In Part 2, Paul called us children who need to grow up into perfect unity. He now details what it will take to do so:
“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. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity” (Eph 4:17-19).
Paul addresses this as a somewhat racial divide between Jews and Gentiles. But look at the larger portion of our culture today:
- Darkened in understanding; alienated from and ignorant of God.
- Hardness of heart.
- Callous and rude.
- Given over to sensuality.
- Greedy to practice impurity.
“But that is not the way you learned Christ! – assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:20-24).
The way of Jesus is different. Paul calls this the “new self":
- Putting off our old (sinful) self.
- Being renewed in our minds.
- Putting on a new self in righteousness and holiness.
So what are some of the behaviors of this “new life?”
“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” (Eph 4:25-28).
Anger and dishonest gain are perfect opportunities for the devil. The “New Self” rejects these behaviors and clings to the behaviors of perfect unity with Christ, and reaches out to the one 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, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:29-32).
We are familiar with using the word “grace” to describe what happens to us when we confess our sins to God and receive complete forgiveness – that is, grace.
But do we think as much about ourselves as vessels of grace for our brothers and sisters in Christ? Not the kind of grace that releases them from their sins, but the kind that nourishes and flourishes perfect unity, not only with Christ but with each other.
Metaphorically, the thief mentioned above could be me if what I steal is another person’s grace by putting him or her down. Doing honest work could also mean working at grace for others – these would be the ones in need.
Grace and peace be upon you as we “grow up” in the Epistles that are so full of behaviors of perfect unity!