Scripture: Matthew 9:16-17

C.I.: A Godly Lifestyle, Part 3

We’ve been studying as series from Ephesians 4 – on what we owe each other.
Today we are going to conclude this series – by looking at some very practical ways to treat each other!

I. Walking the “Walk” and Talking the “Talk,” (Ephesians 4:17-32)

A. We Owe It to Each Other to “Walk” God’s Way, (v. 17-24)

1. The “walk” (lifestyle) of the Christian is not anything like that of non-believers (vs. 17-19)

a. The problem with the walk of the non-believer – is that it is heading in the wrong direction. – Every step is taking them further from God!
1) (v. 17), “This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer as
the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind.” - (cf. Eph. 2:15; II Pt. 1:4).
a) Paul is talking to Gentiles – so don’t act the way you used to act (changed-life!).
b) “Futility” = (Eccl. 1:7-8), “All rivers flow to the seas, but the sea is not full… - the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing.”
c) The desires & pleasures of the non-believers life – will never satisfy them (futile)!
2) (vs. 18-19), “Being darkened in their understanding - excluded from the life of God, because
of the ignorance that is in them”
a) (Jn. 3:19, “light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than the
light; for their deeds were evil”),
b) (Rom. 1:20), “since the creation of the world, God’s invisible attributes….”
3) “because of the hardness of their heart, and they, having become callous”
a) From algesia; to feel pain – these no longer feel the pain of guilt or remorse,
b) Heb. 4:7, “Today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts.”
4) “…have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity
with greediness” (can’t get enough sin; Col. 3:5,“…greed which amounts to idol…”)

2. We cannot learn the “Christian-walk”– while still living as we always have, (vs. 20-24).
a. (vs. 20-21), “But you did not learn Christ in this way, - if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as all truth is in Jesus.”

b. So to live the Christian-walk notice the order - (vs. 22-24), “...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,”
1) Repent: Scripture reading (we = wineskins, God’s teaching = wine); Heb. 12:1.

c. “… and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind…,”
1) Change the way we think (Rom. 12:2; Phil. 2:5).

d. “… and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and
holiness of the truth.” - Live the TRANSFORMED LIFE – II Cor. 5:17
1) “Conversion” is not a 1-time event. – Xns must experience conversion on a daily basis!!!

B. We Owe It to Each Other to “Talk” God’s Way, (vs. 25-32)

1. People haven’t changed! – Practical advice on what we should “put on” and “lay aside”!
a. (v. 25), “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for
we are members of one another.”
1) Remember last week – we are to be unified – we must “speak the truth in love,” (v. 15).
2) For its not enough to simply “not lie” – we must also “speak truth”!

b. (vs. 26-27), “Be angry , and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger & do not give
the devil an opportunity.”
1) “Anger” is not sin – but it can become sinful (cf. v. 29, “unwholesome word”).
2) Yet we must seek to resolve the problem which created the anger – lest Satan use it.
3) Bitterness, resentment, grudge-bearing – each of these are ways Satan can use anger.

c. (v. 28), “Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own
hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.”
1) The transformed life is seen – by what we “lay aside” & what we “put on.”
2) The known thief who doesn’t steal but gives – the habitual liar who only speaks truth – the spiteful, grudge-bearing person who now seeks to resolve problems – TRANSFORMATION!

d. (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, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
1) Profanity, dirty jokes, rude comments to/about others – all must be stopped.
2) When I became a believer – I had to give up ½ my vocabulary.
3) We are called to “edify” (build-up) others / evil speech only tears people down!

e. (vs. 30-32), “And do not grieve the H.S. of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption. – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from
you, along with all malice. – Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as
God in Christ has forgiven you.”
1) “Grieving the Holy Spirit” is placed in the context of the things that we say (vs. 29, 31).
a. God placed His Spirit within us when we became believers – (1:13).
b. Yet the words we speak also show what is inside of us – (Matt. 12:34-35), “The mouth speaks that which fills the heart. – The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; - and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth.…”
c. Thus, by our speech we show what (or Who) fills our hearts!!!
2) Yet what the believer should “put on” – is what God has also done for us!

CONCLUSIONS:

1. Members at Golden… are we walking the “walk” AND talking the “Talk”? (ROM. 6:1-2)

2. Visitors: As you have heard, conversion is NOT merely a 1-time event. -
a. But there is a singular time when we are saved from our sins – and then begin our new walk!
b. Quote Romans 6:3-4