Ephesians 4:17-32--The New Life

The New Life​
17 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. 18 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. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 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. 29 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. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

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We see Paul return to one of the reoccurring themes in his epistles.  While he doesn't use the phrase "born again" like the apostle John does, it's very clear that regeneration and the new creation are on his mind and a central idea in Paul presenting the authentic gospel--the real gospel will change you from the inside out.

We will no longer walk (or talk) like we were when we were lost and in sin (like the pagan Gentiles, and remember that Paul is writing to a group of believers who had previously been Gentiles, but their identity had been changed.  They were adopted into the family of God).  The Gentiles and others in "the world" live in darkness and have their minds darkened by the power and presence of sin and their sin nature.  They are alienated from God because He cannot draw near to them due to their unrepentant sin, for if God drew near to them, His holiness and justice would demand that the sinner who is in rebellion against Him be put to death so that the sin could be removed from His presence.  This is the state of man because of their ignorance, but not just any ignorance, but a willful ignorance.  Man doesn't know God because they don't want to know Him and choose not to seek after Him, and as a result God gives them over to strong delusions and hardens their hearts so that they don't "accidently" find Him  even though the evidence of His existence is all around them (see Romans 1).

The worldly person has different "fruits" than the person that has been transformed by the Spirit.  They are sensual (giving into their lusts--not just sexual lusts, but other lusts as well), greedy and known by their impure thoughts and actions.  As Genesis says of those before the Flood, "5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5).  These are not to be the characteristics of those who are "in Christ"!

Paul says that assuming that those that are reading this letter have heard the gospel and been taught Word of God, they should know that they are to put off their old self (put the flesh to death) and with it to put off their old way of life and the corruption that was part of it.  They are instead to have their bodies, souls and minds renewed as God makes all things new in Christ. (See Romans 12 and 2 Corinthians 5).  We are to be made in the likeness of God so that once again we are made "in the image of God" (just like we were meant to be from the beginning) and we will give glory to God by the change that the gospel of Christ has brought about in our lives as God fills us with both His righteousness and holiness.

So then, what should someone who is "in Christ" look like?  Paul answers that next.  We are to put away all falsehood and deceit because God cannot lie and lies are the native language of the devil.  We should only ever speak truth to one another because we are all one in Christ.  We should not hold grudges against one another and should deal with offenses quickly, letting our love for each other cover a multitude of sins.  We are to do this because we are to forgive others in the same way that we want God to forgive us--quickly, completely and unconditionally.  Seek restoration because we are one body.

We should be honest in our work ethic and should not steal from each other or from our employers.  We should be charitable and generous to each other with that which the Lord gives us stewardship over through our wages from our work, and we must do "honest work" that is not opposed to the nature of God, His commandments or the identity that He has called us to have (for instance, I don't think Paul would be okay with Christian being someone who sold illegal drugs).

If we are honest, it is usually our tongues that get us in trouble (though really the things that come out of our mouth are in our mind and our heart long before they are ever formed into words).  James tells us that if any man can control his tongue, he is a perfect man, but that no spring of water can bring forth both "sweet" water and "bitter" water from the same source.  Your heart should not bring forth both blessings and curses.  Choose words that edify each other and glorify God.  Paul says here to not let any "unwholesome" talk come out of your mouth.  This makes me think of these verses:

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Philippians 4:8
English Standard Version8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

If these are the things in our hearts and minds, then our speech should also reflect these things and should be "wholesome" and above reproach.  We are told not to grieve the Holy Spirit who is the one who seals us until the day of redemption.  The meaning of this is not totally clear, but we must assume that it has to do with what Paul is saying here--don't cause God to grieve because you continue in sin and attack those He loves with your actions and words.  God loves all of His children and He hates to see them fighting with and hurting one another, but He loves to see them working together in peaceful unity to accomplish the work which He has made them for and commissioned and equipped them to do.  This is the dream of not just our Heavenly Father, but our earthly fathers as well, so it is not that hard to understand what it means for God the Holy Spirit to be grieved by a dysfunctional family.

Last, but not least, Paul reminds the Ephesians to put away (put to death) all the things that are identified with their flesh--bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice.  Instead we are to be known for our kindness towards each other ("They'll Know We are Christians By Our Love"), forgiving each others they way we have been forgiven.  Just to put a finer point on this, forgiveness is not optional for a Christian.  Let's go back to the words of Jesus.

Matthew 6:5-15
English Standard Version
The Lord's Prayer
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
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Matthew 18:21-35
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

​23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”


These are heavy-hitting words.  We must be people that seek to make peace with our brothers and with our enemies.  As much as it is up to us, we should be at peace with all men (without compromising on the nature and character of God or His Word).  A bad tree cannot produce good fruit nor can a good tree produce bad fruit.  The root will determine the fruit.  And by their fruits you will know them.  Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith.