Grace That Cleans You Up

Ephesians 4:2

Why do you obey your parents? Why do you obey mom/dad?

Wantin’ to go over to Audra’s house

Dangit, dangit, dangit!! Six year old Lance

Never been spanked. “I am disappointed in you. You are better than that.” Disappointment? Some of y’all are like “That beating still wasn’t enough to get into my skin, let alone penetrate my heart.”

Bawled out in the pasture for hours. I couldn’t even look at the house… I was the biggest disgrace to ever live

I had acted like an unloved, ungrateful child. When in reality, I was loved and cared for. I was a precious son.

Passage today

THEREFORE

Why therefore??

New life. God’s done SO MUCH, a mucho that transforms your very being and life. You have a new life, now.

God’s not after your behavior. He is pursuing your heart. But here’s the authentic response to God capturing your heart. Here is the result/outcome.

Old prisoner clothes, to new royal robes of righteousness and holiness. “Cast off the old man. Put on the new man”

What we are about to read is the conduct of the new man.

The reality of your conduct should match the reality of who you are.

Read Ephesians 4:25-32

25 - We are members of one another. A body functions correctly only if each part is honest and truthful.

Who has ever been burned?

Who has ever looked at the sun for a long, long time?

26-27 - Letting go of wrath, trusting in a just God

28 - Stealing. But much more than that.

Provides for his own needs- and can also have something to give him who has need

Honest work.

The purpose for getting becomes giving.

29 - Vulgarity. Slanderous and contemptuous talk.

Let it not be so!

Unfortunately, I’ve been here. During various seasons of life. What was it that changed? “Do you kiss your mama with that mouth?”

It wasn’t fear. Fear of parents, ehhh. Fear of the LORD, well that was the beginning of wisdom. But it was the compelling love of Christ that did it.

The danger of behavior modification. “Have this conduct” College students leaving the faith. Nooo! Look here- God loves you. He paid a price for you. Once again, He’s pursuing you. Not merely asking for good behavior. Walking in a relationship changes everything… it even changes your desires and how you behave. Because it is such a strong love.

30 - grieve: distress. Make sad. Like my mom and dad.

You are sealed for the day of redemption. Meaning that you aren’t gonna lose your salvation or get kicked outta the house! But because of His love and grace… the price He paid… will you live like you are loved? Will you be His ambassador?

“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.” (Spurgeon)

iii. The Holy Spirit’s grief is not of a petty, oversensitive nature. “He is grieved with us mainly for our own sakes, for he knows what misery sin will cost us; he reads our sorrows in our sins … He grieves over us because he sees how much chastisement we incur, and how much communion we lose.” (Spurgeon)

Come sit at the table. Come taste the grace. Come be a son, come be a daughter. It is freeing and joyful to live as a child in the Kingdom.

31 - put it away

32 - kindness. compassion. forgiveness.

Just as God has already done for you in Christ.

CLOSING

Imitate God. Walk in love. Lay down your life.

Grace looks good on you. Put you gonna put it on and live it out.