Sunday, May 15, 2016 pm
Studies in Ephesians (29)
BECAUSE WE ARE MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER (2)
Ephesians 4:25-32
In
our ongoing study of the book of Ephesians, last month we began noticing
some practical actions that we need in our lives as seek to build up the
body of Christ. In
that lesson we addressed, 1) The need to put away all lying (falsehood)
and to be truthful, 2) the need to control our anger, so that the devil
has no place in our lives, and 3) the need to work with our hands with
our ultimate goal being to help others and keep busy.
We made observation with each of these how they promote unity.
In this text we also are reminded that we are dealing with a
command to “put on the new man which was created according to God.”
Today we continue our study of qualities and we will continue to see how
they build us up as the body of Christ.
a.
Simply be reminded of
the damage the tongue can do.
We have recently addressed James 3:1-12 and the potential of the
tongue both for good and bad, and while we will address some things in
this text that involve the tongue, let us step back and look at Paul’s
overall point in the context.
b.
Let no corrupt words
proceed out of your mouth
– the word “corrupt” means unsound or “unwholesome” (NASB).
It describes language that harmful, i.e. unhealthy and evil.
Words can do so much damage and come in various forms – lies, gossip,
hateful words, blasphemies, etc.
As Christians, we must learn to put a guard over our mouths –
David said in Psalm 141:3, “Set a
guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
c.
But what is good for necessary edification
– we have addressed this edification even in this letter (cf. Eph.
4:16), it is a word that was associated with building a house.
It implies the idea of building up.
God gave us our tongues to use, but to use wisely and for good.
Examples of this would include encouragement or exhortation,
teaching, correcting one in error, etc.
AND at times silence is the right word.
James 1:19 reminds us of this!
So does Proverbs 10:19, “In
the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips
is wise.” Let us also
keep in mind that what is necessary is about THEM and not about you!
(This put to silence the argument that “I tell it like it is” or
“As long as it is true…”
d.
How does this promote
unity?
Duh!!!! Rightly
chosen words build us up.
They resolve problems with love, and can draw us together.
Proverbs 25:11 tells us, “A
word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
a.
In this we learn that God and the Holy Spirit can be grieved.
This is part of their personhood.
Also worthy of note is how this expression might be a result of
the previous (watching our tongues), just as properly dealing with anger
results in not giving place to the devil.
b.
The idea of grieving is to
sadden.
Usually we think of this in greater terms then general
melancholy. This is a word
that can mean sorrowful or distressed.
On one occasion, when Jesus entered a synagogue where there was a man
with a withered hand, He knew it was an occasion where His critics were
looking to accuse Him. We
are told that He looked at them “with anger, being grieved by the
hardness of their hearts…” (Mark 3:5)
The word grieved is related to the word in our text.
When in the garden awaiting betrayal, Jesus was sorrowful and deeply
distressed (Matthew 26:37), so were His disciples when He told them what
was about to happen (Matthew 26:22).
c.
Grieving the Holy Spirit – in our text it is the Holy Spirit that is grieved.
We know this because we are told that this is “the
Spirit of God by whom we were sealed for the day of redemption.”
When we obey the gospel, in some way we receive the “gift of the
Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
Ephesians 1:13 tells us that having believed we were “sealed
with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
Whatever is involved with that, it gives us hope of salvation,
and the point here is those things that have been given to us by God,
are now being disregarded in some way and that grieves the Godhead, the
angels and the righteous. I
am reminded of one walking away from God as described in Hebrews 10:29
where we read of one who has “trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by
which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of
grace?”
In Luke 15:7, 10 there is rejoicing in heaven over a sinner that
repents. When the godly
reject Him and misbehave, it grieves them!
d.
How do we grieve the
Holy Spirit?
Consider our context – when we in anger give place to the
devil, lie to one another, steal, let corrupt words proceed out of our
mouth which damage and destroy rather than building up, we are grieving
Him. Also following this
warning, Paul continues to emphasize burning anger in its various stages
(or forms).
Possibly we could add to this, when we FAIL to behave as described in
verse 32
e.
How does this promote
unity?
This is a phrase related to the tongue we discussed earlier.
So what was said there applies here.
When we are behaving as brethren, we are bringing JOY to the Holy
Spirit and to God. This will
bring us together.
a.
Paul now gives a list of
six ungodly attitudes. These
are associated with anger in its various forms, both the internal
agitation and the outward reactions.
b.
Again, we have in recent
lessons addressed most of these qualities and the damage they can do.
We briefly mention them again here.
i.
Bitterness
– a word that is associated with a bad taste in one’s mouth.
But here it is the attitude of sharp resentment, spite or perhaps
even hatred. One with this
attitude is seldom happy.
Hebrews 12:14-15 calls for us to pursue peace with all, and holiness,
with caution lest any root of bitterness spring up and cause trouble
defiling many.
ii.
Wrath – or
furry is a strong, intense outburst of anger.
This is anger acting impulsively.
It is one losing his temper.
It is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:20).
This is the one who out of anger does something rash only to
regret it immediately. But
often the results are too late to change.
There are many in prison who in a fit of wrath (rage) killed or
maimed.
DON’T speak words against one another when you are angry.
iii.
Anger – is
a word that means a burning fury that doesn’t subside.
This is descriptive of one who remains angry and will not let it
go or work through it.
Do you know of brethren who just refuse to get over some wrong that has
happened to them? They
possess this anger. James1:20
says, “the wrath of man does not
produce the righteousness of God.”
This comes after telling us to be slow to speak and anger
(wrath).
iv.
Clamor – is
loudly expressing yourself.
A footnote in the NKJV describes it as loud quarreling.
This is one who in anger yells, or shows himself in such a way
that all know he is angry.
Furthermore, his loudness is such that he covers up rational discussion.
Do you ever hear someone loudly say, “I don’t care what it
says…”? That is clamor.
v.
Evil speaking – the Greek word is the word from which we derive our English word
blaspheme. It includes the idea of reviling or cursing one.
It means to slander (NASB) one, speak abusive words often with
the intent to damage one’s character.
How often does anger deteriorate to personal attacks?
vi.
With ALL Malice – malice is a word that means, a feeling of hostility and strong dislike,
with the possible desire to cause harm (L&N, 88.199).
This is one who is mean spirited and vicious in attacking
another. We’re told in
1 Corinthians 14:20 to be mature in understanding, but to be babes when
it comes to malice.
vii.
Is it any wonder that one who carries on with such behaviors grieves the
Holy Spirit?
c.
How does this promote unity? Again we are
reminded that we are putting these things away. Problems are more often
solved with calmness and a reasoned disposition.
These qualities destroy and divide!
If you harbor such, you have NOT put to death the old man of sin
with his deeds (Colossians 3:9).
a.
Be reminded, you must
replace the old man with a new man and his ways.
You must fill the void!
Instead of the ungodly attitudes, let us strive for these
qualities.
b.
Be kind to one another
– kindness is a quality desperately needed.
1 Corinthians 13:4 tells us that Christian love is kind.
This is how we ought to seek to treat each other.
It has also been pointed out that this word is more than mere
disposition (gentle and polite), it involves being useful in dealing
with others. Just as
God in His “kindness” (Ephesians 2:7) took steps to save us (cf. Romans
2:4 – His goodness, 1 Peter 2:3 – the Lord is gracious, etc.).
RATHER than seeking to punish and make miserable someone else, seek
their well being
c.
Being tenderhearted – one who is understanding and compassionate, merciful.
Rather than being rough and easily provoked, strive to be one who
is moved with compassion when you see others in trouble.
Be like Jesus who was moved with compassion (Matt. 9:36, 14:14,
etc., based on the same Greek word).
We know people like this!
People that genuinely care and show pity toward the suffering of
others (think of the kitten with the sad eyes looking at you).
d.
Forgiving as we have
been forgiven.
The final quality we discuss is one willing to forgive or pardon
another. This quality is
emphasized in scripture with great warning.
In Matthew 6:12, 14 – Jesus elaborates on our request for God’s
forgiveness. We must be
willing to forgive if we want Him to forgive us!
Colossians 3:13 tells us that as Christ has forgiven us, so we
must also do.
Interestingly, the word in our text is a different word that is related
to grace (χαρίζομαι,
charizomai) and is descriptive of one willing to graciously forgive.
In other words, even if it is not deserved!
Incidentally, this is how Christ forgave us!!!
This is one who WANTS to forgive others and will go to great lengths to
see it happen.
e.
How does this promote
unity?
Think of the one who has a disposition with these qualities and what he
will do to resolve disputes and differences.
Think of how this one will think of the interests of others
rather than himself (Philippians 2:3-4).