Living Truth

Ephesians 4:17“With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.”

Our church’s Pastor Kyle stated that there was going to be a greater focus on “holiness” this year. 1 Peter 1:13-16 instructs to: “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “holy” as: Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy, when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.

Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred purpose and use that the Creator designed and desired. The child of God is a citizen of the kingdom of Heaven and therefore Ambassadors and Sojourner in this fallen world. Pastor desires to not reflects the trends and pursuits here, this side of eternity. Our king is Jesus Christ and we follow His holy Word, Will and Way; not the God-rejecting world-system. We are to be light in the darkness.

I read a commentary on Ephesians 4 recently that states that this brief and succinct command in Ephesians 4:17 quickly is followed by a sweeping description of the impotent mind of the Gentiles of that day in contrast to the utterly changed condition of the Believer (whether Jew or Gentile). The non-Christian Gentiles had a darkened perceptive ability, rendering them alienated because of the ignorance that was in them, and an overall blindness of their heart that was the root cause of their inability to function, even to feel, in the same way as the children of God. Ephesians 4:18-19 says, “Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.”

Then, Ephesians 4:20-24 replies, “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

The saint of God (meaning the person who is sanctified), however, is told to discard the old man and to put on the new man, as though that simple picture of a powerful reality is adequate instruction to fulfill the earlier command. No longer is the child of God to be corrupted by the deceitful lusts of his or her old condition but, having learned Christ and been taught by His holy Word, Will and Way, is to be renewed in the spirit of their mind. A transformation is now possible through the new mental (intellectual, spiritual) abilities given to us by Christ. The new man, which we are responsible to wear like a body-enveloping cloak, is created for us by the omniscient Creator in righteousness and true holiness. We have been given a specially created new man to wear (externally visible), which will show (exhibit, demonstrate, make clear) the spiritual difference between the Gentiles and the “born-again” saints of God and disciple of Jesus Christ, with a regenerated spirit, is led by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:25-5:7“Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. 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. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partakers with them.”

The article concluded that the 17 commands that in Ephesians 4:25-5:7address every aspect of the Christian walk, all relating to a lifestyle of truth, giving specific contrast between the unbelieving hell bound Gentile and the heaven bound saint. The consequences are immediate and eternal. That's the truth, so let’s start living like it is.