Ephesians 4:17-32 - Our Walk and Talk

Ephesians 4:17-32

The New Man

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Do Not Grieve the Spirit

“ 25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Our walk and talk should be as reborn imitators of Christ and not parrots of the pirates of the world.  We are not called to go on parroting the empty and pointless pursuits of those still wandering in the darkness of unforgiven given sin as they go about taking what they can as they sail through a life without thought or pursuit of God.  The world is yet blind until their eyes are opened by God in Christ through the gospel as His Spirit works to change their course and put wind in their sails to bring them to harbor with Jesus Christ and not the old ports in the storms of life.  Those who have yet to be taken out of the world’s tempests and up in lewd and unclean ways as their greed for temporal treasures drives them aground in the end.  We have not so learned Christ!  We who have set sail with the Lord have Him as the anchor of our souls (Hebrews 6:19) to keep us from the storms that threaten to shipwreck us when we find ourselves caught in the middle of them.  The charts we now navigate through this world warn us of the shallow waters and safe passage through the waters of this world, which charts are the instructions and admonitions of the Lord found in the Bible.  No worldly pillaging seafarer or tempting temporal treasures can offer true direction as the compass of God’s Spirit or the true and lasting value of (Ephesians 3:8) the unsearchable riches of Christ.  We who have been taught the truth of God’s word in the gospel know that we cannot board that ship again because the captain of our souls now leads us through life’s journey as we are daily renewed in our minds (2 Corinthians 3:18) and are given the ability to be changed by God as we follow Him (Philippians 1:6) towards true righteousness and holiness that religious regulations apart from the Lord’s work are powerless to effect lasting change.  We put off the old and put on the new in obedient response by the enabling power and wisdom His Spirit according to His word instead of going back to the world’s course set on destruction.  To not grieve God’s indwelling Spirit, we see many admonitions here to guide our course.  We are to be truthful and stop lying.  We are to be angry but settle the arguments with forgiveness and grace with one another.  We are to not steal or deal falsely (Leviticus 19:11) but offer recompense when we do and seek restitution.  Above all, we should be watching our words to ensure they are pure and give grace to one another instead of being used as weapons to blow them out of the waters that we want for ourselves to sail through.  Such things either honor or grieve the Holy Spirit.  We choose which to pursue in the course of our lives.  May we therefore be kind and forgiving as we reflect on how Christ forgave us and loves us tenderly with honor and compassion as He looks out for our good.  This is our walk and talk as it should be.