Walk in Newness
Notes
Transcript
SERIES - Life is a Journey
INTRO:
This morning we are starting a new series called, “Life is a Journey”
Life is a journey. Each of us has a road to walk and decisions to make. The Christian road a difficult one to walk. But walking with Jesus and staying focused on Him will fill your heart and life.
Our series will begin in the fourth chapter of Ephesians. So take your copy of God’s Holy Word and turn with me to Ephesians 4...
READ ROMANS 6
Paul has made a case for the Ephesians to put off their old selves and put on the new self, centered on the person and teachings of Christ (4:17–24), yet there have not been any specific instructions regarding application.
In this section of the the letter Paul delivers expansive explanation regarding what the new life in Christ should look like in attitude and behavior.
As he discusses the practical mandates, he divides them into four major focal points.
The first (4:25–32) centers on removing the old elements of one’s life and replacing them with virtuous behavior.
The second (5:1–7) delves into what it means to walk in love.
The third (5:8–14) explains walking in light.
The fourth (5:15-21) walking in wisdom
So today we are going to look at the first of of the four practical mandates that will help us in Life’s journey as followers of Christ.
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
27 nor give place to the devil.
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
So lets take a closer look at what it means to Walk in Newness…of life/Christ.
Walk in Newness of Christ
Walk in Newness of Christ
In these verses Paul begins his explanation of what the new life in Christ looks like.
This is the first section in which Paul begins to use imperatives to give commands to his readers. In most of these verses, Paul tells the believers what they shouldn’t do and then follows this with what they should do instead. This follows what he had been advocating for previously, which is a removal/replacement approach.
So what does that look like?
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
Walking in truth
Walking in truth
4:25 Paul’s first ethical command centers on the subject of truth. He calls on the Ephesians to put off any falsehood and instead to speak truth. This command is for all the believers and is rooted in the idea that they are all part of one another.
Paul previously explained the value of preserving unity by making a case for connectedness, with Christ as the head of the body (4:1–16). Thus his explanation for truthfulness in this verse is a fitting application of his concept regarding the unity of the body.
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
27 nor give place to the devil.
Walking with caution
Walking with caution
In 4:26–27 the instructions center on the subject of anger. In 4:26 Paul states that believers can be angry, but they are not to sin in this anger. The anger he is permitting is not prolonged hate or bitterness but a temporary emotion that finds resolution. He furthers this instruction in 4:27 by warning of the implications of maintaining one’s anger.
He calls on the Ephesians to not give the devil an opportunity to work because of their anger. This comes after instructions to not let the sun go down on their anger, so it follows that if they do dwell on anger for a long period and do not resolve it, then the devil will take hold of it and lead them into sin. No descriptions are given regarding what this sin might be, but the warning of anger leading to sin is clear.
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Walking in charity
Walking in charity
4:28 Paul turns his attention to the vice of stealing in this verse. He begins by calling on believers to remove the sin of theft from their lives. He then gives them what they should put on, which is labor.
He describes labor as doing something good by using one’s hands. The aim of this work is not for one’s own good; rather, believers are to work so that they will have ample supplies to share with those in need. This is a stark contrast from the practice of theft, for that is centered on selfishness and this is focused on selflessness.
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Walking with wholesome words
Walking with wholesome words
4:29 The next command given by Paul involves the use of one’s speech. In this verse he instructs the Ephesians to remove from their practice the unwholesome words that they may have employed. Instead, they are to replace this talk with edification. The goal of this is to provide grace to the listener, who is the one being edified.
4:30 Paul continues his thought from 4:29 with a second admonition. The believers are not to use unwholesome speech, and they are not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Walking not in the old ways
Walking not in the old ways
4:31 Paul’s last imperatives in this section, which involve putting off and putting on, occur in 4:31–32. In 4:31 he provides the negative practices that are to be rejected, and in 4:32 those that are to be embraced.
Both verses list several elements that center on relationships with others. In this verse he provides six vices that should be removed from the Christian’s life. The first five are given in succession, while the sixth is added as a conclusive concept. In this list he repeats the idea of putting away anger (from 4:26) and slander (4:29), but he also adds bitterness, wrath, and clamor. His final conclusive comment is to remove all malice.
Walking in virtue
Walking in virtue
4:32 Paul provides three virtues that are to replace the vices he has listed in 4:31. He calls on the Ephesians to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. Like the previous verse, each of these deals with relational practices. He goes on to explain the motivation/method of the forgiveness he is instructing. Because Christ forgave them, they should forgive others. As Christ offered grace as the basis for forgiveness, so should they.