Ephesians Week 9 - New Life

Week 9

Ephesians 4:17–32 ESV

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may 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 wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Paul’s Testimony.

Paul testifies to the new life in Christ experienced by the Gentile Christians of Ephesus.

Paul gives practical examples of how church members build up Christ’s body (cf. vv. 13–16), based on what is true of them as Christians.

Breakdown of VS. 17-32

VS. 17-19

The Gentiles Paul was referring to was people who do not know Jesus as savior

He says their minds are futile - they alienated God, their understanding is darkened

He says they have become callous

VS. 20-24

Paul says instead of being like the non-believing Gentiles - you have learned of Christ

We are called to put off our old self and renew our mind - putting on the new self

VS. 25-32

Paul finishes up this chapter with one big charge for them

Live like you are called

He tells them that they are to speak truth with his neighbor

Showing love to them will being honest

He says to not sin when you are angry - don’t let Satan have an opportunity to pull you into sin

He said don’t grieve the Holy Spirit by not living the way you are called

Vs 31 tells us to let all our bitterness, anger, slander, and anything else evil be put away

Vs. 32 instead show love to one another, forgiving as God forgives

Questions

What questions do you have from Ephesians 4:17-32?

When Paul tells us to not walk like the Gentiles, what does that mean for us today? What are things in the world that we should steer clear of?

Paul mentions that we can be angry, but no sinful. How can you be angry and not sin? Paul said don’t give an opportunity to Satan, what are measures you can take to subdue Satan?

Paul warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. What does mean to grieve the Holy Spirit? Why is it bad to grieve the Spirit?

Paul exhorts us to watch the way we speak to people. What consequences are there when you use the wrong speech?