Ephesians 4:25-32 - Our new identity changes everything

Every not see someone for a few years then you’re amazed at who they have become?

I absolutely love Jacob Gainor.

In high school, I did not absolutely love Jacob Gainor/Jacob Gainor did not absolutely love me.

Us then would not hang out or be around each other like us now.

There were a few years that we didn’t see each other, and our identities changed.

We became husbands, dads, adults, etc.

We were living in a new identity than we first knew of one another.

Paul told the Ephesians that they have been given a new identity to live in.

They have to realize that life with Jesus is better than life before and to learn to be who they already are in Christ.

Jesus has given us a new identity.

Big Idea: Our new identity changes everything

Big Idea Q: How does our new identity effect our everyday life?

Stand to read

Ephesians 4:25–29 ESV

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.

Leader: This is God’s Word

Everyone: Thanks be to God

Paul begins explaining how this identity is played out by forming it in truth.

Our identities in Christ are rooted in the truth of the gospel.

Our old identities were rooted in deceitful desires that lead us away from God.

Paul tells the Ephesians what they are to do, having put off the old self with falsehoods.

They are to speak truth to one another

The reason he gives is because we are “members of one another.”

This is a reminder that Christians are to be a communal people.

Our culture is very individualistic—The Church is not.

Be angry/do not sin.

Be quick to reconcile

Don’t allow it to fester/give opportunity for the devil.

Then Paul contrasts their old way of life to show a total 180.

Thieves are now to work hard—Not to accomplish the next heist.

The thieve’s old way of life was to deprive others—Now they are to provide for others.

Corrupting talk is to be replaced by edifying speech.

The Greek word “corrupt” describes “rotten/worthless/decaying”

No more are they to gossip, give spiteful criticism, or discourage.

Their speech is to build one another up and strengthen faith.

Our communication should gladden hearts—Not leave confusion/condemnation.

All of these things contribute to living in our new self/identity given to us in Christ.

Church,

The Truth changes our lives (vv. 25-29)

There must be a clear contrast between your life before you met Jesus and the life since you’ve surrendered to Jesus.

Every single day, you wake up and put on the new self—made in the image of Christ.

The Truth of God lives within you and has sealed you.

Believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit

Jesus told us that part of the Holy Spirit’s job is to “guide us into all truth” (John 16:13).

God lives within us and transforms us from the inside out.

Ephesians 4:30 ESV

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

The Holy Spirit is God, and cannot literally be grieved or affected with sorrow—God has no weaknesses.

This expression indicates that the Holy Spirit has a powerful love for us.

He cares for and is tender toward us.

He’s concerned for our well-being.

Therefore, any wrongdoing/sin is described as “grieving Him.”

He is intimately involved with our lives.

The Spirit, who dwells inside the Christian—We are His temples.

Anything “dirty” offends His holiness.

Those who are saved by God’s grace are given the Holy Spirit, the very presence of God.

When we put on our old selves and pursue our deceitful desires, we are functioning as if Jesus dying on the cross doesn’t actually mean anything for us.

This warning is intensely relational to God.

Can you lose your salvation—absolutely not.

But sin affects our relationship with God.

I love my son like crazy.

There’s nothing that will ever stop Silas from being my son.

Nothing changes about his identity as my son.

However, when he disobeys the rules Hilary and I have set for him, for his flourishing—he enjoys the relationship less because of the consequences.

When he lives in the guidelines we have set for him—He receives blessings/joy from us. When he doesn’t he receives discipline.

Nothing about his identity or relationship changes, but the way he experiences it does.

You can’t enjoy Jesus and live in unrepentant sin—The Holy Spirit won’t let you.

The truth of the gospel is to change every element of our lives.

App: Find the lie you continue to live. (Repent) Trade it for the good life in Jesus.

If we truly believe the good life is in Jesus, then we cannot continue to live in resentment.

So many Christians are characterized for being judgmental, self-righteous, and cantankerous.

If we’ve been set free by the gospel, then we’ve been set free!

We should be the most free and most joyful people on the planet because our sins have been forgiven!

When we functionally live adjacent to the gospel, then it’s as if we’re living two lives.

The Jesus life and the sinful life—These two don’t mix.

If the truth of Christ has truly transformed our lives, then we must leave behind the lies that keep us from Jesus.

So what lie are you still believing?

That God hasn’t actually changed you? That you’re not a new creation?

That you’re not supposed to be different after becoming a Christian?

That your identity in Christ doesn’t change anything about your life?

Find the lie and trade it for the good life.

Transition

Paul explains that our lives are to reflect our identity in Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

In light of this, Paul addresses the need to display the grace that has been shown to us.

Ephesians 4:31–32 ESV

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.

This verse (31) might hit every single one of us.

Trayton and I had a big fight.

Didn’t speak to one another for months.

Super good at being petty.

Then we attended the same basketball game

Hilary: This is stupid.

She went across the the court and reconciled me to my friend.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can repent of resentful and envious bitterness toward people who have hurt us in the past.

This gives us freedom to respond to those who annoy us without raging anger.

We can resolve to avoid slandering other people and letting venom come from our tongue.

Now, we can do what Christ does and replace our aggression with a little bit of grace.

Church,

Forgiveness changes our foundation (vv. 30-32)

Forgiveness is the heart of the good news.

Instead of finding ways to justify your resentment, perhaps we need to actually believe the gospel.

We can do this for others, because the eternal God of the universe forgave us in Christ.

Gospel presentation

You have sinned against God.

At some point in your life, you have grieved the Holy Spirit and live separate from God.

You have rejected His Lordship over your life and refused to honor Him as God.

But God is merciful and patient.

He sent His Son to become a man to live perfectly in every way you couldn’t.

Jesus provides the righteousness you’d never be able to obtain yourself.

Then He marches to the cross, where He takes your sin onto Himself and freely gives you His righteousness so that you can be forgiven by God for everything you’ve ever done!

You can be forgiven by trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross!

The God who was sinned against, the God who has ever right to throw you into Hell, forgives sinners who trust that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who died of their sins, and rose again for their eternal life!

If you haven’t experienced this forgiveness, you can today.

If you have, then you now have the responsibility to forgive, because you’ve been forgiven.

Whatever you’re holding against the person you can’t forgive—you should take into consideration that you have done SO much worse to God, and He has forgiven you in Christ.

God doesn’t harbor bitterness or malice against you anymore.

He doesn’t talk about you behind your back, figuring out the best way to get you.

He moves toward you in grace and in love.

Our new identity has been created after the likeness of Jesus.

Church,

App: Trade in your bitterness for forgiveness. Send a risky-reconcile text.

Throw away the bitterness, wrath, anger, malice.

Replace it with the good news of God’s grace.

Since you’ve been forgiven, you have been indwelt/empowered by the Holy Spirit to live the gospel.

One of the most practical ways is to extend forgiveness to someone who has wronged you.

Do they deserve it? Probably not—But you didn’t deserve the forgiveness God gave you in Christ.

This is what makes it grace/good news.

Forgiveness is not excusing sin—It’s trusting Jesus with justice.

This is how we live transformed by the truth and walk in forgiveness.

Begin by taking steps of faith toward Jesus and growing in your Christlike-identity.

Take the Next Step

Form a plan to trade the old self and live in the truth.

Deputize/authorize someone who loves you to hold you accountable.

Start a text to reconcile/forgive.

To forgive or seek forgiveness.

Conclusion

Church, Paul isn’t telling us to become someone new—He’s telling us to be who we already are in Christ.

You are not your old way of life, your old bitterness, your sharp words.

If you’re in Christ, you’ve been sealed by His Holy Spirit—He looks at you and says, “This one is Mine.”

Since this is true—this changes everything about us.

We don’t have to earn His love—we already have it.

Some of you are here today and you need to lay down the old self that you’ve been carrying for far too long.

A grudge, habit, unresolved relationship.

Forgiveness feels costly, but forgiveness is freedom.

This week, don’t ask “What am I supposed to do as a Christian.”

Ask, “Who has God already made me to be?”

Let’s live like our identity in Christ changes everything.