Life: Connected through words

• The Bible Studies for Life lesson for Sept. 28 focuses on Ephesians 4:25-32.

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• The Bible Studies for Life lesson for Sept. 28 focuses on Ephesians 4:25-32.

Introduction

Words have undeniable power as the creation account demonstrates. By words alone, God created the universe and all its contents. Human words have a parallel power. A king speaks and armies march. A queen speaks and ships sail. A president speaks and astronauts fly to the moon.

Obviously, not all human words uplift and inspire. James 3:3-12 notes the destructive power of the human tongue, which can worship God and then verbally harm people.

This week’s passage applies the command in verse 23, “Be made new in the attitude of your mind.” Verse 24 teaches the renewed mind must be focused on righteousness and holiness. The Apostle Paul applies these commands by directing how his readers should live. His instruction includes a series of commands that address six attitudinal sins we must avoid.

The core instruction in verse 29 banishes unwholesome talk and presses for the uplifting and building up of others. In God’s kingdom, where the standard of living is so lofty, such things can be commanded.

Speak with integrity (Ephesians 4:25-28)

Paul first addresses truthful communication. Speaking truthfully is so important in God’s kingdom the Lord prohibited lying or, more formally, bearing false witness in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16). Jesus affirmed this distinctive by teaching believers should live so completely above reproach that their “yes” and “no” are accepted as sufficient answers without need for oaths (see Matthew 5:33-37). God’s kingdom is so identified with truth (John 4:23; 14:6) and its delivery to humans that participants in the kingdom cannot have any involvement in falsehood.

Often, the Bible doubly expresses a statement. Sometimes, as here, one part is expressed negatively. The opening Greek phrase in verse 25 is a participle clause. Participles describe the action of the main verb. The verb and participle can be rendered as: “While putting off falsehood, speak truthfully.” This more thoroughly accounts for the effort to be truthful, by eliminating falsehood while speaking truth, than does the familiar “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” The reason for the pursuit of truthfulness is we belong to the body of Christ.


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Paul now disciplines anger. God’s lead in the matter of anger surprisingly is revealed in Exodus 34:6: God is slow to anger. His people must conduct themselves likewise. Being angry is not always wrong. Sin more often arises in the expression of anger than in the feeling of it.

Paul disciplines anger through three commands. First, people are not to sin when anger arises. Second, anger must be resolved before sundown, in other words, quickly. God’s kingdom is not an organization of wrath, violence toward people or destruction. God regulates his own anger by his love for people such that he does not treat people as their sins deserve (Psalm 103:10). Third, believers must avoid giving the devil a place in their lives. The believer must quickly resolve anger so the devil, who enters lives through sinful activity, has no place to influence one’s life.

Next, Paul handles stealing. Again, the Ten Commandments prohibit stealing (Exodus 20:15). Paul provides a preventive plan in verse 28. Instead of stealing, a person must work exhaustively and earn their way through life. The word for “work” actually means “labor to exhaustion.” The emphasis on using hands does not point narrowly to manual labor but builds on the Bible’s use of “hands” as representatives of a person’s activities (Deuteronomy 6:8; 11:8; Matthew 18:8). Thus Paul gives two commands—stop stealing and labor to exhaustion; that is, put in an honest day’s work before the Lord. God’s blessing on such labor will be evident by the surplus that can be shared with the needy.

Speak with purpose (Ephesians 4:29-30)

Verse 29 is the touch point for the lesson title. The double statement motif appears again, as well as beneficiaries of the disciplined speech. Corrupt speech is the fourth sin addressed. Unwholesome—actually “rotten, bad or worthless”—language must be excluded. Instead, good words which build up people are to come from one’s mouth. People are listening, and God wants all who hear his people to be built up by the speech of his committed people.

Paul references the grief of the Holy Spirit after discussing the matter of speech. God also is either built up or torn down by one’s speaking and activities. The Lord pours himself into his people. As people mature spiritually and become closer to him, they will become aware of the effects of their words on him.

Since God is present with his people in all they do, he witnesses their words, as well. We should ever strive, in all our words, to please the Lord. The presence of his Spirit is meant as a seal, or guarantee, of our salvation. He testifies to our spirits that we belong to God. His presence also provides excellent guidance in our activities and speaking. To ignore his presence and speak or act in a way that embarrasses him actually fights against his presence in our lives.

Speak with grace (Ephesians 4:31-32)

The last sin in Paul’s list is an unsocial attitude. Verse 31 lists six items describing unsocial attitudes—bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander and malice. People are of utmost importance in God’s kingdom. Believers must therefore practice healthy social attitudes. A good class exercise is to discuss a few acceptable social attitudes that would replace each of the six unsocial ones.

Verse 32 lists three positive social attitudes—kindness, compassionateness and forgiveness. Kindness means being soft instead of harsh. Compassionate has to do with being tenderhearted and gently pleasant. The verse emphasizes forgiveness, however. Forgiveness is the chief hallmark of God’s kingdom. God forgives and commands his people to forgive. Believers’ lives have been transformed by forgiveness. Therefore, they must learn to participate in God’s transformational labor among mankind.


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