"strong language"
The modern religious
Christian has confused:
- Strong Language and Foul Language
- Goodness and Niceness
Paul used strong language,
but he did not use foul language.
Foul language would be:
- obscene
- vulgarity
- slanderous
- contemptuous
Colossians 3:8 - Put this
out of your mouth
Matthew 12:36 - Careless
words
Colossians 4:6 - filled with
grace and seasoned with salt
4:30
Instead of foul language we
are to use language that builds up the community.