Scripture Reading (KJV)

Ephesians 4:25-32 (KJV) 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

### Study Summary

The passage in Ephesians 4:25-32 is a powerful exhortation to Christians on how they should live in contrast to the unsaved. It follows a transition from Ephesians 4:17-19, where Paul contrasts the behavior of the unsaved (Gentiles) with that of the saved (Christians). The verses 20-21 remind us that we were taught and learned Christ in truth, and this truth is in Jesus.

The exhortations in Ephesians 4:25-32 are a list of behaviors that Christians should cultivate and those they should avoid. The first exhortation is to put away lying and speak the truth, emphasizing the importance of honesty. The illustration used was that if your foot lies to your brain, you'll stumble and fall, highlighting the importance of truthfulness in our lives.

The second exhortation is about anger (verse 26), which can be righteous or sinful based on motive, object, and expression. The example of God and Jesus expressing righteous anger was given, and the practical application was to address the issue and reconcile before the end of the day. This was further discussed in response to a question from Brian (K7ZIP).

Verse 28 addresses stealing and working, emphasizing the positive virtue of earning and giving. The illustration was that instead of taking away, we should give to those in need. This reflects the Christian principle of generosity and hard work.

Verse 29 focuses on speech and communication, emphasizing that our speech should be good, edifying, and relevant. The illustration of filters for speech was used to highlight the importance of speaking words that build up and encourage others.

Verse 31 calls for putting away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander, and instead replacing these negative emotions with kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness. The illustration of being kind and tenderhearted, forgiving as God forgives, was used to underscore this point.

Verse 32 warns against grieving the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a right relationship with the Holy Spirit. The illustration was that grieving the Spirit through negative emotions and behaviors affects our relationship with Him and the body of Christ.

The study also touched on the contrast between old and new life, with the old life characterized by darkened minds and corrupted affections, and the new life renewed in the spirit of mind, putting on the new man. The exhortations in the passage are about putting off negative behaviors and putting on positive virtues.

In conclusion, the passage emphasizes the importance of living a life that is in contrast to the unsaved, focusing on truth, righteous anger, hard work, good speech, kindness, and forgiveness. It also stresses the importance of maintaining a right relationship with the Holy Spirit, which is essential for a healthy Christian life. ==========