17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body. 26“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:17-32
Introduction
- This part of Ephesians is headlined “Living as Children of Light.”
- Side Note: Whenever the Bible gets lyrical like this, I am always struck by how beautifully it is written, and awed by the quiet strength in the simplicity of His Word.
- This section emphasizes the sort of walk that is worthy of our calling.
- As new creations, we are consecrated unto Him, and are set as holy temples in the Lord.
- We can claim righteousness in His name, and as such should always be walking in truth and holiness.
- It is important to recall first our identity in the Lord, and our place in His kingdom.
- We should have a clear idea of who we are in the Lord, based on the fact and purpose of His calling (since before we were born).
- We identify with Christ as our ideal basis of the way we should live and love.
Reflection: How do you see yourself right now? Where do you think you are in terms of your spiritual maturity?
1. The admonition: Leave behind the Godless life (v. 17-24)
- Relate with Christ
- Receive God’s truth
- Receive a new life in Christ
- We can think of this section as a timeline of our lives indicating our lives as Christians.
- For example, I can tell when Janice BC and Janice AD starts, which is the point in my life when I started to accept Christ and God reigning over my life.
- During <You> BC, you can observe the following:
- Futility of mind, leading to ignorance.
- The saying ignorance is bliss is not true. Ignorance is foolishness, and that’s all there is to it.
- Hardening of heart, leading to alienation from the life of God.
- Having a darkened understanding and a desensitized, emotionless state.
- No longer feeling anything, and therefore needing to wring out every last drop of feeling from shallow pursuits (i.e. unbridled excess).
- In <You> AD, we are admonished to walk in righteousness and true holiness.
- We are encouraged to put off the old self and put on the new, which was created according to God (in His likeness).
- This renewal is a transformation in the spirit of the mind and the soul.
Reflection: Can you form a mental picture of your own timeline?
2. The application: Live out the Godly life (v. 25-32)
- Stop lying and speak the truth (be honest and truthful)
- Stop anger from controlling us (be kind/tender-hearted/gentle/forgiving)
- Stop stealing and start giving (be generous)
- Stop hurting others and start to build up on others (avoid corrupt communication)
- Side Note: Sometimes the Bible can be cryptic, as in some passages that need a deeper understanding and a more spiritually gifted mind to understand. But this part of Ephesians is very easy to read and hard to misinterpret. They are very straightforward guidelines on how Christians are to walk.
- Acting like the “old self” grieves the Holy Spirit.
- Recall that by the Holy Spirit we are sealed for the day of redemption
- Therefore, in order to keep this seal intact, we should put away those things befitting our old self.
- If all those in the entire church carried out these admonitions, it would stand out like a “city set on a hill” (Mt. 5:14-16), bright and shining before the Lord, and like the holy temple it is meant to be.
Reflection: Imagine what it would be like if you and everyone you met life out the principles we just discussed. Just dwell for a minute in the bliss of that kind of world, and consider that it is possible, but it has to start with you.
Challenge
- In the following week, try to be more self-reflective, and catch yourself when your walk with Christ is being challenged.
- Try to check your reactions, and compare them against the admonitions of Paul, seeing if you are walking worthy of our calling.
- Include the ‘applications’ we just discussed in your daily prayers, asking the Lord to renew and strengthen your ‘seal’ every morning.
- SMS me (91834591 ^^) or any one of our brothers and sisters when you find a particular area or situation in your life when you were able to apply what you learned in the discussion today.
