Living In The New Clothes

Introduction

Did you go school clothes shopping the week or so before school started in the fall.

I did and it was always a big deal for us.

I guess the only times we got new clothes all at one time was Christmas and Back-to-School

It was fun then going to school on that first day wearing all your new duds.

As a Christian, you have new clothes to wear, but are you?

Last week we saw Paul telling the Ephesians and us to not live like the lost around us do.

Instead, he wants us to take off our old way of living and put on a new “clothes” since we are a new creation in Christ.

He was encouraging his readers to live differently than before as they are now holy and clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

That new lifestyle should result in behavior changes.

Ephesians 4:25–32 CSB

25 Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don’t give the devil an opportunity. 28 Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. 29 No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

How To Live Out Your New Identity Ephesians 4:25-32.

Before we look at these new behaviors, I want to point a few things about this passage.

The new lifestyle requires us to replace our old sinful habits with new righteous and holy habits.

We should pursue these behaviors, but this is not an exhaustive list.

It is said that it takes 6 weeks to build a habit.

How long have you been a Christian? Shouldn’t you be living out the habits daily?

Said the pot calling the kettle black.

First, all of these new behaviors are relational.

Our union with Christ should change the way we live with others.

You may not realize this, but your behavior affects others.

Our sins will affect others negatively, just as our righteousness blesses others positively.

Second, in this passage there is a negative action stated first followed by a positive action.

That’s important.

It is always easier to replace something with a better object.

To take an old dirty bone from a dog, just give him a steak.

Holiness is not just about saying no to sin, it is also about saying yes to God.

Going back to the clothes analogy from last week, put those old, dirty clothes in the trash and put on your new school clothes.

Third, there is a theological reason for giving up these old behaviors for the new ones.

For each vice, Paul give us a new behavior and the reason is tied to some key doctrinal teachings.

As we go through these we will see that our practice and our theology are tied together.

We should not only live differently for others to see, but because our reasons are different.

We’ll see the doctrines of God, sin, the Devil, the Spirit, the church, and Christ’s death on the cross.

Those are the reasons for new behavior.

Replace Lying With Truth - Telling Verse 25

Paul begins with a quote from Zechariah 8:16 that says to “speak the truth to one another.”

He brings the authority of the Old Testament into his argument here.

He also gives the reason that we “are members of one another.”

In other words, our speech affects the rest of the body of Christ.

Jesus told us that “He is the truth”

As followers then, we should express the truth to maintain the unity and purity of his body the church.

We are to be truth-tellers just like God is truth.

The world “lying” is actually “the lie” singular carrying the sense of lying.

It may also have the idea of idolatry.

The exchanging God’s for a lie.

We also no that God hates lying, just read Proverbs, and that Satan is a liar.

When you tell the truth you are imitating God.

When you lie, you are imitating Satan.

For me, I’d rather imitate God over Satan.

In fact verse 1 of Chapter 5 says to be imitators of God.

Replace Unrighteous Anger With Righteous Anger Verses 26-27

One of the bad behaviors is a bad temper or a lifestyle characterized by anger.

Psalm 4:4 is referred to by Paul which says, “Be angry and do not sin.”

Bible never tells us not to be angry but we should handle that anger properly or what some call righteous indignation or anger.

What is that? Someone once said, “It’s when you get mad but you don’t cuss.”

We need to feel anger toward sin, injustice, and evil otherwise that evil will prevail.

Jesus showed this type of anger when He turned over the tables in the temple.

That anger should not lead us to pride, hatred, or self-righteousness.

To make sure we keep our anger in check and appropriate, Paul gives us three tips.

The first is “do not sin”

Paul is not giving us permission to throw a fit, seek revenge, or dishonor God in public,

Second, he says, “don’t the let the sun go down on your anger.”

He saying that we shouldn’t let it fester, boil within us, turn to bitterness.

We need to resolve is quickly.

Even righteous anger can lead to bitterness, so it’s best to solve the problem and let it go.

Third, he says “Don’t give the Devil an opportunity.”

Someone said, “Don’t go to bed with unresolved conflict or else you will sleep with the Devil.”

Seek forgiveness and reconciliation quickly. Satan would love to use your anger as an opportunity to make you violent and divisive.

I’m reminded of Cain, who resented Abel.

When confronted by God, he was told that sin is crouching at his doorstep.

Anger if not dealt with opens the door to the devil and sin.

Replace Stealing With Working And Giving Verse 28

In Paul’s day, stealing was typical in that society.

Sort of like today, it seems people will anything they can their hands on.

The slaves in his day were often not treated well and they needed to steal to survive and take care of their family.

Others may have been out of work and stole to get along.

Whatever the case, Paul told them as Christians they were not to steal.

That may have been their life before Christ, but now they are to work.

Not just to take of himself and family, but to give to others.

Paul gives us a reason we should work, and not steal.

So that we might be able “to give to with anyone in need.”

You would expect Paul to have said, “Let him work that he might take care of himself and not be tempted to steal.”

Instead, he lifted human labor to a much higher level.

We work that we might be able to help others.

If we steal, we hurt others; therefore, we should work that we might be able to help others.

Even honest labor could become a selfish thing, and this Paul seeks to avoid.

John Wesley once said, “Work as hard as you can, make as much as can, then give as much as you can.”

Another pastor put it this way: “There are really three options regarding work: you can steal to get, you can work to get for yourself, or you can work to get in order to give.”

Paul’s choice is the third option.

Replace Corrupt Talk With Edifying Talk Verses 29-30

In addition to speaking the truth, Paul goes on to say that no foul language should come out of our mouths.

Does this mean, I shouldn’t cuss?

That world for foul language means “rotten fruit” or “rotten fish.”

This corrupt talk does not nourish you, it makes you sick.

Also that corrupt take come from a corrupt heart.

So what is it?

It’s not just cuss words

It includes lying

Abusive language

Vulgar references

Vicious and unkind words

Gossip and

Slander.

In its place we are speak in ways that are helpful in building others up according to their needs.

We must be sensitive to the situation and the needs of anyone with whom we converse.

Understand that must be wise in choosing our words, for even good words, unless used appropriately, can be destructive instead of useful.

We should not speak vaguely in words that could fit a thousand different occasions.

Rather, our words should be genuine and specifically suited to the present person, time, and place.

Our speech should edify, not tear down.

Another reason for our edifying speech is so we, “And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit” (v. 30).

This warning is tied to verse 29, though all of the sins mentioned in this section grieve the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit can be lied to, offended, dishonored, and disobeyed.

Anything inconsistent with the Spirit’s nature grieves Him.

Sins of the tongue lead to the withdrawal of the influences of the Spirit.

Instead, Christians must be sensitive to the One who sealed us “for the day of redemption” (v. 30).

Ask this question: Will what I’m about to say or do please the Spirit or grieve the Spirit?

Verse 30 reminds us that more is going on than meets the eye in relationships in the local church.

Relationships involve spiritual warfare.

Let us learn to walk by the Spirit and yield to Him in our conversation and attitudes, eagerly maintaining the unity of the Spirit.

Replace Bitterness and Rage With Kindness and Forgiveness Verses 31-32

In Verse 31, Paul gives us a list of our old self behavior that need to be set aside.

The only way we can do this is through a Spirit-filled life.

These actions lead to dissent and disunity in our lives and church.

We need to get rid of:

Bitterness—a spirit that refuses reconciliation.

Anger—a continuous attitude of hatred that remains bottled up within. This could refer to what is under the surface, while “rage” refers to what bursts out. Anger would destroy harmony and unity among believers.

Wrath—outbursts of anger or quick temper for selfish reasons. This could mean continual and uncontrolled behavior.

Shouting—loud self-assertions of angry people determined to make their grievances known.

Slander—destroying another person’s good reputation by lying, gossiping, spreading rumors, etc. Malice often manifests itself through slander. This defamation of character destroys human relationships.

Malice—doing evil despite the good that has been received. This word is a general term referring to an evil force that destroys relationships, and it can mean anything from trouble to wickedness. It is a deliberate attempt to harm another person. Thus, every form of malice must be destroyed.

Instead we should be known as a people of kindness and forgiveness based on the depth of God’s kindness and forgiveness.

His kindness brought us to repentance

His forgiveness gave us salvation.

Again we are to imitate Him.

Paul gives us what is one of the most powerful verses on forgiveness: “God also forgave you in Christ” in verse 32.

The implication is obvious.

If Jesus can forgive us, then there is nothing for which we should not forgive another person.

Should there be consequences for actions? Sure.

But we must be forgiving people.

What To Do Now?

Think on His kindness, His love, and His forgiveness daily.

It will change you.

It will make you like Him.

So, what do you wear?

Have you come to know Christ?

Are you dressed in His righteousness?

If so, live out your new identity as a new creation in Christ for the good of others and the glory of God.

If not, turn to Him for you forgiveness and to receive your new clothes.

Pray

Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), Eph 4:31–32.