Family Resemblance / Ephesians 4:25-32

You’re a Ginn aren’t you? Being recognized in the cafeteria. Church members saying that I talk like my dad.

Spiritually, there are two families that you can resemble. You can either look like God or look like the Devil. And before you think this means growing horns and a tail, listen to an encounter Jesus had with spiritual leaders of his day.

Resembling the Father of Lies.

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

So, who is their Father?

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Fair, they were born Jewish. Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Though these religious experts were children of Abraham by blood, they were children of Satan in their hearts. The evidence? They chose to embrace the deceitfulness of sin instead of the freedom of truth. As a result they became enslaved to sin - the exact result that the father of lies desired. In fact, the bible makes his aim clear:

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. And he uses lies to produce these results.

This passage indicates that you can be a dedicated and religious person, and yet, be following the path of darkness if you embrace the lies of Satan. So what does it look like to follow Christ? Our passage tells us…

Last week we were instructed to put on the new self. This week tells us how. And when we do we…

Resembling the Father of Light

We resemble God when we speak truth in love.

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

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.

God doesn’t always tell us what we want to hear. But he always tells us what’s good for us. Is this true of your speech?

Recently, I have been convicted of sarcasm…. So many words are wasted.

Remember that your words can burn (James 3) or they can build (Genesis)

2. We resemble God when we desire justice.

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.

Are you surprised to learn that the bible instructs you to be angry? Another way of saying this… the bible wants you to care.

But the bible puts limits on our anger… Jesus was angry at their hardness of hearts.

“If we are angry at persons, then sin will come along; if we are angry at sin and sinful principles, we can maintain a holy walk.” - Warren W. Wiersbe

A time-limit on anger is a test to see if you have control over anger or if anger is controlling you.

Tiger ten-step rule or the surfing rule

3. We resemble God when we practice generosity.

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.

So he shifts from taking to giving.

Examples: words, lust, gluttony

4. We resemble God when we forgive.

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Do you resemble the Father of lies or the Father of light? If you feel convicted, turn and embrace the forgiveness of a new Father.