Old Testament Reading: Proverbs 2

“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.” (Proverbs 2, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Ephesians 5:15-21

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:15–21, ESV)

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[Please excuse any and all typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.] 

Introduction

Before we dive into the text of Ephesian 5:15-21 I think it would be beneficial to note its place in this epistle. This that passage that we are about to consider brings Paul’s exhortation to the church in general to “walk worthy” to a conclusion. From 4:1  to 5:21 Paul has the church as a whole in mind when as he exhorts them to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which they had been called. 

We have encountered the metaphor of walking seven times now in Ephesians.

In 2:1 we read, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—” (Ephesians 2:1–2, ESV)

In 2:10 the Apostle said, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

And then in 4:1 we hear Paul say, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,” (Ephesians 4:1, ESV)

In 4:17 we read, “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.” (Ephesians 4:17, ESV)

5:2: “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2, ESV)

5:8: “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8, ESV)

And lastly, 5:15: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,” (Ephesians 5:15, ESV)

Clearly Paul has been concerned to open the Christian’s mind to this reality: the change that has been wrought within us by the word of God and by the power of the Spirit is to produce a new walk — a new way of life that fits our new creation self. And as I have said, up to this point the Paul has had the church as whole in view as he has urged us to walk worthy in Christ Jesus. 

But let’s look forward just a bit. And as we do we will notice that Paul will soon turn his attention to the home and to the various relationships that exist within it. In 5:22-33 he will address the relationship between husband and wife. In 6:1-4 he will discuss the relationship between parents and children. And in 6:5-9 he will address the relationship between bondservants and masters. It is not until 6:10 that he turns his attention once again to the Christian in general to offer final exhortations before concluding his letter. 

So please understand that here in 5:15-21 we have the conclusion to the section that began in 4:1 wherein Paul exhorts Christians in general, and the church as a whole — male and female, young and old, rich and poor —  to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which they have been called. Let us pay careful attention to what he says. 

In brief, Paul commands two things as he concludes this section of his epistle. One, he commands the Christian to walk in wisdom. And two, he commands the Christian to be filled with the Holy Spirit. What does he mean? 

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Walk In Wisdom

First of all, let us consider the command to walk in wisdom. 

In verse 15 we read, “Look carefully then how you walk…” 

As I said before, this is the seventh and last appearance of the word “walk” in Paul’s letter. And here we are warned by the Apostle to walk carefully in the world. All who are living walk, but not all walk carefully. 

I can remember when my children were younger some of them — and I can not remember which ones (David I know for sure) — had a bad habit of walking but not looking where they were going. I remember saying “put your eyes in front of you” many times in those years. I also remember a season where David constantly had a large knot on his forehead from running into things. Door knobs were a particular threat to him when he was at a certain hight. He was walking, but his walk was not careful. Paul says that we are to walk carefully in this world. 

But what does a careful walk look like? And conversely, what does a reckless walk look like? I think you would agree that the answer to that question will differ from person to person depending on their values. If a person values physical pleasure above all else, for example, then a walk that produces pleasure will be deemed careful, whereas a walk that produces pain or discomfort will be deemed reckless. If a person loves money above all else, then decisions will be deemed either careful or reckless depending upon the financial consequences. If a person is supremely concerned about health and safely, then the question of whether a walk is careful or reckless will be judged according to the criteria of heath and safety.  

So when Paul says, “Look carefully then how you walk…”, what does he have in mind? 

Well, he has already described a worthy walk in 4:1-5:14. He certainly has all of that in mind. And he will continue to describe a worthy walk in the rest of this letter as he turns his attention to husbands and wives, parents and children, bondservants and masters. When Paul says,  “Look carefully then how you walk…”, he is urging us to contemplate what he said in this letter, to fix our eyes upon this standard, and to obey it. 

But here Paul says more: he tells us that we are to walk as people who are wise. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15, ESV). Wisdom is the art of godly living. To be wise is to live life according to truth. God has reveled his truth in nature, but even more clearly in his word. The wise person lives his or her life according to God’s word. There wise person obeys God’s commandments. To sin against God — to violate his law — is never wise, but is always foolish. But more than this, the one who is wise has learned to choose, not only the right path, but the best path in the realm of righteousness. And how is wisdom like this attained? It begins with the fear of the Lord, as Provers 9:10 so famously says: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10, ESV). It is impossible to walk in wisdom without first fearing God. And we grow in wisdom as our knowledge of him increases.  Wisdom comes from knowing God and his word. Wisdom increases as we learn over time and with much practice to obey God’s word and to choose the best paths as we sojourn in this world. 

Note this: Here Paul is not only calling the Christian to walk obediently — that is to say, in obedience to God’s commandments in thought, word and deed. More than this, he is calling the Christians to pursue wisdom. Obeying God’s law and walking according to wisdom are not the same thing. They are related, of course. But they are not the same. Disobeying God law is never wise — it is always foolish. But wisdom is something more. Wisdom, as I have already said, is the art of living Godly. Wisdom not only chooses the right path, but the best paths in the realm of righteousness.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise…” And then the Apostle says, “making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15–16, ESV).

This is an interesting and very important phrase. The wise person knows that “the days are evil.” What does this mean? It means two things, I think. One, “the days are evil” in that they are, in this present aged, filled with wickedness and the temptation to do that which is wicked in the sight of God. The fool is oblivious to this reality. But the Christian who is wise knows that their “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV), and they are watchful — careful. Two, the one who is wise knows “the days are evil” in the sense that they are fleeting, and so they make “the best use of the time” as Paul says in the first half of this verse. Notice we are to make the best use of the time. We are spend the time that we have on earth in the best possible way. We are to invest in the best things — eternal and lasting things — knowing that they “are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes”, as James says. The days of are life in this present age are evil. They are filled with temptation. They are marked by trials and tribulations. And they are fleeting. This is not to say that our days are nor also good days. Indeed, we enjoy good things in this life — very good things, by the grace of God. But in this sense “the days are evil”, and so we are to walk in wisdom, “making the best use of the time”.

And then the Apostle again describes a wise walk, saying, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17, ESV). We speak of the will of God in two ways. His hidden or secret will is his sovereign and eternal decree. It will surely come to pass. We will know what it is only after it happens. There are some things that the Lord has revealed to us concerning the future, but most everything concerning the future is a mystery to us. Clearly, Paul is not refering to this secret and hidden will when he says, understand what the will of the Lord is, for who can possible understand that will. Instead, the Apostle is commanding us to know God’s revealed will. 

And what is God’s revealed will? Read the scriptures to find out! Know God’s law. Read the New Testament and pay special attention to the commands. For example, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 commands us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” And 1 Thesalonians 4:3 says,  “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality…” So you see that God’s revealed will is not mysterious. It can be known. And the Christian must know it. The Christian should say to God, along with the Psalmest, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11, ESV). And the Christian is to forever grow in the art of godly living, learning to apply the revealed truths of holy scripture to the daily circumstances that we face. “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is”, the Apostle says. 

[APPLICATION: So friends, I ask you, are you walking carefully? Are your eyes in front of you, as it were, fixed upon Christ and his word? Are you making the best use of time, knowing that the days are evil? Are you pursuing wisdom, seeking to grow ever more in your knowledge of the will of God for you in Christ Jesus? 

This is what it means to walk in a manner that is worthy. Not only are we to put off the old self and the old sinful thoughts, words and deeds. Not only are we to put on the new self created anew in Christ Jesus. We are also to pursue wisdom. We must seek to know the will of the Lord, and learn to obey all that Christ has commanded.

Brothers and sisters, I wonder if we are not sometimes too easily pleased with our progress in sanctification. I wonder if we are not too easily contented with a sanctification that takes us merely to a place of socialy acceptable behavior. Do you know what I mean by that? I am speaking here of a sanctification that knocks the ruff edges off and puts forward a good face, but comes short of true holiness is thought, word and deed — a sanctification that comes short of true wisdom. May we forever chase after a deeper understanding of God’s will for us so that we might walk carefully  in this world, “not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time.”]

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Be Filled With The Spirit

The second command uttered by the Apostle in this text is found in verse 18, which says, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit…” (Ephesians 5:18, ESV). In fact, there are two commands here in verse 18. One is negatively stated: “do not get drunk with wine”. The other is positively stated: “be filled with the Spirit…” But these are to be taken together as one, the meaning being this: Instead of giving yourself over to fleshly passions and being driven by earthly things (drinking to the point of drunkenness being an example of such behavior), be driven and controlled by the Holy Spirit of God so that you carefully and soberly do God’s will.

First, Paul commands us to be not drunk with wine. Notice that he does not say do not drink wine, but rather, “do not get drunk with wine”. Whether or not you drink wine, or some other alcoholic beverage, is your choice to make. The choice falls into the realm of wisdom. Wisdom might dictate that you choose to abstain from all alcohol, but never should you judge your brother or sister who chooses to partake, and vice versa.

Second, Paul commands us to “be filled with the Spirit”. In the place of being filled with wine to the point of drunkenness, leading to other sins, no doubt, the Christian is to be filled with the Spirit of God, leading to a worthy walk. 

But what is this filling that Paul speaks of? He has already taught that the Christian is filled with the Spirit earlier in his epistle. The Christian is sealed with the Spirit (1:13, 4:30). The Christian has access to the Father in the Spirit (2:18). The church collectively is being built into a temple — a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Paul’s prayer was that the Christian would be “strengthened with power through [God’s] Spirit in [their] inner being…” (Ephesians 3:16, ESV). And in 4:1 the exhortation was that we would be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3, ESV). Everything stated in Ephesians up to this point would indicate that the believer is in the Spirit and the Spirit in the believer from the time of conversion. Paul is not here commanding the Christian to receive the Spirit or to have some experience of the Spirit, but to walk in the Spirit — to be Spirit filled and Spirit controlled from day to day. 

What Paul says here in Ephesians is similar to what he says in Romans 8:4 and following. There he describes Christians as those “who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” He continues, saying, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Romans 8:4–9, ESV). 

To belong to Christ is to “have the Spirit”. All who have faith in Christ are “in the Spirit”. But here in Romans, and also Ephesians, the Apostle is commanding the Christian to walk, not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit — to be not drunk with wine, but to be filled in the Spirit.  

How do we do this? 

The context make it clear. We walk in the Spirit and are filled with the Spirit when we give the Spirit control — when we live, not for the things of this world, but the things of God — when we seek to please the Lord and not ourselves — when we walk worthily.

You will notice that the Apostle goes on to describe what a Spirit filled existences looks like. Look again at 5:18: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18–21, ESV)

The words “addressing”, “singing”, “giving thanks”, and “submitting” describe the means by which the Christian demonstrates that he our she is indeed filled with the Spirit. Stated in the form of a question, what will the Christian who is walking in the Spirit do? He or she will address other believers with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, sing and make melody to the Lord with their heart, give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submit to other believers out of reverence for Christ.

Please note this: to be filled with the Spirit involves walking with Christ as a member of the church. It involves corporate worship. It involves true fellowship. The one who is Spirit filled will sing in the Christian congregation, will give thanks to God in the church, and will submit to others in Christ’s name. 

All of this makes perfect sense when we remember what the Apostle has already said concerning the church. The church, remember, is the temple of the Holy Spirit. To the church in Ephesus Paul said, “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22, ESV). To be filled with the Spirit is to obey the Spirit, and not the flesh. And the one who is filled with the Spirit will show that they are by fulfilling their function as stones in God’s spiritual temple. They will assemble to sing praises to God. They will assemble to give thanks. They will assemble to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. The one who says that they are Spirit filled who refuses to join themselves to the church and to worship God in the Christian congregation is a liar and the truth is not in them.

Let us briefly consider the three things that Paul mentions here in verses 19 – 21 that accompany a Spirit filled existence: singing, giving thanks, and submitting. 

First of all, the one who is Spirit filled will sing. 

Specifically they will sing to God. They will sing and make “melody to the Lord with [their] heart” (Ephesians 5:19, ESV). Being Spirit filled will show itself in worship. The people of God are a singing people. The angels in heaven sing. What a marvelous thing singing is. We humans have the ability to put our words into the form of song. When we pray to God we express ourselves in ordinary speech. But so great is our love and appreciation for God that we are moved to express our prayers in the form of song. To speak the mind must be engaged. To sing one must use the mind and the heart. Perhaps you have noticed that when your heart is hard towards God it is difficult — maybe impossible — to sing. Those who are walking in the Spirit will sing and make “melody to the Lord with [their] heart”.

And this they will do, not only as individuals, but within the Christian congregation. Notice that Paul describes them as singing, not only to God, but to one another. They are said to “[address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” I wonder if you think about worship in this way. When we sing as a congregation our praise is certainly directed towards God, and not man. But as we sing we are in fact addressing one another. We are singing to God things that are true. And when we sing, all who are in the congregation hear those words and are encouraged by them. 

And notice that the Christian congregation is to sing, not just any song, but “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” Some interpret these terms “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” to mean that the church is only permitted to sing inspired scripture — that is, songs found within the pages of Holy Scripture. Our view is that we should sing scripture — the Psalms and other songs that are found within it’s pages — but that the church is also permitted to sing other songs — new songs — provided that they are true to scripture, and reflect the themes, spirit, and reverence of the songs contained within. 

[APPLICATION: To be filled with the Spirit means that we will sing praises to God in the midst of the Christian congregation. I would like to slow down for just a moment to reflect, therefore, upon the importance of this element of our worship. When we gather together Lord’s Day by Lord’s Day we read scripture, we pray, we observe the sacrament, and we sing. How important our singing is! 

The songs that we sing must either be scripture, or true to scripture.

The songs that we sing should reflecting the range of human emotion found within the songs of scripture. 

Our singing must be congregational. You have noticed, no doubt, how simple our music is here at Emmaus. That is deliberate. The job of the worship leader is simply to conduct. And the church is the choir. We have grown in our convictions over the years that any style of music that draws attention to those on stage and encourages observation rather than participation from the members is out of step with a biblical notion of singing. When the church assembles each member is to participate, “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with [their] heart.” 

And think of what happens when we do this!

One, God is glorified as we collectively give thanks to him in our singin.

Two, our unity with one another is communicated and strengthened. Together we sing the same words to the same God through the same Mediator and by the same Spirit.  When we sing together, we praise the Father with one voice. By the way, I believe it is good and right for a congregation to work on its singing. We are a church, and as the church, we are also a choir. We should learn to sing well. Our singing should be strong and heartfelt. We should learn to harmonize. Think of what of what harmonizing communicates. No only is beautiful and fitting for the worship of God, it also reflects the unity in diversity that exists within Christ’s church.

Three, when we sing together those whose faith is weak will be strengthened by those who are strong. Those who are discouraged will be carried along and uplifted by the voice of those who are in that moment encouraged in the Lord.]

Those who are filled in the Spirit will sing. The will give praise with their lips to the Triune God within the Christian congregation. Secondly, they will give thanks. All of our praying and singing is to be permitted with thanksgiving. But it is at the Lord’s table that we give thanks to the Lord in the Christian congregation as we celebrate the eucharist. Remember how, “Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26–28, ESV). When we come to the Table, we are to give thanks to God. 

And thirdly, those who are Spirit filled will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. And with these word’s Paul concludes his general exhortation to the church to walk in a manner that is worthy. Verse 21: “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21, ESV).

This is huge. In Christ, all are to submit to one another. Male and female, old and young, rich and pour, officer and member are here commanded to submit to one another in Christ Jesus. 

I assume that you are familiar with the section of Paul’s epistle that is next wherein he gives specific instructions to husbands and wives, parents and children, bondservants and masters concerning their role within the home. It is well known that there Paul commands wives to submit to their husbands, children to their parents, and bondservants to their masters. I draw your attention to the teaching of the Apostle regarding authority and submission prematurely in order to make this very important observation: before the Apostle commands wives, children and bondservants to honor those who are over them, he commands all Christians to “[submit] to one another out of reverence for Christ”. 

Tell me, how can it be that Christian wives are in Ephesians 5:22 (the next verse) commanded to submit to their husbands when in 5:21 Paul commanded all Christians to submit to one another? Did the Apostle contradict himself? For how can there possibly be this universal, mutual submission of 5:21 and at the same time a particular kind of submission expected from some?

I pray that you would see that these two things are not at all contradictory. It is true that the wife is called by God to submit to her husband’s authority within the home. But at the same time it also true that the husband, in the another sense, is to submit to his wife in Christ Jesus. She does not have authority over him in the home, but she is a sister in Christ, and an heir with [him] of the grace of life (1 Peter 3:7). And because of this the husband is to live with her in an understanding way, he is to honor and respect her — yes, he is even to submit to her in Christ Jesus, putting her interests, needs and desires before his own. 

The point is this: before Paul commands wives, children and bondservants to submit to those who have authority over them in the home, he commands all Christians to submit to one another in Christ. And this they will do if they are walking in the Spirit. The Spirit filled Christian will be like Christ and will “look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4–8, ESV).

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Conclusion

So friends, as we seek to walk worthy, let us not only put off the old sinful self, and put on the new self created in Christ Jesus. Let us also pursue wisdom, and be filled with Spirit as we walk in the world together. May we fulfill God’s calling to function as his holy temple as we, Lord’s Day by Lord’s Day, “[address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with [our hearts], giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:19–21, ESV)

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 37:1–11

“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.” (Psalm 37:1–11, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Ephesians 4:25-32

“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.” (Ephesians 4:25–32, ESV)

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[Please excuse any and all typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.] 

Introduction

The question, how will we be changed? is at the very heart of the passage that we are considering today. In fact, this question has been the concern of the Apostle ever since he utter the words, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” (Ephesians 4:1, ESV). Walk worthy? What does a worthy walk look like? And how will it be that those who once walked in darkness will be changed so that they now walk in the light of Christ? As you know, men and women do not easily change their ways, and yet in Christ, change is expected. In fact, it is unthinkable that one who has faith in Christ would continue to walk according to the way of the world. But how will this change be brought about?

In 4:7-16 we learned, among other things, that God will use the external means of the preaching and teaching of scripture to change his people so that they walk worthily.

In 4:17-24 we learned that a worthy walk will proceed from a regenerated spirit. This principle is so very important to understand. The one who has faith in Christ will certainly change his or her ways because they themselves have been changed — they have been recreated and are being renewed by the word of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit. A new way of life is inevitable then. The Christian’s new way of life is the natural byproduct of the new life that has been wrought in them by the free grace of God, and by the agency of his Spirit. Elsewhere Paul exhorts the Christian saying, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2, ESV). And in another place he says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV). Our obedience to Christ proceeds from a regenerated spirit. Our obedience to Christ proceeds from a renewed mind — a mind renewed by the Spirit of God and the word of God.  

Now, if this were all that the Apostle had to say about the sanctification of the believer then I suppose one might conclude that the only thing for the Christian to do would be to hear the scriptures and to pray. In other words, if it were true that transformation is brought about only through the renewal of the mind by the scriptures, and by the regenerating and renewing work of the Spirit, then the child of God would need only to ingest the scriptures and to pray that God would, by his grace, renew them in the inner man. But the Apostle has more to say. He also exhorts the believer to put off the old self and to put on the new.

[APPLICATION: Friends, I hope that you pray. I hope that you pray often and fervently requesting, among other things, that the Lord would, by his grace, transform your heart and renew your mind. This is, in fact, one of the things that we are to pray for under the  third petition of the Lord’s Prayer. When we pray, “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven” we are praying “that God by His grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to His will in all things, as the angels do in heaven ”  (Baptist Catechism 110). Make us able and willing to obey you Lord! In other words, transform our hearts and renew our minds so that we willingly and happily keep your commandments, Lord!

And friends, I hope that you are committed to hearing the scriptures, knowing that God will use his word to transform our minds. Read the scriptures for yourselves. Listen to word read and preached. Memorize the scriptures and meditate upon them. This is one of the means that God will use to change his people. 

But having prayed, and having faithfully received God’s holy word, do not neglect this most important thing: rise up and obey. Decide to daily and momentarily put off the old man, and to put on the new, which is yours in Christ Jesus. Devote yourself  to a life of that is holy. Friends, this the thing that is so often neglected: obedience, pure and simple. Yes, God must change you by his word. Yes, God has recreated you, and he is renewing you even still by his Spirit. Never will we move away from full and entire dependence upon the grace of God in the Christian life, therefore. But we must also simply choose to obey him.      

As the Apostle James says it beautifully: “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:22–25, ESV). And here also Paul, after teaching that a worthy walk can only proceed from a renewed spirit, exhorts the believer to diligently put off the old self, and to put on the new.]

Notice that in the passage that is before us today we encounter a slew of imperatives or commands. At first glance they might seem to be random. But upon closer examination we find that they are commands relating to our thinking, speaking and doing. The point is this: the Christian, having been recreated and renewed by the grace of God, is to obey God in thought, word and deed.

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Worthy Speech

First of all, consider Paul’s command regarding our speaking. The Christian’s worthy walk is to involve worthy speech. In verse 25 Paul says, “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another” (Ephesians 4:25, ESV). 

The one who has been recreated in Christ is to put away falsehood.

Falsehood takes many forms. Most obviously the Christian is to cease from lying. The one who has been recreated and renewed in Christ is to obey the ninth commandment which says, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” But we must learn to think more broadly about the ninth commandment, and also this exhortation from the Apostle to put away falsehood. 

Not only is the Christian is to cease from uttering bold faced lies. We are also to put away, to quote our catechism, “whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own, or our neighbor’s good name.” We are to put away flattery, gossip and slander, therefore. We are to put away all forms of manipulation. We are to cease from any and all distortions of the truth.

But pay careful attention to this: the Apostle does not only exhort the Christian to put something off or away, but to put something new on in it’s place. That is the pattern that runs throughout this passage. The one who has been recreated and renewed in Christ is to put off the old self, “and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24, ESV).

And what is the Christian to put on in the place of falsehood? Paul says, “let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” 

Once again, we should learn to think more broadly about truth telling. Paul is not only commanding us to “not lie”, but to also commit ourselves to promoting the truth with one another. These two things — not lying and telling the truth — should not be conflated. It is possible to not lie, but to also fail to also fail to promote the truth by remaining silent. Many live this way. They are not liers, but neither are the ambassadors of truth. Paul forbids this way of life. Negatively, the Christian is to “put away falsehood”. And positively, the Christian is also, “to speak the truth with his neighbor”. Why? “For we are members one of another”, he says. This statement corresponds to what Paul said back in 4:15 where he exhorted us to “[speak] the truth in love…” Truth builds up. Truth is light to our path. We are speak the truth in love. We are to speak the truth for mutual edification, “for we are members one of another” within Christ’s church. 

This exhortation to from the Apostle to speak the truth is in fact what the ninth commandment requires. Our catechism puts it beautifully  in question 82, which asks, “What is required in the ninth commandment?” The answer is that “the ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbor’s good name, especially in witness bearing.”

[APPLICATION: And so I ask you, Christian, now that you have been recreated and are being renewed in Christ, are you committed “maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man”? Certainly this includes putting away falsehood. But it also involves speaking the truth with your neighbor. Doing this well requires wisdom and tactfulness. Some might succeed in speaking the truth, but forget to do it in love. And notice also that Paul does not command us here to promote our opinions. We must learn to distinguish between “truth” and “opinion”, and that is not always easy. But are you committed to putting away falsehood and speaking the truth with your neighbor as Paul here commands?]  

The broader principle being established is this: now that we have been renewed in Christ we are to use our words, not for evil, but only for good. We are to put away all forms of falsehood, and we are to speak the truth. Put off the old self, put on new.  

In verse 29 we find another statement pertaining to the tongue. There Paul says, “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” (Ephesians 4:29, ESV). I would encourage you to put  this one to memory. 

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths…”, the Apostle says. “Corrupting talk” is talk that is unwholesome and harmful. The word translated as “corrupting” has to do with that which causes decay. Don’t let any decaying words proceed from your mouth, the Apostle says. And notice that he does not give exceptions. He does not say, unless the other person is wrong, or really has it coming, or unless you are really angry, tired or hungry. He does not say, unless you are joking, or sarcastic. No, he says “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths…”

And this is contrasted with the phrase, “…but only such as is good for building up…” So, put off corrupting talk, and put on constructive talk in its place. Lay aside talk that breaks down, and take up talk that builds up.

And lest we think that the Apostle is forbidding firm and confrontational speech, he adds the phrase, “…as fits the occasion…” There is a time and place for words that are soft and gentle. There are is also a time and place for words that are stong and firm. We must learn to speak in a way that is fitting to the situation. But never should our words break down. The Christian is always speak so as to build up. And this includes those moments where a firm rebuke is fitting. We are to use our words in such a way that they “give grace to those who hear.”

Lastly, look down at verse 31, where we read, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31, ESV). Clamor refers to loud screaming or shouting. To slander is to speak against someone in such a way so as to damage their reputation. These things are to be put away from the Christian. Instead we are to “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave [us]” (Ephesians 4:32, ESV).

[APPLICATION: I am going to ask you to reflect more deeply upon what Paul commands here regarding our speech. Are you walking worthily in your speech? Have you put away lying? Do you speak the truth in love? Have you put away all corrupt talk? And do you build up with your words instead?

Brothers and sisters, please do not forget to “put on” as you go about the business of “putting off”! Please understand this. The Apostle is not only calling you to cease from tearing down with your words. He is also exhorting you to use your words to build others up! 

Think of the good that a husband or wife could do for their spouse if they would not only cease from tearing down with their words but take up the habit of building the other up. Think of the life that would breath into the marriage relationship. Think of how good that would be for the other. And think of the good that mother or father could do for their children if the would not only cease from tearing down with their words but take up the habit of building their children up. Think of the good that siblings would do for one another…  And think of the good that we would do for one another if we would only put aside our old way of speaking, and learn to speak according to the “new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24, ESV).

Friends, this is something you must choose to do. You will be able to do it only because God has created you anew. And you will be able to do only by God’s grace, as he renews you by his word and spirit. But this is something you must choose to do. You must decide to put off the old self, and to put on the new in regard to your speech.]

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Worth Thoughts

Secondly, consider Paul’s command regarding our thoughts. Not only is the Christian to walk worthy in regard to speech, but is also to maintain a holy thought life. Indeed, our words and actions do not proceed from us spontaneously, but emerge from the inner man. How vital it is, therefore, to take every thought and emotion captive to obey Christ. 

In verse 26 we read these words: “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26–27, ESV)

Friends, anger is not a sin. Christ himself experienced the emotion of anger, and rightly so. It is right and good for us to feel the emotion of anger when we encounter that which is contrary to God’s law. Sin should anger us. Oppression should anger us. Injustice should anger us. 

Please pay careful attention here. The verb translated as “be angry” at the beginning of verse 26 is in the imperative mood. It is a command. It is right for us to be angry provided that we are angry about the right things. There is righteous anger, and there is unrighteous anger. 

Anger is sinful when it is in response to the wrong thing. Often times we are angered, not because God’s will has been violated, but because we didn’t get our way! This is unrighteous anger. 

Anger is sinful when it moves us to rage. It seems to me that this is what Paul has in mind when he says, “Be angry and do not sin”. In other words, be angry about things that are sinful and unjust, but do not allow that righteous emotion to drive you to rage. Rage is anger that has exploded out of control. Anger may be righteous. Rage is never righteous. “Be angry and do not sin”.

And anger is sinful when turns to bitterness within the heart. If rage is anger that has exploded out of control, bitterness is anger that has been allowed  to fester like a slow burning fire.  A Christian must never allow anger, even if it is righteous anger, to turn into bitterness. And this is what Paul is concerned to guard against when he says, “do not let the sun go down on your anger.” If someone or something has angered you, and if it is right that you are angry, you must not explode with anger, but neither are you to allow that anger to burn slowly, to fester, and to result in bitterness. Instead, you must deal with the issue appropriately, whatever it is. And having dealt with the issue appropriately, you are to forgive from the heart. If the person repents, forgivness is to be  transacted with the word, “I forgive you”. If repentance is not expressed, even still we are to forgive from the heart, and leave it to the wrath of God. “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:19, ESV).

Paul revisits this theme in verse 31 where he says most directly, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31, ESV). Notice the words bitterness, wrath and anger. These are all emotions that are felt. These reside within the inner man, within the heart and mind. And Paul is commanding the Christian to put them away! 

The word “bitterness” refers to intense resentment or hate. 

The word “wrath” refers to intense anger characterized by outbursts. 

The word “anger” in this context must have the sense of fury. 

These passions are to be put away from the believer. And place of these we are to “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32, ESV)

“Kind” might also be translated as gracious.

“Tenderhearted”means that we are to be compassionate and affectionate. 

You are to forgive, just as God in Christ has forgiven you. 

Put off the old self, friends. And put on the new. This must done even within the inner man. It will not do to change our words  and our deeds, for these proceed from the heart. We must put away bitterness, wrath and anger. 

And  pay careful attention to Paul’s warning, where he says, “…give no opportunity to the devil…” The word opportunity might also be translated as “place” or “foothold”. When we fail to honor Christ in the inner man — when we allow our thoughts and emotions to go unchecked and to run afoul — we give the evil one territory where he is able to gain a foothold in our lives.

If you allow bitterness, wrath and anger to reside within you, you give the evil one a foothold in your heart. And if he has a foothold in your heart, he has a foothold in your marriage, your family and within the church.  Don’t give him an opportunity, friends. Don’t surrender an inch oof territory to him. Drive him out completely by keeping your heart  pure. “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.” (Ephesians 4:31–32, ESV)

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Worthy Deeds

Thirdly and lastly, consider Paul’s command regarding our deeds. Not only is the Christian to walk worthy in regard to thought and word, but also in deed. Paul address this in verse  28 where he says, “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” (Ephesians 4:28, ESV).

Our new life in Christ is to manafest itself in a new way of life. Instead of living for self, the Christians to live for the good others. And the transformation of the thief who takes from others into the worker who gives serves as an example of this.

And by the way, I think this is what is going on throughout this passage. Paul is concerned to say, in general, walk worthy.Put of toehold self, and put on the new. Do this in thought, word and deed. And instead of listing every sin of the mind, mouth and action, he  put’s forth examples.  Put away falsehood — speak what is true instead. Put away bitterness and rage — forgive from a tender heart instead. Put away thievery — do honest and productive work so that you might give instead. Many more examples could be given of thoughts, words and deeds that are to be put away, and thoughts, words and deeds that are to be put on in their place, but Paul mentions only these. The function as examples,  therefore. And what do all of these sins have in common? They take from others and the tear down. They do not give or build up. Falsehood robs others of the truth and is damages reputations. Truth edifies. It builds up. Bitterness and wrath are destructive wherever they are present. Kindness, graciousness and forgiveness build up. Thievery only takes from others — it gives nothing in return. But the one who does honest and productive works earns his wage and provides a product or serve to another. And this enables the worker to the share with those who are truly in need. Instead of taking from others, the regenerated thief should be eager to give. 

Thievery takes many forms. A thief will sometimes take from others by force. At other times the thief will take by deceit or through manipulation. Whatever the means, the thief takes from others, but does not give. A thief might work very hard at his thievery, but he does not engage in work, properly speaking. 

To work is to offer a service to others in exchange for a wage. Work takes many forms. But all work has this in common — it gives before it gets. Some kind of service is rendered, before compensation is received.   

The Christian must put away all forms of thievery. The Christian must abandon the practice of procuring wealth by means of taking from others, be it by force, by trickery or the manipulation of others. And in the place of the thievery the Christian is to work  with his own hands so that he might have something to share  with those in need. 

And not only is the Christian to engage in work, but “honest work”. Honest work is the standard for the Christian. There are some activities that might in fact qualify as work — a good or service might in fact be exchanged for a wage — but the work falls short of honest work. The drug dealer is in fact compensated for providing a product to others. I suppose that the what he does might indeed be called work, but it is not good or honest work. It is not productive work, for the product he provides leads to destruction, and not to the building up of others. 

[APPLICATION: Brothers and sisters, we should think about the work that do and ask, is it honest work? First, is work? Are we in fact being compensated by providing a good or service for others. And secondly, is it good, honest and productive work? Does it build others up somehow? 

Are there situations where it is appropriate for Christians to cease from work? I say, yes. 

In the case of mental or physical disability, for example. The Christians who has ceased from work for these reasons need not feel guilty.  Paul is here presenting the general truth that Christians are to work. They are to serve others with their time and energy. If it is true of you that you have  ceased from work due to mental or physical ailment, I would encourage you to use your time and energy to serve others. And in so doing you will fulfill the spirit of what the Apostle is here commanding. Retirement is also a valid reason to cease from work. 

Retirement is a benefit that the worker has earned over time. But I would exhort the Christian who is retired to never retire from the service of others. Use your time and energy, not to serve self, but to serve others. Serve others in prayer. Find ways to meet needs within Christ’s church, and to build others up. In so doing you will fulfill the spirit of what the Apostle here commands.

To the parent who does not earn a wage, but stays at home to devote time to raising children, I say that your efforts are of great importance. Knowing when it is time for a parent to work outside the home requires wisdom and will differ from situation to situation. Again I  say, parents who are blessed to cease from work, use your time and energy to serve others. In so doing you will fulfill the spirit of what the Apostle here commands.

And what is the spirit of what the Apostle here commands? The one who has been recreated in Christ is no longer to live for themselves, but for others. The thief is the epitope of one who lives for himself — he  takes and takes, but does not give. This way of life, whatever form it takes, must be put away. And in its place the Christians is to “labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Ephesians 4:28, ESV).

To you brothers and sisters who are stuck in a job that is less than ideal or satisfying to you, I would encourage you look for another job. But in the meantime, I would  urge you to see that what you are doing is good — indeed, it is very good, so long as the work is honest work — for you are living according the command of scripture. By engaging in honest work you are being a productive member in society while fact providing for yourself and for those under your care.  This is what God designed us to do when he made us in his image. Now that we are fallen, work is arduous (the ground produces thorns and thistles). But is good to engage in honest work — work that serves others — work that is productive — work that builds up. 

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Conclusion

There is one little phrase that I have left off for the conclusion. It is probably the most famous phrase in this passage, and it is of great importance. Paul urges the believer to put off the old self, and to put on the new in thought, word and deed, so  that we “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom [we] were sealed for the day of redemption”. 

Here in this little phrase the Apostle directs our thoughts back to the central issue — if you are in Christ you have been recreated by the power of the Holy Spirit. You have been sealed by him. This means that he has put his mark on you. You belong to God. And God will bring you safely home. He has guaranteed it with the sealing  of the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is the visible sign of this. And, having been redeemed by Christ, and belonging now to God, we are to live for him in this world as members of his family, as citizens of his kingdom, and as a part of the new humanity that has been brought into existence by the work of the crucified and risen Son of God.  Having been called by God to have faith in Christ, we are to now walk worthy. And when we fail to walk worthy — when we fail to lay aside the the old self and to put on the new — the Spirit of God is grieved within us. 

Now, of course the Spirit is not grieved, properly speaking, for God does not change. He is not moved by anything external to himself — he does not experience the passions of man. But we feel the affect of the Spirit’s grief. When we walk in the darkness the Spirit of God is “depressed” within us, and we feel the affects of it. And when we walk in the light the Spirit of God is “overjoyed” within us, and we feel the affects of it. 

Stated differently, the Spirit chastens us when we sin. He withdraws the joyous light of his countenance. And the Spirit rejoices within us when we obey the Lord in thought, word and deed. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:1–3, ESV)