IN CHRIST: Walking Rightly

Ephesians 4:17 CSB

Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts.

INTRO—

Did you know…?

There’s a right way to walk. [[Man, I spent some time this week watching YouTube videos about how to walk the right (correct) way. (I had know idea this advice existed. Check it out…but, you’ve been warned!)]]

Soooo…you guessed it…this truth also applies to our “walk”…our lives.

Thankfully, Paul—inspired by the Holy Spirit—provides some excellent reminders about our walk (about walking rightly) here in Ephesians 4.17-32.

OLD WALK [Ephesians 4.17-19]

FIRST, how not to walk (why not to walk that way)…

[Commentary about exactly what our Old Walk looked like and the impact walking that way had on us (our lives).

Our Old Walk was FUTILE. (v. 17)

In other words…walking (thinking, specifically) that way gets you nowhere.

[[Remembering that what you believe/think impacts how you behave/walk.]]

Our Old Walk Reflected Darkened Understanding (v. 18)

A hard heart ALWAYS leaves the mind darkened.

Our Old Walk was Unholy Living (v. 19)

A hard heart hardens the heart which leaves you in the dark…ALWAYS pursuing fleshly fulfilment.

NEW WALK [Ephesians 4.20-24]

NEXT, how we’re enabled to walk (the motivation & empowerment to walk) the right way…

[“BUT that is not”…direct contrast = opposites ahead.]

Our New Walk Involves Knowing Christ (vv. 20-21)

Both coming to know Jesus…AND growing in knowing (understanding) Jesus (& the truth he reveals).

Our New Walk Requires Taking Off the Old Walk (v. 22)

“To take off for your self” = responsibility. [Now…be careful with the application of taking off the old self. The primary focus is God-honoring righteousness…not giving up math…]

Our New Walk Includes New Attitudes (v. 23)

“Be renewed” = submit yourself to someone who is able to change you. [What we believe is fully shown in what we do…]

Our New Walk Requires Putting On the New Walk (v. 24)

“Put on yourself the new self” = responsibility; not origination of the new self (we don’t get to set the definition of the new self…only God does)

NEW-WALKING ACTION STEPS [Ephesians 4.25-32]

FINALLY, how we/what we look like…walking correctly…

[Soooo…how do we do this thing?]

Speak Truth — No Lying (v. 25)

Telling the truth—TO…& ABOUT one another—is fundamental to the healthy life of the body. If Jesus IS and TAUGHT The Truth…then we must also.

Zechariah 8:16 “These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; make true and sound decisions within your city gates.”

Anger — But Without Sin (vv. 26-27)

We will have occasions to become angry…it’s about how we respond then and how long we ‘hold on’ to it…that makes all the difference. [Question: What controls you?]

James 1:19–20 “My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.”

Honest Work — No Stealing (v. 28)

1 Thessalonians 4:11 “to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,”

Acts 20:35 “In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ””

“Work has benefits. (1) It is good. It allows a person to meet his own needs and the needs of his family. It allows him to do something meaningful with his time and to make a contribution to society. (2) Work allows a person to be able to give something to others who have needs. Rather than steal from others, work allows a person to give something to others. (3) Work allows a person to support financially the advancement of the kingdom of God. Working is thus a sign of Christian faithfulness, maturity, and unity.” [HNTC, Max Anders]

Edifying Language — No Foul Mouth (vv. 29-30)

A foul mouth involves more than ‘four letter words.’—foul mouth; unwholesome words. [Build up…not break down.] This encouragement from Paul includes our brothers and sisters…AND outsiders, too [Col. 4.5].

Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.”

Colossians 4:5 “Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.”

[[Ephesians 5:4 “Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.”]]

Kindness & Compassion — No Bitterness & Slander (vv. 31-32)

How God has chosen to interact with us—kindness, tender-heartedness, and forgiveness. We should interact this way, too…AND remove—bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice. [This should be our initial MO when dealing with sin…& sinners, etc. (our lost friends, et al.)—instead of hyped-up “convictional confrontation.”]

Colossians 3:12–13 “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.”

CONCL—

Walking Rightly…

Reduces Pain (including headaches)

Improves Circulation

Brings Better Balance

INVITATION

Salvation

Walking Correctly

Honest Working

Ephesians 4:32 CSB

And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.