SERIES: THROUGH THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS
TEXT: EPHESIANS 4:25-28.
Salvation has 3 levels-justification, sanctification and glorification. When you received Jesus Christ as Lord, you were justified before God. As you move through life you are progressively sanctified and finally you will be glorified as you meet the Lord.
The 3 words-Justification, sanctification and glorification are used to describe the christian journey from new birth to resurrection. Just as we are born physically, go through school, get a job, so spiritually we are born again in Christ, grow in holiness through the Holy Spirit and go to be with God forever.
In Ephesians 4, the Bible speaks about falsehood, anger and theft as vices that need to be uprooted once one becomes a believer.
SPEAKING THE TRUTH-Ephesians 4:25.
- Truth is a big subject in a Christian’s life. Our Lord Jesus said “I am the truth”-John 14:6. While the Lord was before Pilate, the Lord said-John 18:37, “For this reason was I born and for this cause I have come to the world, that I should bear witness to the truth, everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”
- Falsehood and speaking lies has caused great suffering to mankind:-
- Satan lied to Eve and put humanity to untold suffering throughout human history up to this day. He told her, “You will not surely die, for God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God……”-Gen. 3:4, 5.
- Eve and Adam believed the lie, ate and brought dominion to mankind.
- Jacob and Rebecca deceived Isaac. This started a war that made Jacob flee the home for 20 years.
- Laban deceived Jacob and made him go through painful work for 7 more years to get a wife, Rachel.
- Abraham lied to Pharaoh that Sarah was not his wife and instead of being accommodated he was send away-Genesis 12:20. He did not benefit from the lie.
- There are many examples of lies told by men in the Bible. The Bible commands us to speak the truth.
- Satan was called by our Lord, “The father of lies”-John 8:44.
- Speak the truth and have nothing to do with deception.
FORSAKE ANGER OR BE ANGRY AND DO NOT SIN-Eph. 4:26
- Anger comes into a person when one feels one has been treated unfairly.
- What the Bible says about anger,
- Ecclesiastes 7:9-Anger resides in the bossom of fools.
- Proverbs 14:17-a man of quick temper acts foolishly.
- Proverbs 29:11-fools give full vent to their rage but the wise bring calm in the end.
Same results of anger:-
- Cain became angry and killed his brother Abel-Genesis 4:6-8.
- Simeon and Levi became angry with Sechem and killed the men of Sechem. This earned both a curse from their father Jacob before he died-Gen. 49:7.
- Moses became angry, struck the rock and God punished him for the same-he did not enter the promised land in his lifetime.
Anger is a violent explosive force to control but by obedience to the Holy Spirit it can be managed. Part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is patience and self-control.
We should be like our God. He is slow to anger-Psalm 103:8. The anger of man does not work the righteousness of God-Judges 1:19-20.
THEFT-Ephesians 4:28.
- Theft is taking what does not belong to you. In our country corruption has ruined our economy and caused untold suffering to the “less fortunate.”
- The curse of God is in the house of the thief-Zech. 5:3, 4. Stolen wealth brings a curse to the thief and family too.
- Theft/pilfering opens a door for the enemy to destroy you.
- Do not take what does not belong to you.
CONCLUSION
- Speak the truth. Avoid anger. Do not steal
- Godliness is profitable in all things-1st 4:8