Ephesians 4:17-32 Chosen in Christ, Together in Christ, & Walking in Christ Intro: July 10, 2016 1. Joke: a. Jim wanted a new suit so he bought a nice piece of cloth and tried to find a good tailor. b. The first tailor he visited looked at the cloth, measured Jim, then told him there was not enough cloth to make a suit. c. Jim found this hard to accept, so he went to the tailor next door who measured both him and the cloth before announcing that there was enough cloth to make a three-piece suit. d. A week later, Jim returned to collect his suit and noticed that the tailor's son was wearing trousers made of the same cloth. e. Puzzled, Jim asked: "How come you have been able to make a three-piece suit for me and trousers for your son when the chap next door could not even make a suit?" f. "Simple," said the tailor. "The guy next door has two sons." 2. Speaking of a new suit, Paul tells the Ephesians to put something new on; let s take a look Let s begin by reading: Ephesians 4:17-24 (NKJV) 1 [Pray] 1. The main themes of Ephesians i : We are Chosen in Christ, Together in Christ, Walking in Christ. a. Our passage today continues with the theme, We are Walking in Christ. 2. What does this word walk mean? a. Paul is not talking about talking steps, putting one foot in front of the other. b. He is speaking of the manner in which we live our lives. c. He s challenging us to consider our attitude, mindset, and the motivations that dictate the direction we are headed 1 Unless otherwise marked, all scripture references taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 1
2 1) And the way in which we conduct ourselves as we interact with people and circumstances around us. 3. As we continue to consider the theme of walking in Christ keep in mind these verses also found in the book of Ephesians as well a. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. b. Ephesians 4:1 walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, c. [Our passage today ] Ephesians 4:17 [do not] walk as the rest of the [unbelieving] Gentiles walk d. Ephesians 5:2 walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us e. Ephesians 5:8 Walk as children of light f. Ephesians 5:15 walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 4. This is such a relevant and timely message in light of this week s events. a. No doubt you ve heard about the two different police officers who each shot and killed a black man. b. Then, during what had been peaceful protests in Dallas a shooter began shooting at the police, hitting 12 people, killing 5 officers. c. Today both the black community and the police community are moaning deeply. d. How are we to respond to these events? 1) I believe our passage helps us to know how. Ephesians 4:17-18 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 1. In my walk as a Christian I don t want to be associated with radicals like the Westboro Baptist protestors and people who yell and hold up pictures of bloody fetuses at abortion clinics. 2
3 a. Because of the extreme acts that these people take in the name of Jesus, it causes some to want to kind of fly under the radar. 1) Be a Christian, but not one who is too extreme, too outspoken, or too different from the people all around them. 2) Blend in a bit so that no one thinks you are a weird zealot. 2. Paul is saying that the way we act, now as Christians, should look different from when we are unsaved a. Our walk, or the manner in which we live our lives now should look different from the unbelievers around us. 1) We should not be striving to be a camouflage Christian, one who just blends into his or her surroundings. 3. Specifically, Paul is saying, don t walk and act like unsaved people. a. Why, because they are far from God. 1) Spiritually, their ways are dark and alienated from God. b. Verse 17 tells us that unbelievers who are opposed to God s word and ways lack the ability to understand with their mind. 1) Romans 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, c. Verse 18 tells us that unbelievers who oppose God are ignorant due to blindness. 4. This ignorance that is in them is not something that we should go around telling unbeliever Hey, you are ignorant! a. Instead, this is something that should cause us to have compassion and concern for them. b. This word ignorance means lack of knowledge. c. Unbelievers are uninformed about the Lord s love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. 1) And we are the ones who have been called to help share that with them. d. Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 1) Jesus is the answer!!! In Him is truth, wisdom, and understand. 3
4 Ephesians 4:19 continues to describe the unbeliever 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 1. Obviously not all unbelievers act in this way, but a heart and life that exists apart from God will often begin to move into the direction of these attitudes and actions. 2. lewdness - Speaks of one who doesn t care how many people see or know about their inappropriate actions. a. They are going to do what they desire regardless of who is watching. 3. As is the case with those who are given over to a life of sin apart from God, there is an insatiable desire for more and more because sin never satisfies. Ephesians 4:20-23 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 1. Faith occurs in the heart, but our relationship with the Lord includes the mind. a. This is why Paul challenges the believers in Ephesus, and you and me, to be renewed in the spirit of your mind. b. Paul also speaks of having learned Christ and been taught by Him. 1) God doesn t just want your heart. 2) He wants your head, and hands and feet all of you. c. Question: Have you been learning from Christ, taught by Him? 1) Have you been spending time with Him so that the spirit of your mind can be renewed? 2. Putting on the new man involves learning and being taught. a. We are in a dangerous place if we think we know it all. b. Moreover, we are in a precarious place if we are no longer learning. c. The knowledge of Christ should shape our thinking. 4
5 d. Once the way we think changes, then the way we act will change. 3. The progression a. We believe in Jesus with the heart. b. We are then taught and learn with the head. c. We allow the knowledge of Christ to shape our thinking. d. Finally, we respond with action. 4. Paul warns us of the deceitful lusts, which once dominated the old man. a. There is nothing more deceitful than lust. b. Lust is the lie that says, That thing you can t have, it would actually make you happy if you did have it. c. Lust is like a fire, the more you feed it the more it demands! 1) The hotter it gets, the hotter it burns, and the more destructive it becomes. 5. Paul says in the next verse, put off the old man and put on the new man a. It carries the idea of changing clothes, changing into a different kind of conduct. b. Manhood quote, Dress like you are a someone, even if you are a no one. c. The way you dress does not only determine how you will be received by others, but more importantly how you will act yourself. Ephesians 4:24 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 1. D. Guzik, Fundamentally, Paul says that for the Christian, there must be a break with the past. Jesus isn t merely added to our old life; the old life dies and He becomes our new life. 2. J. Courson, Decide you re no longer going to walk like those who are involved in sin. And as you begin to put on a whole new way of talking, living, and behaving, your new lifestyle eventually becomes who you are. It s not deception. It s a decision. People who are like Christ have made a conscious decision to put on the new man, to put on Christ. As a result, they become what they have chosen to put on. 5
6 Ephesians 4:25-27 25 Therefore, putting away lying, Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry, and do not sin : do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 1. Don t lie, tell the truth, and watch your anger Simple right? I wish it were! 2. According to Paul, anger isn t necessarily wrong, for he doesn t condemn anger, he only challenges us not to allow it to become sin. a. That is something we have to really be careful of because anger is an emotion that can easily lead to sin. b. How can one be angry, but not sin, as Paul commands here? c. By following the example of Jesus. 1) Jesus demonstrated a righteous anger over sin, but He never lost control of his actions. d. Jesus never blew a gasket or blew His top off, He never flew off the handle and He never drew the last straw. 1) He stayed in control. He was focused. 2) He corrected, not because His feelings were hurt or because He felt ignored. 3) Jesus corrected people to help them get back on track. e. Anger may have been expressed, but never to make people feel bad. 1) The goal was always reconciliation. 3. Paul further challenges us, do not let the sun go down on your wrath a. Why? So that seeds of bitterness do not take root. 1) Anger and wrath left unattended can become destructive. 2) The longer you wait to address it, the deeper those damaging roots go. b. What does this look like? 1) This does not say you must resolve every disagreement you have before you go to bed. 6
7 2) I know some people who literally follow this in their relationships with others. a) I ve heard stories where couples will be up until 2 or 3 am hashing out an issue because they won t go to bed until it resolved. b) That s awesome that some do that, but I m not convinced that that is what was implied by this verse. c. Paul s command is not that we reconcile with everyone we are mad at before night fall. 1) Paul s not saying hash out all your differences before you go to bed. 2) What he s saying is don t continue in that state of anger and wrath. a) Seriously, what kind of sleep are you going to get if you try to go to bed full of anger and wrath? 3) Deal with what s going on inside of you before the day ends. d. But concerning our relationships with others, sometimes it s okay to push pause, take a break, PRAY! 1) I don t think it s a reasonable expectation to believe that all issues can be resolved before nightfall. a) Some things can t be resolved in a night. e. First deal with the anger and wrath in your own heart. That s usually going to be between you and the Lord 1) Do that before the day ends. 2) Then seek biblical reconciliation with those who have offended you. Ephesians 4:28-29 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 1. Don t steal, instead work so that you have something to give. 2. Watch what you say, Let no corrupt or rotten word proceed out of your mouth a. But what is good for necessary edification. 7
8 b. Edification means to build up or strengthen and it s in relation to those around you. c. Give to and build up those around you. Ephesians 4:30 were sealed for the day of redemption. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you 1. John 15:26 But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. a. The Spirit exalts Jesus; when we fail to do the same, we grieve the Spirit. 2. C.H. Spurgeon, I think I now see the Spirit of God grieving, when you are sitting down to read a novel and there is your Bible unread. You have no time for prayer, but the Spirit sees you very active about worldly things, and having many hours to spare for relaxation and amusement. And then he is grieved because he sees that you love worldly things better than you love him. 3. God is not grieved by how our speech, anger, or malice affects Him, but by how it affects us. a. He s grieved when He is hindered from doing His work in, through, and for us. Ephesians 4:31 31 Let all bitterness [smoldering resentment], wrath [unbridled rage], anger, clamor [unrestrained shouts & outbursts], and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice [a desire to cause pain or hurt someone]. 1. Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Ephesians 4:32 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. 1. The new man has control over his emotions and actions. 2. Our forgiveness of others is to be patterned after the forgiveness of Jesus toward us. 8
9 Conclusion: 1. Our culture wants to define us as one or the other. We end up being on two extreme sides. a. The prevailing notion is that if I accept someone who is gay then I'm condoning their lifestyle & I've compromised my faith. 1) But if I "stay true to my faith" then I'm labeled as opposing the gay community. b. Same thing with this week's events: the prevailing notion is that if I side with the black community who are hurting then I'm against the police community and vice versa. c. But those notions have been created by our society. 1) It doesn't have to be "Us/Them." 2) We are the gospel people and my heart hurts for the LGBTQ and black and police communities. 3) These are people who are hurting, people who need Jesus. 2. In our passage we are both challenged and commanded to stop acting like unbelievers. a. Instead we are to renew our mind and to put on the new man. b. Renewing your mind, putting on the new man, this might mean letting go of some our old ways of thinking and acting so that Christ can do a new work in you and me, His way. c. And may we be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. i The following people and commentaries were used in preparing these notes: Life Application Bible, ESV Study Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, D. Guzik, J. Courson, J.V. McGee, C.H. Spurgeon 9