Ephesians 4:25-32

7 Ways of Christian Living

Lay Aside Falsehood and Speak Truth

Lay aside falsehood is to stop telling things that are not true. It is better known as lying. Lying takes on many facets that we may want to consider. The easy one to decipher is the bold face lie. This is the one where you know the truth but for convenience sake you tell the opposite. For example when you are caught doing something wrong and you tell a lie by saying you didn’t do it.

However there are these things the we call “little white lies”. These are things that we may say that are partially true but perhaps exaggerated. We may not think that these little lies are harmful, but they cause a person to lose credibility. We all know the person that always has a better story than yours. Do you believe them or put a lot of stock in what they say? Why not? because their credibility has been depleted by a series of little small lies.

However there are these things the we call “little white lies”. These are things that we may say that are partially true but perhaps exaggerated. We may not think that these little lies are harmful, but they cause a person to lose credibility. We all know the person that always has a better story than yours. Do you believe them or put a lot of stock in what they say? Why not? because their credibility has been depleted by a series of little small lies.

Another type of lie is committing to do something that do not fulfill. This could be an instant where you just tell someone that you will do something so they will get off your back. You know that you have no intention of doing what you commited to, but say you will. You can also commit to something that you have intention of doing, but have a conflict on your schedule. You choose not to do what you committed to, but choose to do something else. A person loses credibility when they do not fulfill what they commit to.

A falsehood will always diminish your witness!

Not only are we to not speak falsehoods, but rather we are to speak truth. Not saying what you know to be true is also a falsehood. There will be times when we are faced with opportunities to speak up, but remain silent. This is a form of falsehood. Often we will dismiss this as not wanting to hurt someone’s feelings, but instead telling them what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear or say nothing at all.

For we are members of one body. Truth will keep us healthy.

Be Angry But Do Not Sin

There are two types of anger: Righteous and Unrighteous. Unrighteous anger is rooted in selfishness. This is when you are angry because you don’t get what you want. This anger is one that seeks revenge for a personal wrong doing. This anger always brings about destruction. Righteous anger is that anger that hates sin either in our own life or the life of someone we love. It is commanded, not suggested that we be angry toward sin.

Both righteous and unrighteous anger should be dealt with in a timely manner. The Bible describes timely manner as one day. Unaddressed anger can quickly turn to bitterness.

7 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Steal No Longer But Share With Someone In Need

Stealing is taking something that doesn’t belong to you. This could be material in nature, in time, or in relationship. Obviously when you take something of material that doesn’t belong to you makes sense. (Robbery, Shoplifting, Burglary, embezzlement, borrowing something and not returning it.) Stealing time is getting paid for a 40 hour work week and only working 39. Or robbing your family of time that needs to be spent with them to pursue what you want to do. Stealing relationship is becoming intimate with someone that is not your spouse. That person belongs to someone else. You are taking something from them that belongs to someone in the future.

Instead of stealing work hard so that you will have something to give to those in need. The reason that we should work hard is not so we can accumulate material wealth for ourselves, but instead that we can share with others. We tend to work harder when others are dependent on us. We work hard for our kids because they have to be fed. We also want them to have the privileges of life that we did not have. When we are driven to work for others, we will not be tempted to steal, but instead be diligent to do the best we can.

Let No Unwholesome Speech Come From Your Mouth Only That Which Is Good For Edification

The word for “unwholesome” refers to that which is foul or rotten, such as spoiled fruit or putrid meat. Foul language of any sort should never pass a Christian’s lips, because it is totally out of character with his new life in Christ

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 3

So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by chell.

7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.

8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;

10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?

12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), .

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.

8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;

10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?

12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

Our speech should be good for edification. Edification is the lifting up of others. It should be instructive, encouraging and uplifting. If we would filter our speech with these standards, then life would be a lot more pleasant.

Our speech should also bring grace to those who hear. As missionaries for Christ, just as grace has been given to us, so we too must season our speech with grace. If we must bring a word of correction it must be seasoned with gentle grace.

Do Not Grieve The Holy Spirit

MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary

God is grieved when His children refuse to change the old ways of sin for those righteous ways of the new life. It should be noted that such responses by the Holy Spirit indicate He is a person.

Grieving the Holy Spirit is doing the things that we should not do. This is living the way we use to live before having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has indwelt you for the purpose of making you more Christlike. When you refuse to allow him to do this in your life, then His heart is grieved.

We can also quench the Holy Spirit by not doing what He commands us to do.

19 Do not quench the Spirit

Eradicate Bitterness, Wrath, Anger, Clamor, Slander, and Malice

The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians Things Which Must Be Banished from Life (Ephesians 4:25–32 Contd)

PAUL ends this chapter with a list of things which must go from life.

(1) There is bitterness (pikria). The Greeks defined this word as long-standing resentment, the spirit which refuses to be reconciled. So many of us have a way of nursing our anger to keep it warm, of brooding over the insults and the injuries which we have received. As Christians, we all might well pray that God would teach us how to forget.

(2) There are outbreaks of passion (thumos) and long-lived anger (orgē). The Greeks defined thumos as the kind of anger which is like the flame which comes from straw; it quickly blazes up and just as quickly subsides. On the other hand, they described orgē as anger which has become habitual. To Christians, the burst of temper and the long-lived anger are both forbidden.

(3) There is loud talking and insulting language. A certain famous preacher tells how his wife used to advise him: ‘In the pulpit, keep your voice down.’ Whenever, in any discussion or argument, we become aware that our voice is raised, it is time to stop. The Jews spoke about what they called ‘the sin of insult’, and maintained that God does not hold anyone guiltless who speaks insultingly to another person.

In Shakespeare’s King Lear, Lear said of Cordelia:

Her voice was ever soft,

Gentle and low.

It would save a great deal of heartbreak in this world if we simply learned to keep our voices down and if, when we had nothing good to say to a person, we did not say anything at all. The argument which has to be supported by shouting is no argument; and the dispute which has to be conducted through an exchange of insults is not an argument but a brawl.

The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians Things Which Must Be Banished from Life (Ephesians 4:25–32 Contd)

PAUL ends this chapter with a list of things which must go from life.

(1) There is bitterness (pikria). The Greeks defined this word as long-standing resentment, the spirit which refuses to be reconciled. So many of us have a way of nursing our anger to keep it warm, of brooding over the insults and the injuries which we have received. As Christians, we all might well pray that God would teach us how to forget.

(2) There are outbreaks of passion (thumos) and long-lived anger (orgē). The Greeks defined thumos as the kind of anger which is like the flame which comes from straw; it quickly blazes up and just as quickly subsides. On the other hand, they described orgē as anger which has become habitual. To Christians, the burst of temper and the long-lived anger are both forbidden.

(3) There is loud talking and insulting language. A certain famous preacher tells how his wife used to advise him: ‘In the pulpit, keep your voice down.’ Whenever, in any discussion or argument, we become aware that our voice is raised, it is time to stop. The Jews spoke about what they called ‘the sin of insult’, and maintained that God does not hold anyone guiltless who speaks insultingly to another person.

In Shakespeare’s King Lear, Lear said of Cordelia:

Her voice was ever soft,

Gentle and low.

It would save a great deal of heartbreak in this world if we simply learned to keep our voices down and if, when we had nothing good to say to a person, we did not say anything at all. The argument which has to be supported by shouting is no argument; and the dispute which has to be conducted through an exchange of insults is not an argument but a brawl.

Be Kind, Be Tender-hearted, and Forgive!

The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians Things Which Must Be Banished from Life (Ephesians 4:25–32 Contd)

So, Paul comes to the summing up of his advice. He tells us to be kind (chrēstos). The Greeks defined this quality as the attitude of mind which thinks as much of its neighbour’s affairs as it does of its own. Kindness has learned the secret of looking outwards all the time, and not inwards. He tells us to forgive others as God forgave us. So, in one sentence, Paul lays down the law of personal relationships—that we should treat others as Jesus Christ has treated us.