Ephesians 4:17-5:2 – Good Works God Prepared – How To Dress Properly
Group 1 – grown up in Christian families
Group 2 – remember the time when you decided to become a follower of Jesus.
Group 1 question – Are you blending in to the society in which you live?
Group 2 question – Since you became a follower of Jesus what have you changed in your values, priorities and patterns of speech and behaviour?
1) A changed way of thinking
Those who follow Jesus should be different…
verse 20-24.
2) A changed mind leads to changed actions
Eph 4:25
3 specific gospel changes
Gospel Change # 1 – Speak the truth (v25)
Gospel change # 2 – In your anger do not sin (v26-27)
Gospel change # 3 – Don’t steal but work to share (v28)
Big picture Gospel changes
Things to put off…
Verse 29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths.
Verse 31 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every form of malice
Things to put on …
Verse 29, instead of unwholesome talk, speak only what is useful for building others up according to their needs so that THEY are benefited.
Verse 32, be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other just as in Christ God has forgiven you and me.
Two reasons why
Firstly, in v 27 … we will give the devil a foothold.
Secondly, in v 30. … grieves the Holy Spirit.
So where to from here?
Eph 5:1-2,
“How can we live out what God wants us to be?”
“How can we walk in his way of love, the love he expressed to us in Christ?”
What do you need to stop doing?
What do you need to start doing?
Final comments
‘spiritual wormism’ – remember grace, keep putting off… keep putting on
‘spiritual triumphalism’ – hear and heed these warnings.