Eph 4:25-29 - Living, Working with Other Believers

25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.
26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.
28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Lay Aside Falsehood

V. 25 - “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. “

This verse starts with a “Therefore” which points back to verses 4:20-24. You have a new life in Jesus. Let Him live it in and through you, to demonstrate to the world your life is in His control.

“laying aside falsehood” - Start with - quit lying to each other, or to yourself. Quit trying to justify your sinful behavior by making excuses. For example, "It's not my fault." Or, "It's only a slight mental mistake", instead acknowledging a basic sinful nature.  Lying to yourself is deadly, because it allows you avoid facing the truth, confessing your sin, repenting and turning to Christ. The idea of repentance is taking a 180-degree turn from the direction you are going, and walking in the opposite direction. It is a decision you must make, you can't wander into it by serendipity!

“Speak truth” - Quoted from Zech 8:16, but the idea is throughout the Bible (See: Jer 9:5, 23:28; Eph 4:15; Col 3:9, and Paul reminds them what he teaching is true and trustworthy - 1 Tim 1:16).

“Members of one another” - Don’t assume that lying is okay as long as it isn’t to a Christian! However, further motivation for truthfulness when dealing with other believers: Your life is found in Christ, both your life and the other believer’s is from the Lord. In that essence you are not an individual - your life is Christ’s. Lying to a fellow believer is lying to Christ and to yourself as well.
This is an interesting paradox: You are an individual in Christ. He saved you when you believed in Him. You are not saved when someone else, your mother or father, your brother or sister, a friend accept Christ. You alone must respond for yourself. Yet, you are not alone, you are Christ’s own possession. Your life belongs to Him because He died for you. Christ in you, the hope of glory. (See: Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 10:17, 12:12-14, 12:18-20; Col 3:5)

V. 26-27 - “BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”

“Be angry, and yet do not sin” - Quoted from Psa 4:4. Here is the whole Psalm:

1 When I call out, answer me, O God who vindicates me! Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer! 
2 You men, how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is deceptive?
3 Realize that the LORD shows the godly special favor; the LORD responds when I cry out to him.
4 Tremble [in anger or fear] with fear and do not sin! Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways!
5 Offer the prescribed sacrifices and trust in the LORD!
6 Many say, "Who can show us anything good?" Smile upon us, LORD!
7 You make me happier than those who have abundant grain and wine. 8 I will lie down and sleep peacefully, for you, LORD, make me safe and secure.

The emphasis is on trusting the Lord because He is righteous. He listens to the prayers of godly men. The Lord makes me feel safe (we are not forced to feel safe) - that is: His grace and love fills us with the sense of peace and safety. We can rest in Him because we are His. 

So, where does that take us in the “angry but don’t sin” comment. Consider: most anger is because of a perceived personal affront. My personal space was invaded; my want was denied; my feelings were hurt; I have been disrespected, etc. These almost always give rise to plans for retaliation or resistance.

I just read in a devotional this morning: “Purity is the result of continued spiritual harmony with God. We have to grow in purity. Our life with God may be right and our inner purity unblemished, yet occasionally our outer life may become spotted and stained. God does not protect us from this possibility, because this is the way we recognize the necessity of maintaining our spiritual vision through personal purity.” (see note 2, below) When we sin, and anger is the sin in this case, the fellowship with the Lord is damaged. When we confess and repent that fellowship is re-established. Our ‘outer’ life, the one the rest of the world sees can be modified by the Holy Spirit as He convicts us and we respond accordingly. This is very similar to making the decision to believe and accept Christ as Savior. The Holy Spirit does not force us to come back to the Lord, but rewards us, and we learn so that our worldly behavior becomes more attuned to our inner life which is in touch with the Lord.

As mentioned in our Sunday morning service, the ‘anger’ that brings us to sin is not just the emotion but our reaction to it, how we respond to the anger we feel. James writes in his letter, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. For human anger does not accomplish God's righteousness. So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.” (Jam 1:19-21)

Paul also tells us, “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked [angered], does not take into account a wrong suffered...” (1 Cor 13:4-5)
Anger is a deleterious emotion that Satan will use to separate us from Jesus. We will demand our own way. We will not allow Jesus to work in and through us.

“Do not give the devil an opportunity” - This part I understand. I read the following, recently: “This commandment, that we should love our enemies and forgo revenge, will grow even more urgent in the holy struggle which lies before us and in which we partly have already been engaged for years. In it love and hate engage in mortal combat... The time is coming when the confession of the living God will incur not only the hatred and the fury of the world...” (see note 1)
When anger rises to the point I wish to retaliate, Satan has grabbed the controls of my mind and heart. I am focused on me and my feelings. Jesus is not on the throne of my life. I have pushed Him aside. It cannot be a question of whether Jesus can handle the affront I have received. He died for all of the sin of the world.

V. 28 - “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. “

“He who steals must steal no longer”- An old proverb or aphorism says, “Idle hands are the devil’s playground.” Idle hands imply idle minds. Work so as to stay out of trouble, and to provide for others in need.

V. 29 - “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth” - Ancillary to verse 28, in which we are urged that idleness will allow us to wander into sin - stealing. Likewise, here we are urged to not let our minds go idle. Think about what you are teaching or saying. The “unwholesome word” is not necessarily vulgar talk, dirty jokes, etc. Teaching that does not help people know and grow in their faith in Christ Jesus is a distraction. Find out what spiritual truths people are needing and teach those.

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Note 1: Bonnhoeffer, Dietrich. “A Year with Dietrich Bonnhoeffer”, edited by Barnhill, Carla. Harper Collins. 2005.

Note 2: Chambers, Oswald. “My Utmost for His Highest”, edited by James Reimann. Oswald Chambers Publications. 1963

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Eph 4:20-24 - Off with the Old, On with the New

20 But you did not learn Christ in this way,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Created in Righteousness and Holiness

You Have A New Life, A Changed Life!

I posit that verses 20-21, above, are a launching point for the rest of the letter. In verses 20-21 Paul tells them they have received Christ in the right way, and have the truth, and so:

• Their lives have changed from the way they lived as a natural man to a new man. (see vss. 4:22-24).
• Live peaceably with each other by not harming physically or emotionally (see vss. 4:25-32).
• Be imitators of God. Don’t be deceived by immorality (vss. 5:1-14)
• Be careful how you live out your life. Rely on the Holy Spirit (vss. 5:15-21)
• Instructions for married couples and families. Wives (vss. 5:2-24). Husbands (vss. 5:25-33). Children and Fathers (vss. 6:1-4)
• Relations between slaves and masters (vss. 6:5-9)
• Prepare for spiritual battle (vss. 6:10-17)
• Pray for the message of Good News to continue to spread throughout the world (vss. 6:18-20).

V. 20 - “But you did not learn Christ in this way,” -  We do not become children of God, heirs with Christ, in ignorance. It won’t happen when you are driving down the road, and "Prang" you have been magically saved. No. we must hear the message of who Christ is, and what He has done. (See: Rom 10:17; Acts 11:14) We must make a decision, it does not happen by accident. (See: Acts 2:21) We must give up our hardness of heart. The apostle Paul is a good example: He knew who Jesus was; he refused to believe. Jesus is the light, and we must respond to the light. Paul saw the light on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9:1-11) Paul came to the Light, and believed in Jesus. God has taken us out the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of His Son, Jesus. (Col 1:13) When we have the facts, and obey His commands, we can know the truth and it will make us free. (John 8:31-32)

V. 21 - “if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,”

“If indeed you have heard Him” - The “if indeed” is not a question, but more rhetorical along the line of “if you have, and indeed you have...” You have learned Christ in the correct way. Because their understanding was not darkened, their hearts were not hardened, they heard the call of Jesus to believe and be saved.

“Just as truth is in Jesus” - One of the true joys of Christianity is that it is ‘out there’, totally public. It is not a faith with secret knowledge, secret handshakes, mysteries that only "those in the know" can understand. It is straight forward and clear.

• God Loves you.
• Christ came from God and died for you, since you could never repay the debt caused by your sin. 
• Believe and be saved.

Because You Have Learned the Truth...

V. 22-24 - “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance  with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

“that” - This easily could be read “So that...” Because, if they learned about Christ in the correct way, and if they heard the call to believe in a Christ, and if they have in them the truth of Jesus as Lord (Paul believes these are all true, because he or someone he trusts has taught them) then the following three things should also be true:

1. Laying aside the old self - The old self, is the natural man, the descendant of Adam, a slave to sin. (See: Rom 6:6, 8:6, 13:12; Col 3:9; Heb 12:1). 
2. Renewing of the mind - All things have been made new for those who are in Jesus. (See: Rom 12:2; John 3:3; 1 Pet 1:3, 23)
3. Putting on a new self - We are in Christ. He is in us. We died when He died. We are resurrected to new life because He has new life. We are no longer slaves to sin. We cannot put on the new self ourselves, it comes from and through Jesus and through Jesus alone. (See: 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15; Col 3:10; Heb 10:20; Rev 21:5)

Eph 4:17-19 - Not Like the Gentiles

17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Futility - Ignorance - Callous

V. 17 - “So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,”

“that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk“ - Refer back to verses Eph 2:2-3, 4:1. See also: Col 3:7, 1:21. Obviously the Gentiles were more than just ‘non-Jews’. We do not understand the gulf that separated those who believed in God (the Lord) and the pagan. Until recently, we really have no equal with respect to antithesis to God, except perhaps in certain parts of some big cities where crime, etc., are prominent .
However, I read recently that the largest 'religious' group in America today is "None". Also, I have heard that the term 'evangelical', or 'conservative' Christians are the most disliked denominations in America. I can begin to see the disparity when I reflect on the quantity of pornographic magazines, shops, and internet access. We are exhorted to not participate in a sex-crazed and decadent society. Note: Paul was writing to people who grew up thinking such vile actions were normal. We in America seem to be rushing headlong into the same spiritual malaise. Darkness seems to surround us, and the attitudes are, “So what?” Sometimes it feels that we are in times similar to the days of Noah. See: “When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time" (Gen 6:5), or, "Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with wickedness." (Gen 6:11)

"Futility of their mind” - This can go into several directions:

1.  The vile things they do are a search for meaning and fulfilment. But they are wrong. 
2.  They say there is no God (Psa 14:1-3). Therefore there is no reason to fear for what they are doing. 
3.  These things are sometimes used as a search for, or an appeasement of, some god. These are all hopeless causes, having no basis in fact.

V. 18 - “being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;”

“darkened in their understanding” - (Rom 1:21, 25. 28; Zech 7:11-12; Deut 29:4; Isa 29:10; Psa 69:22-23; ) The phrases used “Let him who has ears, let him hear”, (Mk 4:9, 23; Lk 14:35) or ‘Let him who has eyes, let him see” (Mt 13:15, 16; Lk 10:23) are pleas to be willing to listen and see that God is good. He loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life! Too many are willing to turn their back on Jesus, to cover their ears so they cannot hear the message. Making decisions based on inadequate or incorrect information can lead to disaster. This is true in our physical life on earth as well as our spiritual life which will last forever. Being darkened in understanding is being ignorant of all the facts.

Timothy Keller wrote, “The darkness represents increasing self-deception. We say, ‘I’m not proud, just confident. I’m not abrasive, just direct. I’m not greedy, just sharp in business.’ The more we follow the path of self, the more we live in denial until, when life breaks down, we do not know what makes us stumble. Self-deception is not the worst thing you can do, but it’s the means by which we do the very worst things. The sin that is most distorting your life right now is the one you can’t see.” (See note 1)

“because of... the ignorance that is in them... the hardness of their heart” - (Jer 5:3, 21; 7:26; 8:5; 11:10; 17:23; 1 Pet 1:14) They cannot share in the life God offers them because they choose to reject Him and His Son. The list of their errors in judgement is long: futility in mind; darkened in understanding; ignorance, and hardness of heart. They do not respond to the light. ( John 1:4-5) They stumble in darkness, even though it is as bright as mid-day! (Job 5:14; Isa 59:10; Jer 13:16)

V. 19 - “and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.”

“having become callous” - A callous is an area of thickened or hardened skin formed as a result of repeated pressure or friction. It can also be an emotional hardness from repeated buffeting by circumstances or relationships. For example, new hiking boots - be sure to “break them in”, or make your feet tougher so you won’t get a blister on your next outing. I have a callous on my left hand at the base of the third finder where I grip my golf club. I can see how a person can become ‘hard’ when by emotional hurts when dealing with family or rejection.

The work of Satan is making you hardened against the call of Jesus to come to Him. Satan uses struggles and circumstances in our lives to tell us over and over that, "God really doesn’t love you, or He would have treated you better." That can build up an anger or a resentment against the Lord. (1 Tim 4:2; )

“given themselves over to sensuality” - (Rom 1:24; Col 3:5; ) Rather than respond to the Lord, they choose to do as they please when they please. The momentary pleasure is substituted for knowledge of God and the peace of God. They do not look beyond this very moment. The lasting peace is not present, so they keep looking; perhaps it might be in the next act. The surrender is to sin and Satan rather that to Jesus and God the Father. Eternity is not in their spiritual vocabulary.

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Note 1: Keller, Timothy. “God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life”. Viking, 2017. Pg. 85.
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