New Obligations

Objective: Unity in the Body of Christ

Proposition: We are to be changed people as believers of Jesus

Keyword: Because

Rationals:

1. We are One Body (25)

2. We care about Others (26-28)

3. We are kind, compassionate, and forgiving (29-32)

Ephesians 4:25-32 “Therefore, after you have gotten rid of lying, Each of you must tell the truth to your neighbor because we are parts of each other in the same body. Be angry without sinning. Don’t let the sun set on your anger. Don’t provide an opportunity for the devil. Thieves should no longer steal. Instead, they should go to work, using their hands to do good so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need. Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say. Don’t make the Holy Spirit of God unhappy—you were sealed by him for the day of redemption. Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.”

Opening:

Today we celebrate Reformation Sunday! The Day we commemorate October 31, 1517: The Day Martin Luther would Change the World.

With no intention to start a Reformation he placed his 95 Thesis on The Door of All Saints Church in Wittenburg, Germany.

In his Thesis, he desired one objective to hold accountable the Roman Church including its Pope to The Word of GOD thus causing change in the Catholic Church.

His intention was noble and never intended to split the church but here we are.

Some of Luther's concerns were the following:

When Jesus said "repent" he meant that believers should live a whole life repenting

Inwards penitence must be accompanied with a suitable change in lifestyle

An indulgence will not save a man

Money causes greed - only God can save souls

A Christian who gives to the poor or lends to those in need is doing better in God’s eyes than one who buys 'forgiveness'.

Those in the church who claim there is no problem must go. Problems must be tackled.

And Christians must follow Christ at all cost.

Luther had hoped that the Pope Leo 10th would engage with him in a classical educational debate. But instead Leo had no care about what some crazy monk in Germany had to say.

Until Luther began to hurt his pocket book in building the beautiful cathedrals we see today in The Vatican. Because Luther would not support the sale of Indulgences.

He would not endorse that one could purchase salvation through money, but instead that was left up for God.

So one could ask, Pastor what does our Epistle reading have to do with Reformation. In Paul’s Writing today he makes it simple as after describing the inherent unity of the church (Ephesians 4:1–16) last week.

Paul next tells us how Christians are to behave.

Their lives are to be markedly different from the pagans (4:17–25).

This new life is to be characterized by holiness and honesty. In the final verse of the chapter, the apostle outlines three of the new obligations.

1. We are One Body (25), 2. We care about Others (26-28), and lastly 3. We are to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving (29-32)

Body:

Rational 1: We are One Body (25)

Verses: Ephesians 4:25 “Therefore, after you have gotten rid of lying, Each of you must tell the truth to your neighbor because we are parts of each other in the same body.”

Friends do you hear Paul’s Words?

There is indeed an expectation that when you were unsaved Pagans that you were indeed liers, separated from Christ, and living in isolation.

But once we acknowledge Christ do you hear the difference within this one verse.

First we are to get rid of our lying

Paul continues by telling us that we must tell the truth, why because we are one body friends.

Now, let's reflect back on Reformation Luther was mad and he did not no miss words with the leaders of Rome, they were supposedly not pagans.

Therefore, why were they lying selling indulgences to build buildings in Rome? Because the truth was they were not thinking of the body but themselves.

They were acting as unsaved pagans without living as transformed believers of God.

This very act of lying to the body of Christ marked these leaders as isolated and separated from Christ and his body.

Thus, being used as a tool of Satan in his Holy Church.

Why, because this is exactly what Satan likes to do. He likes to separate us and use us to cause division in his body.

Luther didn't cause division it was those who choose to sin against The Church by creating false testimony that did that.

Now I want you to think how you are doing in this area of your Christ Walk.

Are you a Lying Pagan according to Ephesians 4:25 or are you encompassing Paul’s Word by being part of each other in the same body.

Rational 2: We care about Others (26-28)

Verses: Ephesians 4:26-28 “Be angry without sinning. Don’t let the sun set on your anger. Don’t provide an opportunity for the devil. Thieves should no longer steal. Instead, they should go to work, using their hands to do good so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need.”

As we continue we hear a few important truths for the life of Christians.

Simply we are to care about Others!

We do this first by the ability to Be Angry withoutSinning.

But how do we do this? I mean if I am angry at someone how do I not allow my heart, my mind, and my soul to sin?

There is only one way to pray for those who make us angry, and when we are angry we separate ourselves from that person until we can follow Matthew 18:15-20 ““If your brother or sister sins against you, go and correct them when you are alone together. If they listen to you, then you’ve won over your brother or sister. But if they won’t listen, take with you one or two others so that every word may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses.But if they still won’t pay attention, report it to the church. If they won’t pay attention even to the church, treat them as you would a Gentile and tax collector. I assure you that whatever you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. And whatever you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven. Again I assure you that if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, then my Father who is in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.””

Next, Paul tells us Don’t let the sun set on your anger.

Friends this is solid advice for any relationship, especially with your spouse. Don’t go to bed angry! This is how we care for each other.

I have admit sometimes this is hard especially if the other party will not talk to you. I've been there I have been told “I will not talk to you.”

In my heart and my soul I have to let that anger go. But when that person will talk to you, you need to talk it through.

You need not let the sunset while you are still angry because we care for each other.

Paul says next, Don’t provide an opportunity for the devil.

We care for each other by not allowing Satan to use us, friends. How does he use us? He isolates us, and he capitalizes on our personal sins.

He rejoices when we are angry at each other, he rejoices when we don't forgive each other, and he rejoices when return to our ways as Pagans.

Lastly, Paul, tells us “Thieves should no longer steal. Instead, they should go to work, using their hands to do good so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need.”

We care for each other by using our hands to do good and share with whoever is in need.

Paul speaking to Thieves is speaking to us, we are all sinners and all thieves because at some point we were all pagans.

Therefore, as changed people of God we should use our hands to do good and to share with those in need.

These qualities mark us as believers and Disciples of Jesus it is why Martin Luther told the people of Germany they would be better off to give all they have to the poor rather than buy an indulgence.

So friends are you using your hand for good? Your Time and Your Talents? And are you Sharing with whoever is in need? Your Treasure?

Rational 3:We are kind, compassionate, and forgiving (29-32)

Verses: Ephesians 4:29-32 “Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say. Don’t make the Holy Spirit of God unhappy—you were sealed by him for the day of redemption. Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.”

Now friends we continue by hearing Paul tell us to not let any foul words come out of your mouth.

While there may be some of you all that can say that is true, I know we are a Lutheran Church so this will be a hard one.

It is noted that Luther really struggled with his mouth as I mentioned before you can google ‘Luther Insulter” and it will generate real insults from Luther.

Again, its why we don't praise the man our church is named for but for the work of God through the man.

So friends lets be honest today how many of us have some work to do in this area? I know I do.

And when someone first learns I am a pastor they say sorry for cussing in front of me I just tell them “I am a Lutheran :)”

Paul Continues stating “Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say.”

Friends isn't this clear to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving we should only say what is helpful to build each other up not tear each other down.

We are all guilty I am sure of it, so what can we do about it?

Especially in The Body of Christ the Church. Well for one when you hear things that tear down hold the person accountable and likewise spread positivity in the body.

Speak well of each other and your church to bear good witness to this community!

Next, Paul tells us “Don’t make the Holy Spirit of God unhappy—you were sealed by him for the day of redemption. Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil.

Now friends this is troubling the word of God tells us that we make the Holy Spirit unhappy when we have bitterness, when we lose our temper, when we get angry, when we shout, when we slander, and when we commit evil.

Now certainly I would get the last one but what about other how often have each of us I included get angry, are bitter, or shout.

Just this week alone?

Friends lets not make the Holy Spirit unhappy and especially in his Holy Church. Let us be examples to the world around us.

Lastly, Paul concludes today text saying “Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.”

Doesn't this conclude how we as believers are changed and no longer pagans. Pagans are mean, uncompassionate, and hold on to grudges.

I mean this I do my best to not do this, as I pray each of you do.

We must show the world our Love, Our Compassion, Our Kindness, and our Forgiveness because if we don't why should they forgive us?

There are so many people who have been hurt by the Church and I for one don't want us to be stumbling block for anyone to know Jesus.

Help me friends be the Church Paul is commanding us to be in these verses.

Closing:

So on this Reformation let us remember why Luther called the Church to Accountability it was through his love.

He wanted the church to turn from their pagan ways back to the Word of God.

Which tells us that we should be people who are One Body in Christ, We are to care about Others, and we are to live as people who are kind, compassionate, and forgiving.

Not because we are forced to but because we want to and a outward sign of your relationship with God is it comes naturally its who you are.

So friends how do we as a Church grow in his likeness in this way? How do we strive to be the Church?

How do we through our rich Lutheran Heritage now 504 years old be the hands and feet of Jesus?