Ephesians | Chapter 4 – Scripture Supply

Ephesians 4:1-6

“Giving a piece of your heart instead of your mind”

Introduction
1-3 The seated walk
4-6 Seven things that unite all Christians

Introduction

There is a transition starting in this chapter as we begin to see that Paul puts wheels on the Ephesians faith. Six times in two chapters Paul uses the word “walk” to describe our Christian faith which reveals to us that our Christian life is not defined by what we profess, (TALK) but rather by what practice, (WALK). Yet just like a little child, we must first learn to sit before we can learn to walk, and clearly in the first three chapters, Paul has emphasized our being seated in the heavenly places in Christ, (1:3).

Now Paul tells us how to spend our riches in Christ to reach the world with His love. I’m sure we have all used that phrase when we are upset at someone, “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind”. Well in the next few chapters, Paul is going to speak to us about giving people a “Piece of our hearts instead of a piece of our minds!” The truth is that I can ill afford the loss of giving a piece of my mind and I cannot afford not to give them more of my heart! You see “love” is the only action we can give that will win every argument and triumph over every objection. Love conquers where even logic and rational cannot! I can always know just what I truly believe by seeing how I behave, furthermore, my behavior is always in response to His blessings upon me not in order to secure them! Dear Christian, what the world needs now is for us to start spending His blessings upon us!

Vs. 1-3 The seated walk

Vs. 1 This verse reveals several things to us:

The use of the word “Therefore” ties this section with what Paul had just said, namely that God through trials continually gives us more of Himself. As I said, Paul has this in the right order as God’s work of blessing us always proceeds with His blessing others through us. As John wrote in 1 John 4:19 we don’t love Him “SO” He will love us but rather “BECAUSE” He first loved us. If we put our “doing” before our “being” we will end up either in rebellion or self-righteousness.
Second this statement by Paul of “being a prisoner of the Lord” was how he started the 3rd chapter. Now you will remember that Paul’s purpose for stating that was to reveal to the Ephesians believers that adverse circumstances did not detract from his comprehending the unfathomable riches in Christ, instead they made them more visible. The same is true here as it deals with how we live what we believe, you see our walk is not hindered by adverse circumstances rather it is enhanced. In other words, I can’t say that the reason I’m not walking with God the way I should be is because of my present circumstances.
Thirdly Paul uses the word “beseech” to address their walk and the word literally means, “called alongside”. Simply put Paul was not preaching “at” them he was walking alongside them to encourage them.
Finally, Paul comes alongside and says for them to, “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” Then he tells them what those “worthy walk” characteristics are in verses 2-3. The word “worthy” is a word that means, “to balance the scales” and the idea is that what is on one side of the scales ought to carry the same weight as what is on the other side. So, what is on the side of the scale of our riches in Christ that we talk about ought to be balanced out by how we live our lives. Or if you will, our walk ought to match our talk. The story is told of Dr. Livingston and of Mr. Stanley who searched for him in Africa. Not one time did Dr. Livingston preach of Christ to old Stanley but in a short amount of time Stanley became a believer simply by Dr. Livingston’s walk with the Lord.

Paul gives six characteristics of a person’s heart that has a balanced walk:

“Lowliness”: The Greek and Roman culture had no word for “humility”, as it was not a virtue but a vice, and only the Jews had a word for it. When Paul wrote this, he combined two Greek words one that meant low and the other that meant opinion of oneself. The Greeks eventually borrowed this word and used it as a word of contempt towards Christians. In the purest definition “humility” is true knowledge of self that occurs when we begin to see ourselves as God sees us. I’ve all heard the phrase; “To know me is to love me!” well the truth is to know me is to find nothing worthy to love about me. All the satisfaction that mankind walks around with is only made possible by finding a standard that which they are superior. How do you know when you have a humble heart? One thing is for sure, the moment you think you have it you have just lost it!
“Gentleness”: This is rendered elsewhere as “meekness” and in our world that is often seen as “weakness”. Yet the word in Greek has to do with the taming of a wild animal and means “power under control”. We can tame a lion or a horse and they are still powerful but now their power is directed by the master’s words! Take a rocket and blast it off in space would you think the rocket is gentle or meek? It is as long as it has power under control or channeled effectively.
“Longsuffering”: The word means “long-tempered” which helps us with our understanding doesn’t it? It has to do with the ability to endure discomfort without fighting back. This characteristic can endure insult and injury without bitterness or complaint. Ever watched a puppy with an older dog? The puppy yapping all the time jumping on the older dog, biting him putting up with the constant indignity when all it would take is a quick bite and the puppy would cease to exist.
“Bearing with one another in love”: It is impossible to separate bearing with one another from the motivation for doing so, love. I’m sure that my wife “puts up with me” (literal meaning) because she loves me. When we are struggling with “putting up with someone” then we know exactly how to pray for ourselves don’t we?
“Endeavoring to keep”: Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit, here is the truest test isn’t it? It’s one thing for a moment to love someone or to act lovingly and a whole other challenge to be eager and dedicated to continue to do so!
“the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”: It is important that we don’t misunderstand what Paul is speaking about as it relates to unity, which is going to be the subject of verses 4-6. Paul is not speaking of “organizational unity” which is a functional structure of individuals, that is just imposed direction sustained by rules. No Paul is speaking on unity that is based upon a living organism (the body of Christ) whose whole function is designed for life, this is relational unity. This unity is maintained in the power of the Spirit and His peace which bonds us to each other. The truth is if we aren’t getting along with other believers then we aren’t getting along with each other.

The characteristics of the first three verses as produced by realizing our unfathomable riches in Christ. That is why if these personal traits of a “worthy walk” are not being seen in our lives then our problem is that we aren’t living in the unfathomable riches in Christ! Can you see how these visible characteristics produce unity with one another and how God uses them to reach the world?

Vs. 4-6 Seven things that unite all Christians

Paul tells us that we Christians share seven things in common without which we would have no possibility of biblical unity. The truth is what we believe always determines how we behave, furthermore, these truths are things that lay hold of us and not that which we lay hold of.

Vs. 4a “There is one body”: Shared life! It matters not your denominational preference there is only one body and that is the body of Christ. When asked Christians may state that they are a Baptist or something like that, but the truth is that is only where they meet with others to worship God. This is what makes the body of Christ a great thing and that is we have diversity and still have unity. In Romans 12:5 Paul wrote that “we being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
Vs. 4b “One Spirit”: Shared power! In Zech. 4:6 we are told that it is, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.” Our strength is not in numbers it is in the Holy Spirit.
Vs. 4c “Just as you were called in one hope of your calling”: Shared confidence! Now follow me on this as Paul lists two things that ought to give us confidence:
Were called: See that is past tense and has to do with God’s calling us into a relationship with Him.
Your calling: This is future tense and speaks of the continual transformation into the image of Jesus. So not only does He save us, but he doesn’t leave us the way He found us but changes us from glory to glory.
Vs. 5a “One Lord”: Shared leader! All Christians must have the same Lord there is only One to whom we must follow. Now Paul is very specific here as he does not say “one Savior” which is true, but He is only our Savior if we have made Him our Lord.
Vs. 5b “One faith”: Shared truth! Paul is speaking of the “faith” in the body of scripture that makes up the essentials of what we believe. So, in essential unity and non-essentials, we go back to the truth that we are all part of the same body.
Vs. 5c “One baptism”: Shared death! The baptism Paul is speaking of here is not how it is done but what it speaks of and the Bible tells us that it speaks of His death, so we have in common the death of Jesus on our behalf.
Vs. 6 “One God”: Shared worship! Paul lists four things about God here that comprise our worship
“Father of all”: Notice that God is the Father of all which speaks of His love. He is our Dad compassionate and loving.
“Who is above all”: What does this suggest about God? Well, it tells me that He alone is in control, as He is above all. Now put that together with the truth that He is our Father, and you will receive some great comfort.
“Through all”: Ah this tells me that He is working through all, He is intimately caring about everything going on in my life.
“And in you all”: Finally, Paul speaks of God and tells us that He is always present and never distant.

Our riches in Christ change our nature which produces unity towards one another, and that unity is centered around things we have in common all of which are our riches. It is this that God says to spend in the world, go ahead Christian give everyone a piece of your heart, and see what God will do in a lost world.

Ephesians 4:7-16

“Whatever happened to the Church?”

Introduction
7-10 The focus of the church
11-12 The purpose of the Church
13-16 The goal of the church

Introduction

There is a great mystery looking at the Church today and the first Church of 2000 years ago. Go back and read the gospels and the book of Acts and you will see something much different than today’s representation.

Now from the outside, today’s Church would be far more impressive; the sure volume of its numbers, its wealth, technology, and literacy are beyond measure superior.
Yet, as impressive as the outside is of the modern Church the inside of the First Church is beyond measure vastly superior. Take those few handfuls of uneducated, social outcasts that made up the followers of Jesus, walk through their testimony and you will discover that they reached their world against all odds, without any of our numbers, wealth, technology, and literacy. Furthermore, not only did they reach their world we have become part of their legacy.

My question is, “What ever happened to Jesus’ Church?” Listen to the testimony of the first Church’s enemies as Paul and a handful of men came into Thessalonica, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” Does anyone here see “Jesus’ Church” turning the world on its heels? Does our mere presence signal the unenviable reality of transformation? You have to excuse my idealism, but I still believe after 23 years of being a Christian and 17 years of pastoring that Jesus still wants to “turn the world upside down” and whatever that motley crew of misfits had that accomplished this I want! And here is the truth, our forefathers of the faith simply were possessed with an ever-increasing measure of the presence of Jesus. “Pastor is there any proof of what you say or is this just a commentary?” Well, I again take you to the Church’s enemies in Acts 4:13 and listen to what they said, “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” Could it be that simple? Yes!

Vs. 7-10 The focus of the church

Vs. 7 Paul had spoken to the Ephesians on a “worthy walk” in which the characteristics were described in verses 2-3 then went on to show them what they had in common with each other. Paul’s point was to tell them that the Church’s continual transformation is not hindered by adversity instead the Church becomes more powerful through difficulties.

For three chapters Paul spoke of our unfathomable riches in Christ and now for the rest of the book he will encourage us to spend those riches and before us now is how the Church is to do this. Any words on the function of the Church in the world without telling us how it is to run would be fruitless. Right now, we have a radio station sitting out there waiting to be turned on to broadcast God’s work, wonder, and word to Merced, CA and it’s a great blessing only if we can turn on the switch. It’s kind of like; “I see what we are supposed to do, but how do I go about doing it?”

Vs. 7 Focus: Three times in this one verse Paul mentions the “Gift” as he says, the “gift was given to measure of the gift”. He also tells us that “each one”, that is every single believer is a part of spending this “gift”. But what is the “gift”? Paul calls one the measure of the other, which is the “gift of Jesus”. Take my opening statement about the differences between the First Church and the Church today and you can begin to see what our problem is, we have lost our focus! The gift given to every believer is a measure of Him and we are to take what He has given of Himself to us to a world that has not yet received the Gift! That is why Paul qualifies this with the words “to each one of us and to the measure”. We are all to spend His riches but only that which we have received. Here is what is cool those “unfathomable riches in Christ” (verse 8) can only grow as we are willing to give more of Him away. Get it Christian, “Let the world see what Jesus has given you now and you will get even more of Him to give away!”
Vs. 8-10 Power: The word “therefore” tells us that his thought in verse 7 is connected to what he is about to say here. Paul quotes from Psalm 68:18, which is a very vivid picture of what happened after an enemy was defeated. The conquering army would come back into their town with the shouts of a joyous victory and two things in tow:
Vs. 9 Captivity: They would bring after them those that had once defeated them behind the conquering commander. In the Old Testament there were those believers who had died before Jesus and were held in “Abraham’s bosom”, well after Jesus’ death on the cross and before His resurrection He went there and set them free from death which once held them. Here is how this works for us, Jesus has set us free from everything that once held us, and we get to go out in the world and live free. If you want to reach the world it’s simple, “Out love them!”
Vs. 10 Gifts: They would bring the spoils taken from the enemy. Isn’t that interesting that the spoils came after the defeated enemy? I have found that I will only enjoy more of Him to the degree I have allowed Him to defeat those things that defeat me! Notice the words “far above the heavens” and “might fill all things”. That speaks to me about being able to enjoy life on a level that I never dreamed was possible “far above the heavens” or out of reach. And on a level that, “fills all things” or that which truly satisfies me.

Get it? The gift of Jesus is displayed in what He has done in our lives, which is He has defeated those things that defeated us, and He has enabled us to enjoy that which we were never able to do so before. There is nothing worse for a child when he receives a gift and wants to start to play with it to find out on the box that “batteries were not included”! Christian, the gift of Jesus includes all the batteries you will ever need, an uninterrupted supply that will keep you continually defeating that which once defeated you and keep you enjoying those things that before Jesus you were never able to do.

Vs. 11-12 The Purpose of the Church

We can see that the early Church maintained their “FOCUS” and their “POWER” but in these next two verses we see that they understood their “PURPOSE”.

Vs. 11 Notice that Paul lists four specific groups of people that Jesus gave the church to keep their “focus and power on their purpose”.

Apostles: Governing There are two types of “apostles” those that were the first apostles whom Jesus appointed to govern the Church and the more general type today those “sent out ones”. Today we use the word “ambassadors” to describe a person who is sent out into a foreign land to represent the interests of another. An ambassador does not represent their interest but rather that of their president and country. In the case of “The 12 Apostles” they are the “skeleton” in which every other part of the body is hung on the truths that were given to them is what is our structure and is the standard by which we test everything else. Jesus Himself gave His body a framework to keep it going in the right direction.
Prophets: Guiding Then we have those who were to speak the heart of God to His People. Sometimes that would be about future events but most often it was just unveiling His heart on matters that are important to Him. Today this would include those who speak the word of God by the Spirit of God to guide God’s people. In the realm of our physical bodies that would be like our nervous system which is that which motivates our bodies to move and function as they are supposed to. Take that which is harmful to our bodies, our nervous system sends out warnings to stay away from extreme heat. Our nervous system also takes information given by our brains to keep our hearts pumping and the rest of our organs working as they were designed.
Evangelists: Gathering Now we are told elsewhere that we are all to do the “work” of an evangelist but still there are those that Jesus gives whose gifting is gathering people into the body of Christ. Now I kind of think evangelists are like our digestive system as they take in food and assimilate it into the body, and it is those broken-down nutrients that feed our cells so that they can in turn reproduce. Now we are most familiar with the mouth with its teeth and saliva that breaks down food, but you know there is the stomach that grinds down further the food taken in which then goes to the intestines which enables those nutrients to get into our circulatory system so that each cell can get what it needs to reproduce.
Pastors and teachers: Guarding and Grounding Now in the original Greek there is no separation in other words this is one office that is described by two functions.
Pastor: That is a term adopted from working with animals, isn’t it? You see the pastor or shepherd had the responsibility to guard and care for his flock. It was his job to keep out anything that would harm his master’s sheep. It was also his responsibility to treat those sheep as if they were his own, part of his family. When one was sick, he would care for it, when one was rebellious and causing problems, he would correct it. But most often he just hung out with them day after day spent time laughing with them and crying with them.
Teacher: Did you notice that? Paul is specific and he says that Jesus gave His church “teachers” instructors and not “preachers” or proclaimers. It is the job of a teacher to teach that which they have learned themselves. There are a lot today that “proclaim” truths to their sheep but not near enough whom instruct their sheep. Go back to Jesus’ words to Peter in John 21:17 where He tells Peter to “feed His sheep”, not proclaim truth but rather prepare a meal and feed it to them. Not, “Hey, sheep there’s food over there!”

Now this is kind of like our circulatory system, which feeds, cleanses, and maintains the life of the body.

Vs. 12 These four specific groups are designed to do one thing “equip the saints” and the equipping will produce two activities that the Church will be involved in “the work of ministry” and “edifying (building up) of the body of Christ”. Now the word equip is a Greek word that means “to put right” and was used to set a bone that had been broken or to mend a net that had been torn. The word saints here is just another way of saying believers in Christ, so then Jesus gave these four groups to keep us right on course. Now some Christians may have a broken bone or a torn net, in other words, they are not functioning as they were designed to and they need to be “put right” so that they will again function as they were designed. I’m afraid that far too many Christians today view their faith as a spectator sport, where only a few play and the rest watch. Someone once described professional football as a handful of people playing a game where they are in desperate need of rest while thousands who are in desperate need of exercise watch. I’m afraid that this is what the Church has become but that is not how it was designed, as it is every believer is called to be in the game. And what is the purpose of the Church? Paul lists two things:

“The work of ministry”: GOING OUT I suppose these two things can best be understood by the two different words used to describe them. First, the equipping is “unto” the WORK of service. Work is something that we do outside as compared to the edifying of the body. The simple truth is that the Church (you and I) are to go out into the world and serve. We are to take our lives which have defeated those things that once defeated us and are now experiencing more life than we ever knew was possible and serve the people of the world with what he has done in our lives. There is a lot of confusion in the Church today about this as many think that the primary purpose of the Church is to get the world to come to Church. But look at Jesus’ own words in Matt. 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations”. Jesus told His followers to go and make and not the world to come and sit. Now don’t get me wrong if the world wants to come to church that’s great but our job clearly is to go to the world!
“The edifying of the body of Christ”: GROWING UP The word here in Greek means to “build up” and so you are to be into spiritual “bodybuilding”! Now it is not just the pastor’s responsibility to do this it is all our responsibility to see that we all grow up, in fact, it takes the whole church to do the work of the church.

We see that the purpose of the Church is equipping and that the equipping to for going out and growing up. The early Church knew its purpose, its purpose was not a building, nor the budget but to take the continual transformation of the work of Jesus Christ in their lives to the world.

Vs. 13-16 The goal of the church

Here is what is interesting is that nowhere in these final four verses will you see the goal as “evangelism” as we know it. Instead, Paul says that the goal of the Church is “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man”. Or to paraphrase the goal of the Church is to see everyone mature in their relationship with Jesus. How will know that this work is taking place? Paul goes on to give four evidences of this maturity:

Vs. 13 SIT “The measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”: This has to do with where we sit doesn’t it? I mean our goal is maturity and maturity will be seen as becoming more and more like Him.
Vs. 14 STAND Second Paul speaks about maturity in terms of not being like children who are flaky as well as easily deceived. In other words, maturity will be seen in our ability to stand and our stability on the Word of God.
Vs. 15 WALK Here we see the balance of speaking truth but doing so in love and Paul says that being able to do so is a sure sign of growing up.
Vs. 16 RUN Finally Paul speaks on maturity in terms of cooperation with the other members of the body.

Again, did you notice that evangelism is not part of the verbiage? What this tells us is that evangelism is a byproduct of maturity and not the goal. Have you ever noticed that you can’t learn to swim by correspondence? My point is that we need to realize that God desires to work a wonder in you and while He is doing that, He is confident enough in that transformation that He wants you to display it in the world you live in.

Ephesians 4:17-24

“A Change Of Clothes”

Introduction
17-19 Graveclothes
20-24 Grace-clothes

Introduction

Last week we saw Paul speak generally about the Early Church as he outlined its:

Focus
Power
Purpose
Goal

As Paul shared, inspired by the Holy Spirit, he revealed a most amazing thing in light of today’s church and that is what the Church of Jesus is supposed to be about. As we look at the Church today there seems to be a great confusion concerning this. Some see the Church’s main thing is to be evangelism, “Growth, that’s what we are all about!” Well, there shouldn’t be any mystery over this as in verse 13 Paul told us that the Church’s job is to see that every person who is a believer “becomes mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Now think of it this way, what if every person born never matured and stayed in a perpetual state of babyhood? Can you imagine? First off babies are really cute, but the constant mess would get old really fast. Then, since babies wouldn’t mature where would the rest of the families come from? I suppose then we are all about growth, only it’s inward before it will ever be outward.

In this section, Paul moves from the Church to the individual members which make up the family of God. Here’s a news flash; “Jesus’ design is our transformation!” There is a move underfoot in a genuine effort to reach the world to tell the world that we are not all that different than they are. And you know what? We aren’t! Yet this “move” goes against every fabric of scripture and the work of the Spirit in our lives. This section is divided between what we once wore, “graveclothes” to what we now wear in Jesus, “Grace-clothes”.

Vs. 17-19 Graveclothes

Vs. 17 Notice how Paul starts this:

First, he uses the word “therefore” to tell you that the subject at hand is linked with what he had to say about the purpose and goal of the Church as a whole which is our individual maturity which will be seen in:

Becoming more like Him
Becoming grounded upon His Word
Knowing what to say and how to say it in love
In our ability to work together in which the “Church” is greater than any one member

Second, Paul uses the phrase, “and testify in the Lord” to indicate that what he is about to say is not mere opinion but rather the word of God.

Now as a whole what Paul is saying is that you will never reach the world by being like the world you left. Jesus described to Nicodemus (a ruler of Jews) that he must be born again which by its very nature suggests a difference from what they were born originally.

For the most part, none of us like to stand out from others, we don’t like to be different except where our difference is seen as something others want or wish they had. A person who is extremely attractive, wealthy, athletic, or talented is different than others and their differences are what people aspire to. Paul is placing Christians and their transformation on a level that others ought to want and not something that we should seek to minimize.

There are two words here that are very Christianized that we need to look at:

Walk: This is a word that means to order one’s steps or if you will “live”.
Gentiles: This word is translated elsewhere as “Nations” and it simply means those outside of a relationship with the Lord.

So simply put, Paul says that the Lord is telling them to “not live like unbelievers” and what he is about to say describes how they live. By the way, Paul told us already in 2:3 that “we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” We are being told to not go back to where we once lived. Perhaps you are wondering, “Hey, I don’t feel bad when I sin!” Well, that may indicate a great problem. You see If I drop a 10-pound weight on your foot you are going to say something, but if I take the same weight and drop it upon a person who is dead, they won’t feel a thing. My point is that if you are in disobedience and a believer in Jesus, you are going to feel something but if you aren’t you won’t feel a thing, so not feeling a thing would be a bad thing, not a good thing! Think how we once walked, what were our grave clothes?

Well first off, they “think” differently: Look at how many times Paul uses words that relate to our minds; in verse 17 (mind), verse 18 (understanding and ignorance), and verse 20 concerning believers Paul says we have not (learned Christ) the way the world lives, verse 23 we are told to be (renewed in the spirit of our minds).How does the unbeliever think? We are given a progression in these verses.

Vs. 17b “In the futility of their mind”: The word means “empty” but in Paul’s usage he is not suggesting that a non-Christian can’t be intelligent or reason but rather that they can be entrapped by their intelligence. To put it bluntly, apart from Christ, the world suffers from being legends in their own minds. Take science with all the logic that is employed where evidence is being objectively measured yet when such evidence seems to suggest creative design, then “objectivity” goes out the window to be replaced by their presupposition. As such they put on a blindfold and walk through their illusions! That’s where it starts, isn’t it? Where we cease to be open and teachable to what the Lord is telling us about ourselves. Have you ever thought, “Man I know a fellow who needs to hear this message”? Well, that is what we did as non-believers; “Hey if it works for you fine but I don’t need it!” What happened to you and me that changed us from the emptiness of our own thinking? You started to listen and opened your heart to the truth and received it.
Vs. 18 “Their understanding darkened alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart”: An empty mind is all caused because of a callused heart Paul says. That is a sad truth that apart from God people may always be learning, but never able to have what they know will make a difference in their own lives. The cause of intellectual and moral darkness is a separation from God and the separation is caused by their hardness in their heart. The word for “hardness” is a medical term that describes a calcium build in the joints, which implies paralysis as well as hardness.
Vs. 19a “Being past feeling”: Paul again uses a word that describes a callous that has deadened the ability to feel pain. When a person continues to harden their heart against God they will move to a place where they don’t feel the pain of sin and its consequences and would rather die than admit that their way of life is literally killing them.
Vs.19b “Have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness”: This in turn leads to a physical depravity which is what Paul spoke of in Romans 1:28 when he wrote, “as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting”. The word “lewdness” is a word that means not only to do immoral acts but to be boastful and open about such acts to shock the public. The outcome of this is that moral attitudes in society become slowly “cooked” and are no longer shocked by foul language, violence, and immorality and society finds such behavior as entertaining. Did you notice that Paul puts all this together and wraps it up with the words “greediness” which suggests that they are never satisfied and are on a constant hunt for more of the same?

Now in looking at this way of a hardened heart, we need to realize that Paul was writing not to those in the world but rather warning a healthy Church to keep their hearts open to be continually transformed by the word of God.

Vs. 20-24 Grace-clothes

Vs. 20 “But you have not so learned Christ”, Paul says. Did you notice that in that phrase, it doesn’t say “about” Christ? Paul is not about learning “about” a person academically but rather learning “from” Him! You see we Christians have met Him, not just read about Him, and we have a constant fellowship with the living God. Some folks have spent their entire lives reading about Jesus but have not “learned Christ”. I spoke with a fellow on Thursday who told me his story; he was an orthodox Rabbi with a doctorate in the New Testament. He debated believers and one day in an airport with nothing to do he picked up a bible and read to the 3rd chapter of John and began to weep, the word he had been reading for years to learn about Jesus changed to learn Christ and he was transformed.

Vs. 21 Notice the strong emphasis on learning in verses 20 and 21 as four times Paul uses words, but Paul is speaking of Heart knowledge, not head knowledge. How do we know if we have truly “learned Christ”? Is there a transformation that has led you away from the empty life you once lived? Are you convicted by attitudes and actions that don’t agree with His word or do you seek to justify your behavior?

Vs. 22 Notice as well that we don’t wait to “feel” something we take action and “put off” the former conduct which is just going to grow corrupt. Jesus is not something that we just add to our old life instead the “old man” must be put off we need to change those old filthy clothes.

Notice how Paul describes what corrupts the old man, “deceitful lusts”. That is what “lusts” do don’t they? They deceive us into believing that what they are promising to us they will be able to deliver without any consequences. Instead, all they leave us with is wanting more of what we lusted for and a wake of ruin behind us. I was watching the Discovery Channel when they were showing the history of body art as they called it. And just about every person who was interviewed was speaking about why they continued to decorate themselves with piercings and the like and they said after the first few it just became addictive. I don’t know what caused these folks to want to distort their bodies, but all it got them was a lighter wallet and the enviable reality that they were going to get stopped at every metal detector.

Vs. 23-24 What can we do about this Christian? We need to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind”. Pattern you thinking not in trying to be like your former self, but rather if you truly want to be different pattern yourself after Jesus. Change those old graveclothes in for those brand-new grace-clothes. So just what do these new clothes that Jesus wore look like? We are told that they are:

“Created according to God”: So that means that they will be the right fit, doesn’t it? They will always be in style and always look good on you no matter how much weight you’ve put on.
“In true righteousness”: This word relates to how they will look around our fellow man and it says that they will “look right” they will be clothes that others will want to wear.
“And holiness”: This is more important as it relates to how God will see your new clothes and He will see them as glorious as He is. And you know why? Because they are the garment of Jesus. Paul wrote in Gal 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

There you have it, Christian, God’s plan is for you to continue to “learn Christ” and as He changes us, He will use us to change the world one heart at a time!

Ephesians 4:25-27

“A whole person in a broken world part a”

Introduction
25-27 A change of our outer clothes

Introduction

In these verses, Paul goes on to give five areas of our lives where we can put into practice the two-step process he spoke of in verses 22-24. Now in case you were not here or were asleep allow me to refresh your memory as Paul spoke on how we Christians “think differently” now than we did when we were a part of the world system, and this thinking causes us to evaluate every area of our lives. I’m glad that Paul put it the way he does as it helps me understand as he uses two terms to explain this process, “Put Off” and “Put On”. Why that sounds like changing our clothes doesn’t it? Now follow me on this and you will understand something about your life in Christ and why you struggle with your walk.

First notice Paul says in verse 22 that we are to “put off our former conduct” which he calls our old man, and it was directed by our own lusts that deceived us. Do you see that? Back to the use of the illustration of “putting off”; think of this as a clothing outfit. Before Christ came into our lives you and I only had one outfit. It didn’t matter your ethnicity, upbringing, or how much money you had we all were just putting on the same “old man” outfit (some call it our birthday suit). Why we had no other choice as it was the only outfit in the closet. Furthermore, no matter how much we tried to make the outfit look better or smell better it was always the same (empty, dark, ignorant, blind, numb, gross, and hungering for more of the same) see verses 17-19.
Now when you and I gave our hearts to Jesus, He forgave us for wearing those old clothes and gave us new clothes all white and clean (the robes of His righteousness) verses 20-21. Problem solved you think, right? Wrong, because now you and I have two outfits “the Old Man” outfit that we have put on for most of our lives which looks just like every person in the world. But we also have the “New Man” outfit. Do you see our problem? We spend far too much time wearing our old filthy man suit instead of our brand new glorious new man outfit.

So why do we do that? Well for two reasons:

We are not convinced about the quality of the new clothes as compared with the familiarity of the old clothes. That is why Paul tells us to take off the Old Man suit “grave clothes” and put on the New Man suit “grace-clothes”. Again, those grace clothes are according to verse 24:

Manufactured by God
Always the right fit
Will never wear out

Secondly, we are more concerned with what we are taking off the “old man” and not what we are putting on the “new man”. So, as we move through these verses you will notice a constant admonition to “put off” the old man clothes and “put on” the new man clothes as Paul gives us five areas in which if we do, we will be a whole person in a broken world!

Vs. 25-29 A change of our outer clothes

Vs. 25 In these eight verses Paul is going to give the Ephesians five areas in which they need to change what they have been wearing. You will notice that in each of these five areas, Paul does not just speak of “putting off the old clothes” he speaks equally of “putting on the new clothes” as well.

Here is my point, I’m afraid that many of us Christians have heard and even spent a good deal of our time relating to our walk with Jesus as just a mere effort in not wearing “the old man” outfit. Christian listen to me, that is only half of our problem, taking off the “old man” simply makes you naked, (no wonder the world around us makes fun of us). We are far more than just people who have “stopped lying, being angry, stealing, speaking corruptly”. You and I are called to more than this; we are called to be “whole people in a broken world!” The world is to look at us and see not just what we aren’t wearing, but what we are wearing! People are watching and they expect to see more than naked folks running around they expect to see Jesus! A young boy was overheard by his mother praying before bedtime, “Lord, make all the bad people good, and Lord please make all the good people nice!” My dear Christian have we spent our time becoming only “good people” and not “nice people”?

The second thing of note here is that we are not speaking of a mere conscience of convenience, no, we are speaking of conscience based upon conviction! The first is how you train your dog to fetch the paper a “treat versus a swat”! The second is based on a relationship. This week I realized that a lot of my shedding old clothes and putting on new clothes is based upon a conscience of convenience as I think if I do these things God will reward me. What I fail to realize is that He has already rewarded me, and it is because He has already done that, I am convicted in my conscience and want to please Him! I used to say often that what God wants is for us “To do our best and He will do the rest!” But now I see that I had the cart before the horse, and the phrase ought to be, “Allow Jesus to do His best and you do the rest!” Now I’ve divided these eight verses between outer garments and inner garments both of which need to have the old taken off and the new put on.

Vs. 25 “Putting away lying”: That’s the “old man” suit that we are to take off, isn’t it? The word here for lying is where we get our word “pseudo” which simply means “that which is false”. Paul says to you and me that we are to take off all that is a pretense, those things about our lives that are a sham and false. All that misrepresents or exaggerates the truth of who I am. That is what a lie is, isn’t it, “a statement contrary to the fact given in order to deceive”. We can make statements without ever opening our mouths, can’t we? Now lying is not always just about presenting that which is false, it also involves not presenting that which is true. You may come up to me and say, “Hey pastor did you eat my piece of pie in the fridge?” And I could say no and fail to mention that I did eat your chocolate! But that is only part of what we Christians are to do. The second part of that is that we are to put on, “speaking truth with his neighbor” and we are given the reason for this as “we are members of one another.”Now the context of this passage is not being who we really are around others, so speaking truth here deals primarily with us telling the truth about ourselves to others. Why, are we to do so? Well, we are members of one another. Can you imagine what would happen if your arm and hand wanted to misrepresent themselves to your mouth? “I’m sorry mouth we are not really arm and hand we are elbow and shoulder”! Have you ever noticed what happens when one part of your body is hurt? All the other parts come alongside to protect it and care for it. What would happen if the injured part of your body pretended to be perfectly healthy? Its falsehood would put in jeopardy the rest of the body!

Vs. 26-27 “Be angry, and do not sin”: Now I don’t know about you, but I’ve got the first part of this verse down well it’s the second part the “do not sin part” that I can’t quite get a hold of. This is interesting, isn’t it? Paul does not say do not be angry and do not sin. There are things that ought to make us angry as there were things that made Jesus angry. Anger is an “emotional response to something that displeases us” and let’s be real there are things that ought to displease us, so Paul is not saying that we are to put that off. What is “good anger”? Read the gospels and look at Jesus and you will see good anger is aimed at those things which keep people from the Father. “Bad anger” is aimed at things that wound us personally. When we feel hurt, or defensive we have our pride-wounded, etc. then we are not speaking about what Paul is here. We are to be angry about sin, but not about being hurt or ignored or not getting what we thought we deserved. Now, “If we are determined to be angry and not sin then the truth is we can be angry only at sin!” That’s the part we are to put off the “sin” part as it relates to our anger towards “sin”. But we are also to “put on” the new man and Paul tells us what the new man is wearing with regards to this as he says, “do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” Paul says, “put on” not holding a grudge and if you go to bed angry then you are giving satan an opportunity to rip you off. Now this verse gives us insight, as it is a quote from Psalm 4:14 where it is translated, “stand in awe or tremble in God’s presence”. In other words, as we are in the presence of God, we will be angry at sin but we will give that which would give a foothold to satan to the Lord.

Ephesians 4:28-32

“A whole person in a broken world part b”

Introduction
28-29 A change of our outer clothes
30-32 A change of our inner clothes

Introduction

Last week we looked at a two-step process Paul spoke of in verses 22-24 where Paul described it as, “Put Off” and “Put On” which sounds like changing our clothes, doesn’t it? This should not surprise us as Paul writes in Romans 13:14 to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” If we can understand this, then we will understand why at times we struggle with our walk in Christ.

You see before Christ came into our lives you and I only had one outfit all of us were just putting on the same “old man” outfit (our birthday suit). We had no other choice, as it was the only outfit in the closet. No matter how much we tried to make the outfit look better or smell better it was always the same according to verses 17-19 it was always (empty, dark, ignorant, blind, numb, gross, and hungering for more of the same).

Ah but when we gave our hearts to Jesus, He forgave us for wearing those old clothes and gave us new clothes which were clothed in His righteousness. But that didn’t eliminate the “Old Man outfit” it just gave us two outfits “the Old Man” outfit that we have put on for most of our lives and the “New Man” outfit. Our problem is that we spend far too much time wearing our old filthy man suit instead of our brand new glorious new man outfit.

That is why Paul tells us to take off the Old Man suit or “grave clothes” and put on the New Man suit or “grace-clothes” in the “two-step process”. There is an equally destructive struggle that seems to grip many of us Christians and that is we are more concerned with what we are taking off the “old man” and not concerned enough with what we are putting on the “new man”. As we move through these verses, we notice a constant admonition to “put off” the old man clothes and “put on” the new man clothes as Paul gives us five areas in which if we do, we will be a whole person in a broken world! We saw that Paul applied this “Two Step” process to five specific areas in our life, the first four without “outer garments” and the final one deals with our “undergarments”. Paul told the Ephesians too:

Vs. 25 “Putting away lying”: The word here for lying is where we get our word “pseudo” which simply means “that which is false”. Paul says that the “old man” outfit with all its pretense about our lives which are a sham and false, all that misrepresents or exaggerates the truth of who I really am. Anything that is a lie, “a statement contrary to the fact given in order to deceive” about myself or others and put it off. We believers are to be real with ourselves and others. Paul said about himself in chapter 3:8 where he said he was, “less than the least” yet “grace was given” that he should not only preach the unsearchable riches in Christ but through the afflictions of his life people should see them as well. But that is only dealing with “putting off the old man and putting on the new man” which is described in verse 25 as speaking truth about ourselves to others and the reason is that we are all part of the same body and to not do so is not healthy!

Vs. 26-27 “Be angry, and do not sin”: This is interesting isn’t it, as Paul does not say do not be angry and do not sin. There are things that ought to make us angry there were things that made Jesus angry. Anger is an “emotional response to something that displeases us” and there are things that ought to displease us, so Paul is not saying that we are to put that off. So, what is “Good anger”? Well look at Jesus and you will see good anger is aimed at those things which keep people from the Father. “Bad anger” is aimed at things that wound us personally, such as when we feel hurt, defensive have our pride-wounded that is not what Paul is speaking about here. We are to be angry about sin, but not about being hurt or ignored or not getting what we thought we deserved.“If we are determined to be angry and not sin then the truth is we can be angry only at sin!” That’s the part we are to put off the “sin” part as it relates to our anger towards “sin”. But we are also to “put on” the new man and Paul tells us what the new man is wearing with regards to this as he says, “do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” Paul says, “put on” not holding a grudge and if you go to bed angry then you are giving satan an opportunity to rip you off. This verse gives us insight, as it is a quote from Psalm 4:14 where it is translated, “stand in awe or tremble in God’s presence”.

Vs. 28-29 A change of our outer clothes

Vs. 28 “Let him who stole steal no longer”: That is what we are called to “put off” and it includes our time talent and treasure. Now the word stealing is where we get or word “klepto” from and it is a broad term that includes everything that takes that which belongs to another. From cheating on your taxes to taking stamps from the office to taking a little longer of a break at work, or not doing your best for the person that hired you. Hey, wait a minute what do you and I have that the Lord himself has not given us? Has He not given us our “time, talent and treasure”? Then is it not true that if we are withholding that which He has given, then we are stealing from Him who has given us all things? Do you know who the first thief was mentioned in the Bible? It was Adam who stole the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and it cost him paradise. But you know what? Our Lord hung on a tree and forgave a thief and said to him that today he would be with Him in paradise. Is that not great? But that is only half of the equation the putting on of the “new man” is found right here as Paul writes, “but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” Do you get it the “new man” not only does not take what is not his, no he gives what has been given to him to others! Man, I love this! The “new man” works not to get but rather to give! What are we doing with our “time, talent and treasure” are we stealing what doesn’t belong to us or are we working at giving it away instead of “getting more”?

Vs. 29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth”: The word “corrupt” is a word that describes rotten rancid fruit or produce. We are to “put off” anything that corrupts the hearer of our words. That is not just foul language and dirty jokes but harsh words, bitter words, gossip, etc. Yes, but that is only part of what we are to put on the new man and Paul says three characteristics of speech come from the “new man”.
“What is good”: The man is not just concerned with not having rotten words but that his words are “good”. In the analogy of fruit, he wants to make sure that the fruit of his mouth is good and desirable to taste. It is important that our words are not just true but loving as well.
“Necessary edification”: That is a word that means to build up, so we are not offering words that are like cotton candy, no they are healthy for spiritual growth and maturity in Christ.
“Impart grace”: Finally, our words ought to impart grace, “unmerited favor”. Our words are to bless others, even if they don’t deserve it.

Now I’ve got to tell you that not every word that the “new man” will speak will be ones that people want to hear but they will be “good, and they will make your spiritual life healthy and they will be what you don’t deserve.” Job’s friends commented on the words they had heard from his mouth by saying in 4:4 “Your words have upheld him who was stumbling”. Ever notice that you can always tell what country a person is from by their speech? Makes you think about what country my speech is saying I’m from “the old country” or “the new country”?

That is what we are to do “put off” the old man and put on the “new man” but that is only in our outer garments next week we will observe that the Lord wants us to change our “underwear” as well!

Vs. 30-32 A change of our inner clothes

Vs. 30 Is that not an amazing thing to realize that you and I can grieve the Holy Spirit? There are two things that this statement reveals to us:

First it reveals that the Holy Spirit is not only a person but a person who loves you and me. You see a “force” cannot be grieved, the hurricanes in Florida right now are a force but they can not be grieved. Not only is that true, but it is impossible to grieve someone who does not love you, you see if I anger you by my attitude or action then it is not love that is motivating that reaction, but if I cause you sadness a heavy heart, then it is love that you have for me.
The second truth deals with why the Holy Spirit is grieved and it is not because He has not heard those swear words or witnessed those attitudes and actions because He is God and as such is all-knowing, everywhere present, and all-powerful. Then why does our sin grieve Him? Well, it’s because it hinders Him from doing His work in us, through us, and for us. All parents know this to be true, don’t we? Our children break our hearts because of the damage they do to themselves that hinders the blessing that could be theirs!

What are those inward attitudes that hurt us and sadden the Holy Spirit who has sealed us for the day of our redemption?

Bitterness: The Greek word means long-standing resentment a heart that refuses to be reconciled. A settled animosity towards someone that makes a person sour and poison to be around. It is for this reason Jesus answers Peter’s statement on forgiving a person who has wounded you in Matthew 18:22 to never stop forgiving a person. You see you forgive them for your benefit because if you don’t you will become sour and like the very person who wounded you!
Wrath, anger: Wrath is a wild rage, the passion that explodes, while anger that is smoldering pouting anger that is subtle is just as destructive. What these reveal is a life not controlled by the Holy Spirit but rather by the old nature. When these things show up in my life, they reveal to me that I’m insecure in my Father’s love to react in such a way.
Clamor and evil speaking: Clamor is speaking out strife that reveals that we have lost control, while evil speaking is blaspheme in Greek which is speaking against God and His character and nature. Malice is the general term that speaks of the source of all these attitudes. It is what Jesus Said in Matthew 12:34-35 when He said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”

Again, notice that these “heart afflictions” are to put away from us but that is only what we are to take off from our heart and instead of these we are to put on our hearts:

Kindness: The antidote to long-standing resentment of another is to be kind towards them. The Greek word here means to treat them, as you would want to be treated yourself.
Tenderheartedness: Instead of being passionately angry and ready to explode, Paul says have a passion that is ready to explode in empathy and compassion towards the person.
Forgiveness: Finally, Paul says “Hey don’t just put off speaking strife, put on speaking forgiveness”. Now we have the reason for this exhortation because when we were holding resentment towards God exploding in speaking and acting evil towards God, He forgave us in His only Son! Can we who have been forgiven so much not forgive so little?

No, all of this “putting off” of the old man and “putting on” the man is in the context of Paul saying to these Ephesians what he said in 1:5-8 where he reminded them that we have been “adopted as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” In other words our putting off and putting on is based upon the “riches of His grace”!