Sermon Tone Analysis

Premise:

Paul commands the Church to no longer walk like Gentiles and then explains how to do this in several lists of commands.

Opening:

Introduction of the Text:

Reading of the Text:

Ephesians 4:17-32.

Therefore this I say, and testify in the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,18 being darkened in their mind, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.19

And they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.20

But you did not learn Christ in this way—21 if indeed you heard Him and were taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus—22 to lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,24 and to put on the new man, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.26

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.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.29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for building up what is needed, so that it will give grace to those who hear.30

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.31

Let all bitterness and anger and wrath and shouting and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.32

Instead, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, graciously forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has graciously forgiven you.

Behold the Word of God.

Let’s Pray.

Transition:

Remember, Paul spent the first three chapters diving into deep theology.

He detailed the work of the Trinity in salvation, revealing the mystery of Salvation.

He also laid out the mystery of the the Jews and Gentiles becoming one true Israel, the One True Church.

Now Paul is laying out the application of rich theology.

In these last three chapters, Paul will give the application of the rich truth of salvation and unity in Christ.

Calvin explains these next sections like this, “He next inquires what fruits the doctrine of the gospel ought to yield in the lives of Christians; or, if you prefer it, he begins to explain minutely the nature of that edification by which doctrine ought to be followed.”

What is the natural outflow in the life of a Christian?

Paul is explaining just that.

I encourage you, as we go through this passage to ask the question, “Am I living like this in light of my salvation.”

This passage is to be a challenge to all of us.

If we are saved, do we live like it?

If we do not, we ought to change that.

We ought to live like Christians.

Those who worship God, ought to obey Him.

God has saved you, do you live like it?

Paul’s Overarching Command.

v. 17-24.

Therefore this I say, and testify in the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,18 being darkened in their mind, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.19

And they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.20

But you did not learn Christ in this way—21 if indeed you heard Him and were taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus—22 to lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,24 and to put on the new man, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Walk No Longer Like Gentiles.

v. 17-19

Therefore this I say, and testify in the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,18 being darkened in their mind, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.19

And they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Argumentation:

Not Physical Gentiles, but Spiritual Gentiles.

Gentiles were understood to be those outside of the covenant of redemption.

Transition:

How Do Gentiles Walk?

In the Futility of their minds.

R.C. Sproul, “The pagan mind is never theocentric (God-centered); the Christian mind must be theocentric.”

Darkened in their understanding.

Excluded from the life of God because of...

The ignorance within them.

Their hardness of heart.

They are callous.

Giving themselves over to sensuality and the practice of every impurity with greediness.

19 And they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Argumentation:

An Apt Description of our day.

Our culture is greedily practicing every form of impurity, even doing some things history has never heard of.

Transition:

But This is Not How You Learned Christ.

v. 20-24.

20 But you did not learn Christ in this way—21 if indeed you heard Him and were taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus—22 to lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,24 and to put on the new man, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

If indeed you have heard Him and been taught in Him.

21 if indeed you heard Him and were taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus

Truth is in Jesus.

Lay Aside the Old Self, Gentilism.

22 to lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

It is being corrupted by the lust of deceit.

Renew Your Mind.

23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

Romans 12:2, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Put on the New Self, the likeness of God, created in Righteousness and Holiness of the Truth.

24 and to put on the new man, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Genesis 1:26-27, Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, so that they will have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”27

And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Man made in the image of God, so the New Man is Made New in the Image of God.

Transition:

Overarching Command, No longer walk like the Gentiles, Walk like the Saved.

Paul’s Explanation Commands.

What Does it Look Like to No Longer Walk Like Gentiles?

4:25-6:9.

The First Section of Commands.

4:25-32.

25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.26

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.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.29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for building up what is needed, so that it will give grace to those who hear.30

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.31

Let all bitterness and anger and wrath and shouting and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.32

Instead, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, graciously forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has graciously forgiven you.

Therefore...

1. Laying Aside Falsehood, Speak the Truth.

25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

Zechariah 8:6, These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates.

Argumentation:

What happens when we lie?

There are few things that taint our souls like wilfully speaking something we know is un-truth.

When we lie, we are denying the truth.

This fundamentally corrupts.

It is a denial of reality itself.

To speak something you know to be untrue is to deny the fundamental reality of life that is the truth.

It is literally soul crushing.