Ever noticed how frequently the mandate for forgiveness is played up but the motivation for forgiveness is missed? We all know how critical and beneficial it is to overlook offenses, we all know how dangerous it is to remain bitter, but we often don't know how to do it. Paul won't let that happen in his letter to the Ephesians, which is why he wrote plently about what motivates a lifestyle of kind speech and an attitude of forgiveness in verses 17-24. There he talks about who we were and who we now are before he discusses what we're called to be...
Who we were (Eph 4:17-19)
Paul's basic point in these verses is that we were people whose ignorance and hardness of heart had led to lifestyles of addiction to various sins. Because we didn't understand the nature of God's glory and the danger of ignoring his worth, we lived our lives in ways that displayed our mixed up appetites: "given up to sensuality and greedy to practice every kind of impurity." That's who we were before Christ... and it's good not to forget that.
Who we are (Eph 4:20-24)
Paul continues by saying "but that is not the way you learned Christ." Simply put, the ignorance is gone... God interrupted our lives and convinced us of a new priority and value system in life. God is the only Glorious One, God is the only Worthy One, and we are only right when we understand that truth primarily. Convinced of that, we put off our old selves with our corrupted desires... our minds were renewed and we put on our new selves created in pattern with God's character and righteousness. Simply put, in Christ we took off the clothing of our sinful identity and put on the uniform of Christ's righteousness. That uniform now marks our identity as part of something bigger and grander than us- we are part of His body.
Who we're called to be (Eph 4:25-32)
We have now been given a uniform that marks our new life and new citizenship in Christ's body. And our conduct needs to match the uniform we've been given. So Paul directs the Ephesians to lives marked by that uniform. His directions are relational, they're set in terms of contrasts, and they're given theological basis. Consider what he puts forward:
- Since we've given up the big lie that God is inferior to the world, there's no need to lie to each other. Why would we? We're members together in His Body- why should we need to impress each other with made up half-truths? (v 25)
- Since we're passionate for God's glory but also suspicious about our tendency to anger, there's no need to hold grudges or nurse our anger. Why would we? That only gives the devil and opportunity to breed disunity within the Body of Christ- why would we hold onto anger that could divide us? (v 26-27)
- Since we're eager to care for each other and want to be productively helpful, there's no need to steal any longer. Why would we? God's called us to meet the needs present in the Body- if He's called us to that, He'll provide honest ways for us to earn and share money. (v 28)
- Since we're fellow members of the Body of Christ and want to build each other up, there's no need to speak in a way that corrupts others. Why would we? We love each other and want to spread grace and not decay within the Body we're joined to. (v 29-30)
All this gets summarized in verses 31-32: "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, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." This kind of communication is what the Body of Christ has been called to- speaking and relating with an awareness of the uniform and identity we've put off and the new identity and unifrom we've put on in Christ. What a joy when we see that living this way will help us to avoid "grieving the Spirit of God, by whom we were sealed for the day of redemption."
As you meet this week and discuss last week's message, here's ONE QUESTION that may be helpful from yesterday's sermon: Given all that Paul mentions as being true in the community He created in the church, what prevents you from extending forgiveness to those who have hurt you in the past? In light of what we've been saved from and forgiven of, mercy is the privilege of the Christian community- what joy we share as we extend the grace available in forgiveness to each other!
Have a great week,
Darren
