49-29 Applying Principles of the New Life
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Ephesians 4:25-32
Ephesians 4:25-32
I doubt the name Homan Walsh means anything to you but he won $5 in a competition for flying a kite. Now, that doesn’t seem too impressive but it was the competition that was extraordinary.
In 1812 the US went to war with Canadian colonies of British Empire. The English were distracted with the effort against Napoleon so Americans thought they could take advantage and overtake the northern territories. But when Napoleon was defeated in 1814 the English sent armies to N America to recover those territories. Tensions with the US were high during the following years.
In 1846, the 2 countries were tired of war so they agreed to join Canada and US with a bridge that would span the great Niagara river. So a suspension bridge was designed to link US and Canada. The challenge was “how to start.” Normally an archer would shoot an arrow over the river attached to a rope which was tied to a larger rope and pulled back to the archer’s side. The problem was the size of the river (800 feet at the point chosen).
So a competition was advertised for anyone who could fly a kite to the other side would win $5 US. 16 year old Homan Walsh was successful flying his kite to the other side without breaking the string. A larger rope was tied to the string and pulled across the river. Then a larger rope until a cable spanned the gorge—a bridge was built and for 7 years it carried pedestrians, people on horseback, horse-drawn carriages and light carts.
Charles Spurgeon was fascinated by the Niagara (and bridge). He mentions it dozens of times in his sermons (as mighty metaphors of Xn living). Regarding the process of flying the kite he said:
The kite carried across a piece of string, then to the string was tied a line, and to the line a rope, and to the rope a stronger rope. Before long the Niagara was spanned and the bridge was finished. Spurgeon says “even thus by degrees God works.
God’s Word promises every Xn:
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
This is the promise of sanctification. It is the promise of the fulfillment of God’s purpose for everyone He calls to eternal life:
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
This process—which begins the moment HS regenerates you (time of salvation) does not happen in 1 moment (contrary to what some of our brothers and sisters in Christ believe) but is a lifelong progress of sin, conviction, repentance, and renewal that works out in the life of the Xn. Thus your sanctification is progressive.
God sets apart every believer and commands each of us to be holy—in practical terms that is the lifelong struggle you face as you continue to battle the flesh after your salvation.
Now, when God saved you—He created in you a new nature (putting to death the old) and Ephesians reminds us that the Lord expects us to apply the principle of new life b/c of this new nature. As a believer, old man has been put off and the new man is put on. You’ve exchanged your old lifestyle of sin and waywardness for the new life/self.
The consequence of this exchange requires that you put to death the sins that are common to the old nature. In our vv Paul lists 5 specific sins that you must avoid bc they are contrary to the new life (he also highlights corresponding virtues that replace the old habits of sin).
1. Lying
1. Lying
Paul highlights the admonition regarding falsehood by stating that, for the believer, it has no connection with the new self (life). It was laid aside (along with the old self)—aorist verb (past completed action). falsehood is intrinsic to the old self and has no place for those who have been transformed by the truth.
Falsehood is the Gk pseudos —general word for “a lie or falsehood.” it stands in direct contrast to what is true, genuine.
I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.
While Paul has stated that falsehood has been laid aside—it should be replaced by truthfulness. This is not a NT principle only. Paul quote Zech
‘These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates.
Why should you speak truth?
God Hates Falsehood (contrary to His nature)
There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.
The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.
It is clear that God hates lying. Those who practice lying have no part in the kingdom of heaven.
“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
Lying is so much part of the old nature (crucified) and not a characteristic of Xns (new creation). Now, do you suppose this means that a Xn cannot lie? Could a believe speak something not truthful?
Of course, just like could commit conceivably any sin. There may be times when a believer lies but if someone practices lying (makes it their habit) there is no basis for believing there is new life.
This is b/c all liars have a common ancestry.
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
This is who the devil is—he is a deceiver, a liar, the father of lies as well as those who have the habit of falsehood. And what this reveals is that those liars have the devil as their father and their eternal destiny is hell.
The world system is marked by falsehood (since Satan is the god of this world). Satan’s nature is to lie about everything: God, man, life, death, Christ, HS, Bible, heaven, hell, salvation, good, evil, sin.
Barnes “lying is the universal vice of the heathen world.” So the world is full of lies (b/c the god of this world is a liar and father of lies—and the world is filled with liars—doctors, lawyers, politicians, salesman, teachers, financial advisors, religious figures). The foundation of the world’s economy is built on lies and I suppose if everyone started telling the truth—it would all collapse.
But why do people lie? Goes back to human nature (being depraved). each one of us was born with a propensity (bent) toward falsehood. You didn’t have to teach your children how to lie. they do that automatically b/c its their nature. So when you’re dealing with a child who has lied you don’t ask “why did you lie?” but as you shepherd that child you ask “what should you say?”
Paul tells the believer “speak the truth.” Show by example to your children that you are a lover of the truth—you love to tell the truth. When God transforms the heart the truth becomes real b/c God is truth.
May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
As a believer, falsehood is inconsistent with your nature. You shouldn’t tell any lie. The most simple form is telling something that isn’t true. But there are other forms of lying: exaggeration (fishing tales), cheating (school, business, taxes), betraying a confidence (since you said you would hold it), flattery, making excuses, remaining silent when the truth ought to be spoken.
Paul shows the importance of speaking truth: vs 25b
members of one another-emphasizes the unity of the body of Christ. If we fail to speak the truth we bring harm to the fellowship of the saints.
John Chrysostom (347-407): If the eye sees a serpent does it lie to the foot? Or if the nose smells a deadly drug will it lie to the mouth? Or if the tongue tastes something bitter will it lie to the stomach?
You depend on the honesty of the members of your body and every organ to function properly and in safety. Accuracy allows the body to function the way God designed it. So too is the spiritual body of Christ (the church).
Commit yourself to speaking the truth b/c we are people characterized by truth.
2. Unrighteous Anger
2. Unrighteous Anger
In the Gk there are 3 terms that are found in reference to “anger”
thumos boiling agitation; fury out of control; outbursts of anger…used of something that went up in smoke—the idea is that passions boil up and quickly subside. This is “wrath” forbidden in Eph 4:31
parorgizmos “not let sun go down on your anger” (Eph 4:26) means to be intensely provoked; anger accompanied by irritation and often arises out of jealousy.
orge anger based on settled conviction and aroused under certain conditions. If something is a priority to you and get violated you might respond with “anger.” If someone attacked your spouse or child you would respond.
Paul’s point (many believe anger of any kind is sinful behavior) is you can be angry (and should be angry—under certain circumstances) and not sin. This is b/c there is a “righteous anger” and “unrighteous anger.” The unrighteous anger should never characterize the Xn.
thumos used of unregenerate men filled with rage (Lk 4:28). In Ephesus, Paul’s preaching was devastating the business of the silversmiths who were profiting from Diana worship—filled with rage (Act 19:28). This is the wrath of the devil who will ramp up his attacks against humanity in Tribulation (Rev 12:12). This is an extreme anger and yet it is used of God’s righteous anger and ultimate judgment against sinners. Only God can go to this extremity and still be righteous b/c He always keeps that under control.
When Paul says “be angry” it is an imperative (command)—actually 2 commands in vs 26. He is quoting Ps 4:4 anger that expressed as trembling. It is important to note that “anger” is not inherently sinful. God expresses anger—expressed as “wrath”. Jesus expresses anger:
After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
Now, what’s the difference b/t unrighteous and righteous anger? Anger for selfish reasons is unrighteous and must be avoided. Be angry over what grieves God. Don’t be angry over your causes and don’t let those occasions turn into bitterness or resentment.
Instead of being angry and sinning, Paul admonishes believers to deal with anger in our lives “sun goes down.” This was a Heb idiom: soonest possible time. It is possible to have righteous anger and even then the Lord commands us to eliminate that anger as soon as possible.
The reason for that is b/c Satan is looking for an opportunity to cause you to stumble. He wants to take advantage of you.
so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
Satan looks for a foothold and if you harbor anger (even righteous anger) there will be temptation to turn that anger into selfish rage/outbursts which is sinful.
3. Stealing
3. Stealing
Taking something that doesn’t belong to you is a natural attraction b/c of the sin nature (selfishly prideful). It is also a temptation that many believers have to fight—the Eph believers were facing the same temptations and many of them giving in to it.
“to the one who steals…steal no longer” Spoken to Xns. Of course this is addressed in the 10 commandments:
“You shall not steal.
‘You shall not steal.
“You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ”
There are several forms of theft mentioned in Scripture:
Not paying a debt (Ps 37:21)
Falsifying account books (Lk 16:1-13)
Cheating on taxes (Matt 22:17-22)
Using deceptive (dishonest) measurements (Amos 8:5; Hos 12:7)
Not paying a fair wage (James 5:4)
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Stealing is serious offense to God so instead…the Xn must be different. “but rather...”
Labor is a word that means to work to the point of exhaustion…work that causes fatigue. This is to replace the sinful behavior of theft.
“Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
We see all over the country businesses are trying to hire people…but many do not want to work—falling back on gov’t handout. Gov’t says unemployment is 6.1% but economists and others believe is 9-11%.
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
The scriptural view of work is much different from the modern mindset. The world says “work hard and accumulate all you can so you can enjoy retirement.” Or work hard to provide a comfortable lifestyle. And there’s nothing immoral about those ideas (not to mention nothing about retirement—maybe change of focus). The Scripture’s view of labor is work hard so you have something to share with those in need.
contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
The poor are to be helped by the Xn community. It is not gov’t job but ours.
4. Unwholesome Speech
4. Unwholesome Speech
Some translations “corrupt speech” it is only used in the negative sense in NT—meaning of such poor quality to be of no use. Used of rotten fish, and the rotten tree producing “bad” fruit. The word expresses only that which is rotten, putrid, foul, rank, utterly worthless.
Here, Paul is not just speaking of words that are foul…(though definitely included) but all speech that is worthless, unprofitable, unwholesome. We live in a culture where the world has cultivated foul, putrid rotten speech. There are people who cannot form a sentence without throwing in offensive language. And you know when you hear it it—it is repulsive. It’s like walking past a tree where an apple has fallen to the ground and sits there rotting. Your first reaction is not to get closer but go the other direction.
It’s not only “cussing” but all speech that is vulgar ought to have no place in the life of the believer. Bible reminds us often to guard our tongues.
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Eph 5:3-4
What is the source of rotten speech?
“You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
What is on the outside only reveals what is the condition of the heart. Rotten speech indicates what? Rotten heart—that is not the picture of the believer, however.
Instead our speech should be godly:
Godly speech edifies (build up others, encourage, strengthen).
Godly speech is suitable for the occasion—according to the need—matter at hand
A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word!
Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
Godly speech is gracious—your speech should minister grace to those who hear. This is how the Lord spoke:
And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
When Christ’s word fills you your speech will correspond to His.
5. Ungodly Vices
5. Ungodly Vices
Vs 30—Paul begins “do not grieve...” this is a reflection of the character, nature and heart of God. B/c the believer is transformed (old passed away, new has come) our greatest concern to glorify God should make us sensitive to grieving the HS who lives in us and seals us for redemption.
vs 31—these are vices that fill the unregenerate, natural heart. And these are all to be “put away” the term has the idea of “lifting to carry something away” It can be used of flood waters that swept away the inhabitants of the earth (Mt 24:39). As Paul uses this word he is stressing the urgency with which these six vices should be completely eliminated from the lives of Xns.
Like all 5 sins—its not enough just to stop doing the unrighteous things but they must be replaced by something righteous. Instead, be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving—b/c these express God’s response toward you. Don’t act toward others based on what you think they deserve. That’s not what God did with you—He showed kindness, tender-heartedness (leading to repentance) and granted forgiveness.
Each of us is called to holiness. Paul captures it in 5:1 “be imitators.” Do you have the habit of speaking untruthfully? Do you get angry being short tempered? Are you tempted to steal? Is your speech rotten? Is your life filled with ungodly vices? Allow God’s Spirit to move you toward His will. Treat each other with kindness, magnanimity.
May God’s word have its way with us that we would be the people He takes delight in—Paul is saying “you are Xns—act like Xns” And pray that unbelievers would be drawn to the Savior on account of us/our lives which are different.