Walking In Unity Ephesians Lesson 9 Walking In Righteousness and Eph. 4:17-32 1. Walk worthy of the calling to preserve unity Eph. 4:1-3 2. The basis of unity Eph. 4:4-6 3. Christ gave gifts to unify the body Eph. 4:7-11 4. The purposes of these gifts Eph. 4:12-16 2 Introduction To walk together in unity, we must seek to be unified with God above all Therefore, we must put off the old self and put on the new self This can only happen over time as our minds are renewed by the Word of God As we have been trained to sin, we must continually be trained to live for God according to His Word 3 Walking In Righteousness and 1. Do not walk as the Gentiles walk Eph. 4:17-19 2. Walk in righteousness and holiness of the truth Eph. 4:20-24 3. Commands to put off the old self and put on the new self Eph. 4:25-32 4 Do Not Walk As The Gentiles Walk The Ephesians had become Christians by faith in Christ leading to repentance of sins, confession of Jesus as the Son of God and baptism for forgiveness of their sins Yet, Paul writes admonishing them to walk no longer as they used to walk like the rest of the Gentiles who were still lost Do Not Walk As The Gentiles Walk Walking in sin, the mind is ignorant of the knowledge of God, the heart is hardened, the conscience is numbed and the will is perverted dethroning God and enthroning self Were we born this way or did we learn to be sinful? 5 6
Do Not Walk As The Gentiles Walk Eph 4:17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, Eph 4:18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; Do Not Walk As The Gentiles Walk Eph 4:19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. Col 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 7 8 We Are Not Born Guilty of Sin Deu 1:39 'Moreover, your little ones who you said would become a prey, and your sons, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall enter there, and I will give it to them and they shall possess it. 9 We Are Not Born Guilty of Sin Eze 18:18 "As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his iniquity. Eze 18:19 "Yet you say, 'Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity?' When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. 10 We Are Not Born Guilty of Sin Eze 18:20 "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. We Have Learned and Chosen To Walk In Sin Eph 2:3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 11 12
We Have Learned and Chosen To Walk In Sin Mat 13:13 "Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Mat 13:14 "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, 'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 13 We Have Learned and Chosen To Walk In Sin Mat 13:15 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.' 14 We Have Learned and Chosen To Walk In Sin 2Pe 2:14 having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; 2Pe 2:19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. Walk In Righteousness And As we have learned to sin, we must learn to walk in righteousness and holiness of the truth This process is not instantaneous through supernatural work of the Holy Spirit but is accomplished as we allow the gospel to dwell in our hearts deeply enough for us to be changed 15 16 Walk In Righteousness And We put off the old self, turn to God for mercy by repenting, confessing our sins and praying for forgiveness Being forgiven, we let the word renew our minds so we put on the new self according righteousness and holiness of the truth Walk In Righteousness And Eph 4:20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, Eph 4:21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 17 18
Walk In Righteousness And Eph 4:22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, Eph 4:23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, Eph 4:24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 19 We Must Be Trained To Live a Godly Life 1Ti 4:7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 1Ti 4:8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 20 Faithful Christians Must Be Changed By The Word Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? Rom 6:2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Faithful Christians Must Be Changed By The Word Rom 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Rom 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 21 22 We Must Let The Word Dwell In Us So The We Will Change Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Col 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. As We Put Away Sin We Repent Confess and Pray For Mercy Act 8:22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 23 24
As The Word Renews Our Mind Rom 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and As The Word Renews Our Mind 1Co 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. acceptable and perfect. 25 26 As The Word Renews Our Mind Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 27 As The Word Renews Our Mind Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Col 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. Col 3:6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 28 As The Word Renews Our Mind Col 3:7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. Col 3:8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 29 As The Word Renews Our Mind Col 3:10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him-- Col 3:11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 30
Walking In Righteousness and 1. Do not walk as the Gentiles walk Eph. 4:17-19 2. Walk in righteousness and holiness of the truth Eph. 4:20-24 3. Commands to put off the old self and put on the new self Eph. 4:25-32 Commands To Put Off The Old Self And Put On The New Self Paul has written that Christians must not live as we used to live like the Gentiles We must, in a renewed mind by the Word of God, put off the old and put on the new self according to righteousness This process is a continual effort that covers many different aspects of our conduct 31 32 Commands To Put Off The Old Self And Put On The New Self Paul lists some examples that are just as needed for us today Although popularly held in our society as in that time also, with God s help, His mercy and powerful Word to fill our hearts, we can put off the old and put on the new It is only when we refuse God s help that this change will be stopped, in fact we will be worse than before we were saved 33 Jesus Warning Against Catastrophic Result If No Change Mat 12:43 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Mat 12:44 "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 34 Jesus Warning Against Catastrophic Result If No Change Mat 12:45 "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation." Put Off Lying and Put On Speaking Truth Eph 4:25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. 35 36
Put Off Lying Joh 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Put Off Lying Rev 21:8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." 37 38 Put On Speaking Truth Tit 1:2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, Eph 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Put Off Sinful Anger and Put On Righteous Anger and Forgiveness Eph 4:26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, Eph 4:27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 39 40 Put Off Sinful Anger Pro 14:29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quicktempered exalts folly Pro 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute. 1Jn 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Put On Righteous Anger Mar 3:4 And He *said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?" But they kept silent. Mar 3:5 After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He *said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 41 42
Put On Righteous Anger Put On Forgiveness Jas 1:19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; Jas 1:20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Jas 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 43 Mat 18:15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. Mat 18:16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. 44 Put On Forgiveness Mat 18:17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Put On Forgiveness Mat 6:14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Mat 6:15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. 45 46 Put On Reconciliation With Your Brother Mat 5:22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Put On Reconciliation With Your Brother Mat 5:23 "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, Mat 5:24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 47 48
Put On Doing Good To Your Enemies Rom 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. Rom 12:20 "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." 49 Put On Doing Good To Your Enemies Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 50 Put Off Stealing and Put On Honest Work Eph 4:28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Put Off Stealing 1Co 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 51 52 Put On Honest Work Put On Honest Work Col 3:22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Col 3:23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, Col 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is Act 20:33 "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes. Act 20:34 "You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. Act 20:35 "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 53 more blessed to give than to receive.'" 54
Put On Honest Work 2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 2Th 3:12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. Put Off Unwholesome Speech and Put On Edifying Speech Eph 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Eph 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 55 56 Put Off Unwholesome Speech Mat 12:33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. Mat 12:34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. Put Off Unwholesome Speech Mat 12:35 "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. Mat 12:36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 57 58 Put On Edifying Speech Col 4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Col 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Put Off Holding Grudges and Put On Forgiving Others Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. 59 60
Put Off Holding Grudges and Put On Forgiving Others Col 3:12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; Col 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Col 3:14 Beyond all these things put on Walking In Righteousness and 1. Do not walk as the Gentiles walk Eph. 4:17-19 2. Walk in righteousness and holiness of the truth Eph. 4:20-24 3. Commands to put off the old self and put on the new self Eph. 4:25-32 love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 61 62