We continue in our message on “Exchanging The Old Life For The New” and look at some more specific areas in which we are to lay aside the characteristics of the old life and exchange those for new lifestyle patterns. In this message we speak of laying aside stealing, unwholesome words, and ungodly attitudes. At the heart of all is the Love of Christ displayed in offering Himself up for us, as a fragrant aroma to God!
Teaching Notes:
Exchanging The Old Life For The New
Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2
Intro: Our new life in Christ comes to us as a spiritual resurrection. In this respect, it is very much like what happened to Lazarus. One moment he was dead, and the next moment he was alive. What made the difference? The all-powerful command of Jesus Christ – “Lazarus, come forth!” That’s what made the difference in our lives – the effectual call of God. But after Lazarus was raised, Jesus told His disciples to unbind him and let him go. Likewise, once we are born of the Spirit it is no longer appropriate for us to wear the old clothes of the old life. God does not want us “bound” in the sinful lifestyles of our past. Rather, we are to be free of the old life, and embrace a new lifestyle that is consistent with the new person God has made us.
Paul has begun teaching us this in Eph. 4:17-24. He tells us what was true of our “Old Self.” It had a darkened mind, a hardened heart, an alienated life, and an evil character. In contrast, we have become a “New Self.” This new self has been taught by Christ, and created by God in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Well, what are we supposed to do now? We are to lay aside the conduct of the old self, put on the conduct of the new self, and be renewed in the spirit of our mind.
In Ephesians 4:25-32, Paul takes this same thought, and carries it further and with much more detail. He is not content to just give a broad, general statement. He now begins to break down this general statement into specific particulars. Questions naturally arise. What characteristics of the old self are we to lay aside? What characteristics of the “new self” are we to put on? In this section, Paul spells out 5 distinct areas in which we are to exchange the behavior patterns of the old life for new patterns.
1. From Falsehood To Speaking The Truth:
- Therefore: What is this “therefore” there for? Because this New Self has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth, all falsehood is inconsistent with the new person God has made us to be. Become who you are! You are not the old person you used to be. Live like it!
- Laying Aside Falsehood, Speak Truth: What Will Happen To Liars? Rev. 21:8 “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.” Rev. 22:14-15 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”
- For We Are Members Of One Another: Neighbor in this context is referring to a fellow believer. Our body can’t work properly if each member doesn’t communicate correctly with the rest. If the brain gave false signals to the feet, it would walk off the side of a cliff. If nerve endings falsely reported the sensations of hot and cold, you could be scalded in a hot shower while feeling chilly. If your eyes sent false signals to your brain, the car in front of you might appear very far away when in fact it is only 20 feet away, resulting in a crash. There must be truth telling in the body of Christ for the church to function effectively. We must speak the truth in love.
- Application: A good definition of lying is “a statement contrary to fact with the intent to deceive.” If I tell you it is noon and discover my watch is wrong, that’s not a lie. But if I tell you it is noon so that you miss your business meeting and I get the promotion, that is lying. What forms do lies take? Exaggerations, cheating on a test in school, flattery, making lame excuses, shading the truth to make a business deal, misreporting your income on income tax returns, reporting more hours on your time sheet at work than is true? The whole fabric of our society is built on lies. Watch TV and see how long it takes before you find someone lying. Christ is the Truth. Every form of lying is utterly inconsistent with your New Self. Telling the truth doesn’t require telling everything we know. If it did, you could never keep a confidence. Determine you will be a person of integrity. No matter what, even if it costs you your job, speak the truth!
2. From Unrighteous Anger To Righteous Anger:
- Be Angry: All anger is not wrong! We tend to think that anger in and of itself is a sin. But, if this is true, God would be evil. The Bible speaks of the wrath of God from one cover to the other! Jesus got angry (Mk.3:5). In some situations it would be wrong not to get angry. When would that be? Mathew Henry: “If we would be angry and not sin, we must be angry at nothing but sin; and we should be more jealous for the glory of God than for any interest or reputation of our own.” Jesus was angry when His Father was dishonored or others were mistreated, but never selfishly angry at something done against Him. Sinful anger is resentful of what is done against oneself. Anger that is selfish or vindictive has no place in the Christian life. Anger that is based on love for God and concern for others is not just permitted; it is commanded!
- Yet Do Not Sin: Aristotle: “Anyone can be angry, but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way – this is not easy.” Even the best motivated anger can sour. It can turn to bitterness, self-righteousness, or resentment.
- Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Anger: This sinful anger must be dealt with quickly and put away. We must confess it to God and seek the forgiveness of others. Usually, our anger is sinful anger that we must be repented of quickly! Paul tells us just a few verses down “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” James tells us “Everyone must be slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:20).
- Do Not Give The Devil An Opportunity: The word “opportunity” is literally “a place.” It is speaking of a foothold or a base of operations. He has enough influence in our lives without our helping him! When we nurse our anger the devil moves in and finds a beachhead in his war against us. Don’t give him an inch!
- Application: Don’t let your anger be mixed with sin. The angrier you are with your own sins, the better off you will be. Anger with your neighbor degenerates easily into hatred and resentment. The moment you discern your anger is unrighteous, confess it as sin and repent. If you nurse it, it will fester into bitterness or an unwillingness to forgive. When that happens, you have given the devil an opportunity against you. No place must be yielded to him. It would be a good practice for all of us to confess any sins of anger every night before going to sleep. If necessary, contact the person and ask their forgiveness. If you are angry with your wife or kids, deal with it quickly. Don’t let it go on and on unchecked. You’re only asking for trouble!
3. From Stealing To Sharing:
- He Must Labor: Why does Paul say we must work? I would have thought he would say so that he can provide for the needs of his family. Instead, he says so that you can give to the needy. Have you ever had that as a motivation to get up and go to work in the morning? I want to make some money so I have something to share with those in need.
- Performing With His Own Hands What Is Good: What is Paul referring to? God-honoring employment. As a Christian, we shouldn’t be involved with a job that demands us to compromise with God’s standards, dishonors Him or violates His commands. Paul calls work good. Work is not an evil. It is good, if we can do it unto Him, and use the money we make on things He approves of.
- Application: Several years ago I read a paper given at an American Psychological Association symposium on employee theft. The paper was giving a breakdown on the $8 billion that inventory shortages cost department and chain stores each year. 10% was due to clerical error. 30% was due to shoplifting. 60% was due to employee theft. That’s $16 million/day! Is this true of you? Do you take things from your work for personal use? And it’s not just physical items. We can steal their time (arrive late and leave early, take 30 minute breaks and hour and a half lunches); and pad our expense accounts. Stealing can also come in the form of reneging on a debt, refusing to pay fair wages, pocketing extra change that was overpaid to you, stealing Dad’s change off his desk. It’s all stealing! Are you a person of integrity? Anything less is inconsistent with the New Self.
4. From Unwholesome Speech to Edifying Speech:
- Unwholesome: This word means “rotten.” The New Living Translation translates it as “foul and abusive language.” Foul language ought to be as repulsive to us as eating rotten apples or spoiled meat. This is speaking of profanity, dirty stories or jokes, slander, gossip, and other words that tear down. Foul words stem from a foul heart.
- Good For Edification: This word speaks of that which encourages, uplifts, instructs, and helps.
- According To The Need Of The Moment: Some things, though true, are better left unsaid. What we say should be fitting for the situation so that it constructively contributes. Remember Thumper in the movie Bambi? “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!” Proverbs 25:11 says, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.” We usually admire the person who speaks less but says something helpful when he does speak. If we have something negative to say, we should ask ourselves first whether they really need to hear it. Often they don’t!
- So That It Will Give Grace To Those Who Hear: “Grace” in this context carries the meaning of loving, kind, merciful, and generous. Do your words impart these qualities to others? Luke 4:22 says of Jesus, “All were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips.” Our words should not only be spoken in a gracious spirit, but bring the grace of God to others.
- Application: Is this true of you? How much of your speech is characterized by unwholesome speech, and how much by edifying speech? Commit your speech daily to God. Ask Him to tame your tongue and bring it under control. Seek to bless and build others up with your speech. There is great power in your words. Use it to build, not destroy.
5. From Ungodly Attitudes To Godly Attitudes:
- Ungodly Attitudes: All these sins involve conflict between people. They break fellowship, destroy relationships, weaken the church, and mar its testimony before the world. Bitterness: smoldering resentment. This describes a person who is sour and hostile and unwilling to forgive. Wrath and anger: this, of course, is unrighteous anger. It describes the person who bursts out in rage. Clamor: This word means “loud outcries of anger, angry bickering, shouting down of your opponents.” Slander: a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report: a slander against his good name. Malice: This word means “wishing evil on others.” All these sins must be put away. But the vacuum must be filled with godly attitudes.
- Godly Attitudes: Kind: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; a desire to help even at personal sacrifice. Tenderhearted: sympathetic affection and compassionate interest in others; a willingness to bear burdens. Forgiving: ready to pardon and overlook wrongs. How are we to do all these things? As God in Christ freely, generously, wholeheartedly, spontaneously, eagerly also has forgiven you. All of the injuries we have suffered because of ill-will can never be compared to the abuse He, the sinless One suffered. Yet He forgave us all our wrongs!
Paul’s Conclusion: Paul’s conclusion comes in 5:1-2, and begins with “therefore.” Eph. 5:1-2 are just the conclusion of 4:31-32. Why are we to put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander, along with all malice? Why are we to be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other? Because this is the way God deals with us. He has readily forgiven us of all our sins. Paul’s conclusion comes in 2 parts: be imitators of God, and walk in love.
1) Be Imitators Of God: “as beloved children.” Because we are God’s very own children whom He has set His love upon, be imitators of God. Children love to imitate their parents. We all get a kick out of our 2 year old, walking around in Dad’s slippers, or our 5 year old little girl, wearing a purse, standing in shoes 4 times too big, and putting on lipstick and makeup. Paul is saying, because your are God’s dearly loved children, be like Him, imitate Him. The Greek word is mimetes. We get our word “mimic” from it. We are to mimic God. The verb is in the present tense, imperative mood. This means it is a command, and we are to be always obeying it. An imitation is a copy based on the original. A young child learns to draw by tracing. The more carefully he traces, the truer the likeness of the copy to the original. Our Pattern is Christ. That which we are to especially imitate is His love.
2) Walk In Love: this is the 3rd time Paul has mentioned the word “walk”. Walk in unity (4:1); walk in purity (4:17); walk in love (5:1). What is our Pattern for walking in love? Jesus Christ. How did Jesus demonstrate His love for us? The Cross! That is always what the Bible points to in demonstrating God’s love (Gal.2:20; Rom.5:8; Jn.15:13; 1Jn.4:10).
Christ’s death was willful: He “gave.” He didn’t just feel warm thoughts toward us. He acted. So should we. We can’t claim to love one another if we refuse to get involved in meeting needs.
Christ’s death was self-sacrificing: He gave “himself.” Is your love like His? Are you willing to sacrifice your rights, time, money, energy for others? True love makes us willing to lay down our lives for the brethren. We can’t claim to love others if we are not willing to put them first, give up our rights, and sacrifice our desires for them.
Christ’s death was “for us”: God didn’t get much in this deal. Jesus was short-changed! (2:1-3; 4:17-19). We can’t add anything to Him. Can’t add to His glory or happiness. He is infinitely glorious and happy in Himself. Christ went to the cross, because love must act towards its object. Do you love your enemies? If you don’t, are no different than pagans.
Christ’s death was “to God”: to whom was Christ’s sacrifice made? We have all heard preachers say, “you need to accept what Jesus did for you on the cross.” However, what Jesus did at the cross was not offered to you. It was offered to God (Heb.9:13-14). Why should He offer His sacrifice to us? We are not the ones who need propitiating. God is the One who is offended, and needs to be satisfied. Is your love God-directed? Our love should not be primarily because of needs of people, but in obedience to God for His glory.
Christ’s death was well-pleasing: It was a “fragrant aroma.” What is that referring to? Phil.4:18 tells us it means that it was well-pleasing and acceptable to God. It was for the pleasure of God. It satisfied God. The most beautiful aroma God ever smelled coming from earth was from the cross of His Son. Is your love for others well-pleasing to God.
Final Application: Why must we exchange the old for the new? Ephesians 4:30 – because if we don’t, we grieve the Holy Spirit. Think of the word “grieve.” We use it when we lose a loved one in death. It is a strong word. All sin is painful to God, but sin in His children breaks His heart. The Holy Spirit weeps when believers engage in lies, anger, stealing, evil speech and ungodly attitudes. Grieving the Spirit can lead to quenching and forfeiting of His blessing and power. He has done so much. He has sealed us for the day of redemption. This seal speaks of His ownership and security. We are eternally secure in Christ. The day of redemption speaks of the Last Day; the day of our resurrection. Our security in Christ does not give us a license to sin, but a motive not to sin! How can we grieve the Holy Spirit? He has been so gracious to us! Let’s seek to live so as to please God!
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