Ephesians 5:3-20
Prison Letters • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Comments on Anger
Comments on Anger
I want to give a few comments as a result of discussions with church members throughout the week. We believe scripture has one ultimate meaning so as believers we are constantly trying to search for that one ultimate meaning of each passage of scripture. It has many different applications but one ultimate meaning. In my search for the ultimate meaning feedback and thoughts on passages of scripture can be helpful.
I think it is important to highlight that
Not all anger is sin.
I am confident we said this but I want to work to simplify this.
Here is why
Is God’s anger sin? NO
God’s anger is right because God is right
Can something that is right for God be turned to sin for us?
Yes!
I really like the word Zeal when it comes to anger last week.
Anger can be passion for that which is right. Anger can be a motivator for change. Passion for bringing justice for that which is not just.
26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,
Righteous anger that is Godly and is passion for change. It is passion against injustice. One other possible reading or understanding of this might be in your passion for that which is right don’t let you passion for that which is right become sin.
Bitterness towards others as you try and help the poor. Don’t let you passion for what is right lead you into sin. Deal with it quickly.
Sarah had this quote last week but we didn’t get to read it.
Heart of the Problem
A Christian does not always surrender to God perfectly, any more than he can manage himself perfectly. Few people make it through any given day perfectly. But you can catch anger at the earliest possible point. When you realize you have sinned, take it to God.
1 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One.
2 He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
Anger from past experiences could be the passion that drives you to change or be the thing that destroys you.
Jesus went to the cross to set you free and rescue us from ourselves.
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children.
2 And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
Be imitators of God, as dearly loved children
Walk in love
3 But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints.
Sexual immorality: porneia
Impurity: immorality or filth
Greed: lust for that which is not yours
Lust that is restless. Always thinking about sexual misbehavior
As is proper for saints
In just a moment he is going to address speech. With our speech we have the ability to bring grace to those who hear. We can also use our speech for that which is foolish. God has gifted us with speech.
In the same line of thinking, Sex as a part of God’s creation is intended for good.
But we must shut ourselves off from the corruption of a good part of God’s creation. That is sexual immorality, impurity and greed.
Speech
4 Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.
Foolish talking: Senseless conversation that cheapens the man.
Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. What is in your heart will come out in our speech. Christians must use wisdom when they are around non believers in their speech.
Find ways to not join in on the foolish talking or crude joking and not in a I am holier than you kind of way.
Rather
Giving thanks!
The natural inclination of the heart is to find things to give thanks for.
Train your mind to give thanks. Train your mind to think of the good that has happened and Thank God for it.
5 For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.
What does sexual immorality, impurity and greed lead to?
Idolatry
Of course during this time these practices would be normal to some of the gods and goddess of the time. Some were worshiping gods in this manner but it is also more than that.
He is writing to Christians and says this behavior leads to idolatry and I keep going back to this idea that the idol at the table is self.
As this idolatry takes root then it leaves no room for the Kingdom of the Messiah and of God himself.
This inheritance to live fully human now and the not yet is no longer present both here and later.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things.
7 Therefore, do not become their partners.
Let no one fool you with empty arguments. The arguments are plentiful for why you should partake in these things that are opposite of God’s original design and intent for life. You can search the internet and find someone who will agree with sinful thinking.
God designed creation for good. We as humans have corrupted that which God made for good. When we behave in a way that goes against God’s design then His righteous wrath is coming as a big emphatic NO to this life style of living.
Therefore do not become their partners or share in their practices.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light —
This idea of taking off the old clothes and putting on the new. You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
The visual image could also be the giving of a candle to those who have been baptized in the Lord Jesus to signify that you were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord.
Notice Paul is also bringing us back to the themes that go all the way back to Genesis 1:2-5
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
4 God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.
5 God called the light “day,” and He called the darkness “night.” Evening came and then morning: the first day.
You are no longer those who prowl around in the dark looking for something but you are now in the light.
9 for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth —
light has fruit and results in all kinds of good, right and truth
In the light, you can see where you are going and see what you are doing. You can see the goodness, righteousness and truth. There is nothing to hide in the light.
I don’t see very many well lit bars or taverns.
10 discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.
Discerning: put to test, prove, examine or choose
This again goes back to the mind and a training of the mind to know what is pleasing to the Lord.
Think through what is pleasing to the Lord. Prepare in advance for what is pleasing to the Lord.
Officiating wrestling often times I think through how I will react in certain situations.
In the same manner, think in advance and train the mind to know what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.
When you don’t participate, then you begin to expose the fruitless works of darkness.
Many of you might have been in situations where you are present so people try and hide their deeds of darkness especially if they know you have given your life to Christ.
13 Everything exposed by the light is made clear,
14 for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.
Maybe this is a line from an early hymn
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—
16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Use your mind. The mind matters. The thought counts pay careful attention. Be wise.
Think it through. Don’t be foolish and understand what the Lord’s will is.
Understand the Lord’s will for living. Understand the Lord’s will for dying.
make the most of the time.
18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:
19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Get in to the practice of saying good things, Saying things that are praise worthy. Things that will build you up and build others up. Things that will bring Glory to God.
Get in the habit of doing this.
Augustine says
To sing is to pray twice
