"How Then Shall We Live?"
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION:
INTRODUCTION:
The TITLE of this morning’s message is, “How Then Shall We Live?”
Which comes from the CONTEXT of our passage under consideration: (Eph 4:25-32)
IN ORDER to answer the question contained in the title, and to accurately understand our passage this morning, we must ask, “What’s the ‘Therefore’ (v.25a) there for?”
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
PAUL’S POINT: The only reliable evidence of a person being saved is NOT some past experience, but a PRESENT LIFE that REFLECTS CHRIST!
The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
AGAIN, PAUL’S POINT: New creations ACT LIKE new creations!
I want you to stay clear on this issue: You are not working your way, or earning your salvation!
(cf. Eph 2:1, 5, 8-9)
However, neither are we simply ROBOTS who react to Divine impulse! You have a response to faith!
(Eph 4:22, 25) - You must “…put off your old self; …put off falsehood”!
The PARADOX: God’s sovereignty and human will are BOTH at work!
My understanding is that God’s work of salvation in my life is demonstrated by my response of faith!
My obedience to the Word of God does not EARN my salvation, but rather DEMONSTRATES that I am saved!
LESSON:
LESSON:
In (4:25-32), Paul gives several commands CONTRASTING the OLD life with the NEW, as well as the REASONS for such changes!
I. From LYING to Speaking TRUTH! – (4:25)
I. From LYING to Speaking TRUTH! – (4:25)
A. The COMMAND – (v.25a)
A. The COMMAND – (v.25a)
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood...” - AORIST - ‘…having put off permanently!’
Same word (“put off”) as in (Heb 12:1) (1 Peter 2:1)
Scripture has MUCH TO SAY about lying!
Liars will NOT inherit the Kingdom! – (Rev 21:8)
A person who continually lies reveals his/her true parentage – (John 8:44)
FUNDAMENTAL to God’s nature is His TRUTHFULNESS! (John 14:6)
God desires US to adopt that same nature! (Psalm 51:6)
“…and speak truthfully” – (cf. 4:15) – Truth-speaking is to be done in LOVE!
It is NOT love to withhold necessary information!
B. The REASON – (v.25b) – “…for we are all members of one body.”
B. The REASON – (v.25b) – “…for we are all members of one body.”
You cannot avoid speaking truth because we are connected!
Our physical bodies could not function SAFELY or PROPERLY if it failed to communicate!
II. From SELFISH Anger to RIGHTEOUS Anger! – (4:26-27)
II. From SELFISH Anger to RIGHTEOUS Anger! – (4:26-27)
A. The COMMAND – (v.26a)
A. The COMMAND – (v.26a)
The word used here for “anger” is used eight times in the NT and can refer to righteous anger (Luke 14:21) as well as unrighteous anger (Luke 15:28)!
Anger that is self-defensive, self-serving, resentful, vindictive is SIN!
(Matt 5:21-22)
The emotion of anger is not sin in itself; but the Christian is commanded to deal with that state of provocation without DELAY!
(v.26b) – “…do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,”
Q: What do I do with my anger?
A: Give it to the Lord! (Rom 12:17-21)
B. The REASON – (v.27) – “…and do not give the devil a foothold (NAS - ...an opportunity).”
B. The REASON – (v.27) – “…and do not give the devil a foothold (NAS - ...an opportunity).”
Lit., “a place” - The idea is you give a place or opportunity for further sin.
Harold W. Hoehner - “Then anger begins to control the believer rather than the believer controlling his anger.”
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
Perhaps we should move on, before some of you get mad at me…(we will return to this next week in v.31).
III. From STEALING to SHARING! – (4:28)
III. From STEALING to SHARING! – (4:28)
A. The COMMAND – (v.28a)
A. The COMMAND – (v.28a)
NO ONE is free from the temptation to steal!
Many go through a period during our childhood when we are tempted to take something that does not belong to us!
“Lock your car; don’t make a good kid go bad!” To which one pastor responded, “There’s no such thing as a ‘good kid.’ Lock your car so the punk doesn’t steal it!”
It’s one of the TEN COMMANDMENTS (#8)!
“You shall not steal.
GOD’S ALTERNATIVE: WORK!
(v.28b) – “…but must work, doing something useful with his own hands,”
BTW, God has much to say on this topic! (2 Thess 3:10-15)
God’s message specific to the MEN of this Church is this: “GET A JOB!”
B. The REASON – (v.28c) – “...that he may have something to share with those in need.”
B. The REASON – (v.28c) – “...that he may have something to share with those in need.”
We work, not for GAIN, but so we can GIVE!
We also learn from the Scriptures, that working and working well, is a source one of the greatest blessings from God!
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.
A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,
So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
PRAYER:
“Lord, may we add to Your Word, faith and obedience! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
NEXT WEEK…
NEXT WEEK…
IV. From CORRUPT Speech to EDIFICATION! – (4:29-30)
V. From NATURAL Vices to Supernatural Vices! – (4:31-32)