The Beauty of Unity

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Illustration: Government Mandates - There has been a lot of discussion and consternation these last several weeks and months around the issue of government mandates. As US citizens we have a particular aversion to mandates. However that aversion to mandates, though appropriate in many cases when it relates to our government and our freedoms, is not always a healthy things. Here in Ephesians, Paul is going to call us to certain non-negotiable mandates/commands of the Christian life.

Introduction/Review: Last week, Pastor Chris explored Eph. 4:17-24 and taught us that “As Christians we should live as new creations in Christ.” This week, our passage directs us to consider (through the use of the word, “therefore”) how that truth about our being a new creation in Christ will transform the way we live and interact with one another.

Proposition: Today we will learn that Christians, living as new creations in Christ, will strive to maintain unity through a new pattern of living. Furthermore, those who are new creations in Christ recognize that there exists an enemy of unity which believers are called to wage warfare against.

Paul is going to call us to strive to maintain unity through a series of commands or mandates that the Christian is called to live by. These mandates help us to see and evaluate our own sinfulness. It helps us to understand how our sin works to destroy unity. Yet, Paul also gives us a blueprint to follow as we work out our new pattern of living as new creatures in Christ.

Summary: Today, then, we will examine how Christians, living as new creations in Christ, will strive to maintain unity through a new pattern of living that is characterized by the following:

Genuine Communication of Truth

Generous Provision of Need

Gracious Communication for Upbuilding

Godly Disposition of Christlikeness

Genuine Communication of Truth

Transition: First, we see that Christians, living as new creations in Christ, will strive to maintain unity through a new pattern of living that is characterized by a genuine communication of truth.

We see this in the first couple of mandates/commands given in Ephesians 4:25-26.

Ephesians 4:25–26 ESV

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

You will notice in this text three things before we dive into the details of the text.

“Therefore” = Connects this text with the preceeding section that Pastor Chris taught on last week. Paul is drawing out additional ways in which the things explained in the preceeding verse need to be applied to life.

“Each One” = Paul wants us to see how we, individually have to strive to put off sin. Paul wants us to understand that this passage is not for our brother or sister, but it is for us. (Illustration: Meme Chat Meme that had pastor preaching to two people not paying attention.)

“Put Off” = A repeated refrain seen in our passage from last week in verse 22, we see it here in verse 25, and we see it again in verse 31. This putting off encapsulates how a believer is to deal with sin in life. His new position in Christ entails the laying aside of an old, sinful pattern of living.

Christians Communicate Truth through Genuine Conversation

As Paul unpacks how the genuine communication of truth builds unity. He first sets before us two sins which will be used by the enemy of sow discord amongst the church. These sins are the sins of falsehood and the sin of unresolved anger.

“Falsehood” = Paul first addresses the issue of putting away falsehood. Here, Paul is obviously dealing with something we typically refer to as lying.

However, it should be observed, that although lying would obviously fit in this category. It seems that Paul intends for us to see this as a larger problem then merely telling a direct lie. We, I believe see this in his connection of falsehood with the speaking of truth. Our new life in Christ works itself out not merely in the fact that we do not lie, but also in the reality that we become active communicators of truth.

The Enemy - Falsehood is the way that the enemy has always worked to sow division between relationships. Jesus spoke of this in John 8:44-45. In this text you will notice that Satan’s lies are tied together with the experience of Adam and Eve in the garden. Beyond that Jesus declares that Satan lies because he does not stand in the truth.

John 8:44–45 ESV

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

“Speak the Truth” = Again we are called to be active communicators of truth with one another.

Application: We fail to speak the truth when we actively lie to one another, but we also fail to speak the truth when we allow relationships with one another to be hampered because we have not communicated our true thoughts, feelings, and ideas with one another.

This is actually how the parting of ways between Paul and Barnabas went correctly. They had a vigorous debate and exchange of ideas wherein they parted ways yet edified the church.

“Members of One Another” = Paul ties this communication of truth together with our body life, by helping us to see our interdependence on one another. Too often, we conceal the truth from one another thinking that in keeping the truth hidden that we are not causing harm. However, Paul seem to believe and teach the opposite. That our relationship with one another is hamstrung when we refuse to walk in truth with one another.

Illustration: Cerebral Palsy - The development of the brain is affected in such a way that the rest of the body is affected. The communication between brain and different parts of the body affects not just the brain, but those other aspects of a persons body. Similarly, the failure of Christians to genuinely communicate the truth in all of life with one another leads to a significant disability in the body.

Christians Communicate Truth while Carefully Evaluating their Anger

“Unresolved Anger” = Paul second addresses the issue of unresolved anger. Here Paul gives the command that Christians are those who should pursue to live as those who do not sin when they are angry.

Here we would love for the Apostle Paul to explicate in greater detail what it means to be angry and not sin. He does elaborate on certain aspects, but doesn’t give us a full theology of anger in this text. However, what he does say is incredibly helpful.

Why? Why does Paul choose this track? I believe it is because Paul recognizes that there is a kind of righteous anger that believers can and should exhibit as they are confronted by certain realities. However, even that righteous anger, can quickly turn south.

James 1:19–20 ESV

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Danger of Anger: Therefore, rather than giving a full explication of the theology of anger, Paul wants us to understand how incredibly dangerous anger is to the Christian. Everyone who is angry believes they have a right to be angry. All anger is usually seen as righteous anger, but just because we believe our anger is right does not make it so.

Safeguards of Anger: He gives us two safeguards, or two ways to evaluate our anger, to keep it in check.

Christian Anger is Marked by a Short Shelf-life: Our Anger is to be marked off by having an incredibly short, shelf life. Illustration: Essentially the Christian ought to treat his anger the way he treats his milk. If you were to visit my home and ask me for milk on your cereal, and I were to say, “You know, we don’t drink milk a lot, but we have had this jug in the back of the fridge for a couple of months…” How many of you would willingly put that on your cereal?

Christian Anger takes Seriously the Threat of the Enemy: Our anger is to be marked off by a careful evaluation of motives and opportunities in which the enemy can gain a foothold to destroy relationship.

Generous Provision of Need

Transition: Second, we see that Christians, living as new creations in Christ, will strive to maintain unity through a new pattern of living that is characterized by a generous provision of the needs of others.

Ephesians 4:28 ESV

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

Christians Labor so as to Generously Meet the Needs of Others

As Paul unpacks how the genuine provision of need builds unity, he again begins with an issue of sin. That issue of sin is theft.

Theft: Here again it is tempting to miss the positive command to which we are called when we get lost in a overly simplistic mischaracterization of the sin Paul addresses. Paul obviously addresses men and women who in their past way of living were thieves. And while it would not surprise me to learn that some of you once were thieves, it would be easy to simply dismiss what Paul is here saying because of the historical and experiential distance between us and these Ephesian believers.

Theft is in many ways related to other sins to which we are readily susceptible. Sins such as ungratefulness, the inordinate love of money, covetousness, discontent. At the bedrock of these sins is a failure to trust God for his provision and a self-centered use of God’s resources.

Laziness also seems to be in view when the theft is set in contrast to the man laboring hard in the second half of the verse.

“Doing Honest Work/Labor” = In the original, the word conveys work, but some authors suggest that beyond mere work it speaks of working to the point of weariness.

God has created and designed us to be productive, and not merely productive so that we might consume. We ought to be productive so that through out productivity we can honor God through the provision of our needs and the provision of others needs.

“Something to Share with Anyone in Need” = Paul certainly is not calling those with needs to be lazy. There seems to be two categories of people in view. There are those who have needs and are stealing because they have not embraced God will for them to work, and then there are those who have needs because God is allowing them to experience poverty. God intends to use the labor of the first Christian to meet the needs of the second Christian.

Gracious Communication for Upbuilding

Transition: Third, we see that Christians, living as new creations in Christ, will strive to maintain unity through a new pattern of living that is characterized by a gracious communication of truth for the purpose of building other up in the faith.

Ephesians 4:29–30 ESV

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Christians Communicate Grace Having Put Off Corrupting Speech

As Paul unpacks how gracious communication builds unity. He again sets before us two sins which will be used by the enemy of sow discord amongst the church. These sins are the sins of corrupting talk and communication that grieves the Spirit. Both of these two sins go hand in hand.

“No Corrupt Talk” = As with the preceeding sins, it is easy to discount your involvement in these sins. It is easy to evaluate corrupt talk as being “crude talk.” We can easily check the boxes of “I don’t swear, cuss, or coarsely joke.” But, we could very easily still be falling prey to the issues Paul is raising here.

Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary (4) Do Not Use Corrupt Words but Edify with Words (4:29–30)

The adjective σαπρός is used of rotten wood, withered flowers,4 and rancid fish.

Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary b. Truth and Love to Replace Falsehood and Bitterness (4:25–5:2)

The test of conversation is not just ‘Am I keeping my words true and pure?’ but ‘Are my words being used to impart grace to those who hear?’

“Only Such as is Good for Building Up” - Paul declares that all of our speech should be evaluated by the rubric of “how are my words building up? “Give Grace to Those Who Hear” - Furthermore, Paul asks us to evaluate our speech on the basis of whether or not we are imparting grace (unmerited favor and love) to those who hear us talking.

James 1:26 ESV

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

James 3:6–12 ESV

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Application: Things that make us unhappy can devolve into conversations where we participate in a debauched witch trial of the accused that is never addressed before the individuals involved. We can have gossipy or slanderous discussions about others behind closed doors, on a drive home from church, or within the secluded walls of our home. In so doing, we buy the lie that it hurts no one. We curse our brother not having understood that by so doing we are tearing down our brother.

Christians Communicate Grace Being Mindful of the Spirit

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit” = However, Paul invites another party into the discussion for consideration, and that is the Holy Spirit. Every word that we speak, as new creatures in Christ, is spoke before not just an audience of friend or family, but is spoken from a heart indwelt by the Spirit. Here Paul wants us to understand that not only is our corrupt talk wrong, but it is wrong because it grieves the Holy Spirt.

Godly Disposition of Christlikeness

Transition: Fourth, we see that Christians, living as new creations in Christ, will strive to maintain unity through a new pattern of living that is characterized by a godly disposition of Christlikeness.

Ephesians 4:31–32 ESV

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Christians demonstrate Christlikeness through a selfless disposition of love, kindness, and forgiveness.

In his final unpacking of the need for Christians, who are living as new creations in Christ, to strive to maintain unity. He introduces us to a long summary of sins which disrupt.

“All/every kind of bitterness” - First Paul addresses the reality that bitterness can come in a diversity and range of expressions.

One author says this, “The first noun πικρία is derived from the adjective πικρός that is used of a “pointed” or “sharp” arrow and, with reference to the senses, is rendered “sharp” or “bitter” taste, “pungent” smell, a “sharp” or “penetrating” pain, or “piercing” sound. The noun πικρία can refer to a bitter taste of plants and, with reference to temper, may also mean “bitterness, resentment.”

Bitterness is therefore most often seen and experienced in relationship. Bitterness is the souring of a relationship. It is the harboring and brooding over unresolved wrongs in such a way that relationships are lost and destroyed.

Illustration: Bitterness, similar to unresolved anger, is the spiritual equivalent of leaving your milk on the counter for a month and then taking a deep swig of the beverage. It is the deep seated souring of a relationship that is nearly impossible to reverse once the souring has begun.

The Journal of Biblical Counseling: Volume 16, Number 2, Winter 1998 Bitterness vs. Reconciliation

As with masked deception, I find many Christians do not always recognize bitterness in their hearts. Bitterness can be defined as clamming up when you are offended but still stewing over the offense in your mind. Here the problem of communication is not in the choice of words but in the absence of words needed for resolution. When you are bitter, you rehearse the offense in your mind. You act as prosecutor, judge, and jury against the offender. You rationalize your thinking on the basis of what is “fair” or what you think you deserve. With each rehearsal and rationalization comes an intensifying of your anger (often called “hurt”). And you then respond coldly toward the person with whom you disagree, while he or she is left confused wondering, “What is wrong with you?”

Therefore, when you find yourself offended by another believer’s words or actions, and you cannot get the offense out of your mind, you must seek resolution of the offense as quickly as possible. I say as quickly as possible, because sometimes problems cannot be resolved in twenty-four hours. However, even if the issue cannot be resolved immediately, you can reaffirm your commitment of love to the brother or sister, acknowledge your desire to work out the problem, and schedule a time as soon as possible to do so. These three initial steps remove Satan’s opportunity to wedge himself between you two

“Wrath and Anger” - Paul, repeats and uses several synonyms to once again warn of the dangers of anger, wrath, and malice. Paul isn’t necessarily explaining different kinds of anger, although there may be some slight nuance behind these term, but rather he wants us to take stock of the ways in which our sinfulness disrupts unity. And, again, one of the chief ways that this occurs is through our anger.

“Clamor and Slander” - Paul, uses another pair of sins which in many ways are synonymous but somewhat different. Clamor is elsewhere used to describe “loud crys or shouting” and seems to convey a kind of outcry of complaint and strife. It is the constant and incessant arguing amongst one another. Slander is the word from which our word for blasphemy is derived, and it this same word is translated as blasphemy in other contexts. Paul again doesn’t necessarily seem to be speaking about merely blasphemy against God, but it is the same kind of evil and profane speaking that degrades God that is now directed against other Christians.

“Along with All Malice/Evil” - In one final catch-all word, Paul delineates that all kinds of evil speaking against one another ought to be put off.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another” - In place off all these negative traits, the Christian is to pursue a heart which is marked off by kindness and tenderness towards one another. We are to treat one another with love and respect. Beyond that, we are to be those who are ready to forgive one another. We are zealous to settle accounts so long as it depends upon us.

“As God in Christ, forgave you” - Finally, the ultimate example that Paul gives is that of God’s forgiveness of us.

Take Away

Purpose to be men and women who walk in truth before God and before one another. We are called to be those who are open, honest, transparent, and forthright with one another.

Purpose to keep a short expiration date on your anger. We are called to keep short accounts and to be eager to resolve issues.

Live as those who are indwelt by the Spirit. Communicate about others in a way that is mindful that the Spirit is always an unseen third party to our discussions.