Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:7-8. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:7-8

“Therefore do not the associated with them, for once you were darkness but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of the light.”

We must have nothing to do with disobedient people on whom God’s wrath is coming down. (Ephesians 5:6)

This does not mean that we should try to separate ourselves completely from the world. How can the light shine in the darkness if the light shuns the darkness?

It does mean that we need to be careful about our friendships. We must ensure that the people who are disobedient to God are not the people who are influencing our thoughts and our values.

This is always a delicate balance for christians who are called to be “in the world” but not “of the world.”

We were once darkness but now, in the Lord, we are light.

This is a binary state – we are either light or darkness, for Christ or against Him. There are no grey areas.

Before we were united with Christ, we lived in the darkness. We shared the nature of darkness – the sin and depravity of the world.

As children of darkness, we set our own destiny and lived by our own values. We were headed for eternal judgement, which is the fate of all who choose the darkness over the light.

Then Jesus came into our lives. The darkness was overtaken by the light. We made a quantum leap, a leap of faith. We crossed over from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.

All of this was by the grace of God. We had little say in it except to agree that we needed salvation.

In Christ, we are now light. The light of Christ shines from us into the darkness. The darkness cannot overcome light.

Some people feel that they are not very good at being light in the darkness. It is true that some seem to have a brighter light than others, in that they live an exemplary Christian life.

If you had ever been in a pitch black space, such as a cave, where there is literally no light, you may have seen a match or candle lit. What would seem to be a very weak light in the middle of the day, has great brightness in perfect darkness.

Even the weakest of christians shine as beacons in the darkness of the world. As long as we are trying to be faithful to the Lord, His life will shine through it.

This light is “in the Lord.” He is the source of light that flows from us and shines in the darkness. The brightness of the light, the amount of light that shines, is proportional to the power of the presence of Christ in our lives.

Sin can dim the light. Sin is like a film of grease on a lamp. It does not extinguish the light, but it does make the light less clearly seen. It may blur the focus, making the light of Christ less distinguishable. It might add colours that are not meant to be there.

Therefore, Paul tells us that we must live as children of the light. It seems odd that many who have crossed over from darkness into light still live by the laws and customs of the kingdom of darkness.

If we have truly been born of the Spirit then the works of the Spirit will grow in us. For some this is a rapid process, but for many it is a long, slow process of daily turning to the Lord.

Over time, we will see the fruits of darkness diminish in our lives, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit should increase.

Like many things in the walk with the Lord, this is both the grace of God together with hard work on our part. We have to decide to walk as children of the light, while also remaining humble to receive the power to change.

Key points in these verses:

• We must not allow the people of darkness to influence our own attitudes and deeds
• We were once darkness, but God lifted this up into the kingdom of light
• We must live as children of the light
• Do not be discouraged if you feel that your light is inadequate. Keep trusting the Lord.

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:6. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:6

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.”

Paul wants us to beware of those who seek to deceive with empty words. The wrath of God will be poured out on those who are disobedient and continue to practise the various sins he has previously listed .

Empty words are words that have no substance to them. They are soothing phrases or comforting words, which ignore the reality of sin in the Christian community.

We can be deceived in matters of doctrine or lifestyle by outright lies. There have been many of these in the history of the church, and the church has had to deal with them vigorously. For example, early heresies about the nature of God, and of Jesus Christ were debated at great lengths in the councils of the church before definitive decisions were made.

If a preacher comes along and says that Christ was not truly human, then we know that they are trying to deceive us. If a pastor proclaims that it is acceptable to have two wives or be unfaithful to your spouse, we know that this is deception.

Empty words are different because they are seductive rather than obviously untrue. At times they may be true in general, but the application might be twisted. “ God wants the best for you” is true, but this does not mean He wants you to have the best houses, cars, or clothes.

Some preaching is little more than inspirational speaking in a christian disguise. The so-called “ feel good message” or “ seeker sensitive sermon” is deceptive because it does not address sin, redemption, or fellowship with the Lord.

In contrast to “ empty words” Paul told the Corinthians that he did not come to them with mere words alone but with the preaching of the Cross and with the power of miracles (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).

The danger of fairy floss preaching is that it lulls believers into thinking that they are leading a godly life while continually walking in habitual sin.

The wrath of God will fall on those who are disobedient.

Does this mean that God may judge his children? How can anyone be sure that they are saved?

The original Greek of this verse says “ he wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.” In other words, there are people who might portray themselves as children of God who are in fact children of disobedience.

When we continue to walk in habitual sin that the Spirit of God and the Word of God have brought to our attention, then it is possible that we are not truly born again. This is not referring to the occasional stumble, but to a whole- hearted embrace of sin that we have carved away from the life of righteousness .

Jesus said that there will be people who worked miracles in His name, prophesied or cast out demons yet he never knew them. (Matthew 7:21-23).

This point is crucial. We live in an age when many people have been raised in church or who have prayed a prayer at a meeting to receive Jesus, but they have never entered a life of surrender to Christ. Consequently, their life is as sinful and rebellious as any non- christian. Our deeds reflect our hearts. A good tree produces good fruit, and a heart surrendered to Christ will produce spiritual fruit.

Those who have not given their hearts to the Lord, in the deepest sense of that phrase, are subject to the wrath or judgement of God. They will not be saved unless they repent and ask God for forgiveness in the name of Jesus and then live entirely for Him.

Do not be deceived by empty words and improper promises. God will not be mocked.

Key points in this verse:

• Deception can come through bad or false teaching
• Empty words deceive by offering false comfort and a sense of security that is not warranted.
• If we are truly saved, our lives will grow to be more and more like Jesus

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:5. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:5

“For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person – such a man is an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

The warning against sin here is particularly strong. Paul certainly wants us to understand that these sins which may not seem to be so grave as, for example, murder or robbery, they are still subject to God’s wrath .

“For of this you can be sure” means there is no doubt, no equivocation, none of those “ grey areas” which we like to insert into God’s black and white judgements.

No immoral person can inherit God’s Kingdom. Any form of marital infidelity or sexual misconduct is anathema to God. All of the sexual deviations that can be imagined undermine the sacredness of marriage and the stability of families.

The world condones, even celebrates, such sins of the flesh, but God condemns them. They elevate the flesh about the spirit, sensuality over spirituality.

The message of Ephesians is that we are holy people, set apart for God. To be holy means that we must turn away from sexual sin.

Likewise, impure people will not enter the kingdom of God. Impurity suggest a mixture. We want a little bit of the world and a little bit of religion. Impure people like to think they can have Christianity as an added extra to their lives without giving up the pleasures of the world.

God is constantly seeking to refine us or purify us. He is looking for a people who are totally dedicated to Him. He will use any means possible to burn the dross out of our hearts.

Life can be hard, but for christians there is always a purpose in suffering. Often it is the fire of refining.

God cannot stand impurity, half-heartedness, or lukewarmness. This is a state of heart that deceives us into believing that sin is not so big of a deal for the christian. After all God will forgive. But God will only forgive when we can come to repentance, and if we justify our sin we will see no need to repent of it.

A greedy person will also have no part in God’s Kingdom. To be greedy is to be an Idol worshipper. A greedy person trusts in the power of their money or other possessions to keep them safe.

Jesus referred to the god of mammon. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with being wealthy, but when our heart is captivated by money or when our trust or our identity is in our wealth, then we have turned material possessions into a false god.

A greedy person finds it hard to let go of their money, to give to the poor, or to support the mission of the church. Such greed can be fatal as Ananias and Sapphira discovered (see Acts 5). Dependency on money stopped a rich ruler from following the way of Jesus.

The people that are described in this verse have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God and of Christ.

We might think that Paul is saying that these people who have presumably professed faith in Christ will get to heaven, but only by the skin of their teeth. They will have no inheritance so they will be like homeless people on the streets of Heaven.

In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul talks about the things Christians build being tested by fire. He says that some people will enter the Kingdom with nothing of value. However, these are not greedy, impure, or immoral people. They are born again christians who have failed to build anything that is of value in eternity. They were not so much greedy or immoral as misguided or lazy or selfish.

This verse simply restates what is a common theme in scripture. A heart that is truly united to Christ will result in a changed lifestyle and a change of focus.

Do we have to be perfectly sinless to enter God’s Kingdom? No, but we do need to be pursuing God, heeding the Spirit of God, and obedient to the word of God.

Key points in this verse

• Immorality impurity, and greed are condemned by God
• Greed is a form of idolatry
• People who follow these things have no part in God’s Kingdom. They will not enter Heaven

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:4. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:4

“Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”

Paul now turns to the specific speech which should mark the conduct of christians.

In our current culture, we have a very low standard for speech, both in private and public settings. It is not uncommon to hear people shouting words which are generation ago were considered obscene and unsuitable for public utterance.

Political and community leaders have been heard using expletives when they mistakenly thought the microphones were turned off.

Even in church meetings, words which 10 or 20 years ago would have raised eyebrows are spoken without any discomfort.

We have freed up epithets related to sex (although a new form of secular puritanical censorship is emerging that says a new set of words are unacceptable) and banned racial descriptions.

The people of God and not controlled by legalism or political correctness. We are, however, to let our speech be directed by a sense of what is “ fitting” or appropriate for the holy saints of God.

Paul says certain forms of speech are “ out of place.” These things are not sinful or morally wrong. They are simply not suitable given our position in God’s Kingdom.

We do not have a list of words that must not be spoken, as these vary from place to place, culture to culture, time to time. Instead, we need to ensure that our thoughts and the words we speak out loud are led by the Holy Spirit.

The word obscenity here refers to speech that would make a morally sensitive person ashamed. Earlier Paul said that some things should not even be mentioned amongst them.

It is hard to pin down what might be intended here without indulging in the thing being forbidden. It could be assumed that various sexual deviances and practices might be included.

This is not to say that Paul is prohibiting discussion of homosexuality, for example. It is important to say that certain activities are not permissible. Where we might cross the line is where we indulge in too much detail or idle speculation .

“Foolish talk” is the sort of meaningless rubbish that a drunken person might babble.

A lot of social banter might come under this category. A little humour might be considered suitable for breaking ice and oiling social interactions. However if our conversation is limited to reciting Monty Python’s “Dead Parrot” sketch then the Holy Spirit may be lacking.

Instead of merely allowing conversation to remain at a shallow surface level, we should allow our interactions to be used for mutual edification, encouragement, and exhortation.

“Coarse joking” is a form of humour which derives amusement at the expense of others. We might think initially of sexual humour, but it includes every form of jesting which puts people down.

The point is that we are meant to be honouring people who are made in the image of God and for whom Christ died. How do we derive laughter at the cost of any person?

Instead of these forms of speech which Paul says are “ not suitable,” we should practice thankfulness.

Everything we have is a gift from the Lord. “Every good gift comes from above,” James tells us.

Any fool can tell a dirty joke or engage in meaningless twaddle. The person of faith will seek to elevate his or her thinking and speaking in order to honour God in all things. In 1Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul tells us to “ rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

It is God’s will that we learn to rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances. Whereas the unsaved cannot see a reason for what happens in life, the christian can always see God’s hand in their lives and find reasons to give thanks.

This is not a wilful denial of pain and suffering in life. Rather it is a contentment and celebration that in all things God is with us.

Key points in this verse:

• Some forms of speech and not suitable for the people of God
• We need to build up others with our words, not tear them down
• We should make thanksgiving a feature of our speech

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:3. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:3

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.”

A more literal translation of this verse is: “ But fornication, and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among the saints.” (NRSV)

These things, according to Paul, should be so far from our normal thinking that we who are the holy ones of God should not want to even mention them, much less commit them.

It’s might be asked, how can we avoid thinking about sexual immorality, impurity, and greed, when these are rife in our society. Well, they were common enough in the Roman Empire as well. The lusts of the flesh have always and In most places been a stumbling block for Christians.

At the very least, we should make sure that we live a life worthy of our high calling as children of God, putting Jesus first in all things.

We should review our entertainment sources. So many forms of entertainment normalise attitudes of sexuality and greed which are opposed to the holiness of God.

We should monitor our conversations and ensure that our speech does not revolve around sex or desires for new cars, faster computers, and better houses in better neighbourhoods. These are not things that should be at the centre of our thoughts and discussions.

Sexual immorality or fornication refers to the undermining of marriage. Men and women are meant to be faithful to their partners for life. The traditional marriage vows speak of “ forsaking all others for as long as you both shall live.”

Our society glamorises infidelity. Having an affair, hooking up, a bit on the side, booty call, are common terms which denote a generally permissive attitude to sex beyond marriage. Marriage is often seen as confining, boring, and suffocating. Seeing someone else can be liberating, refreshing, exciting.

On the contrary, Paul will, later in this chapter, describe marriage as being a representation of Christ’s relationship with the church. It is impossible to conceive of Christ abandoning the church to have a different covenant with a different group of people. This goes against His nature. Similarly, sexual immorality goes against the nature of God’s holy people, the saints.

The phrase “any kind of impurity” takes the standard further. Here it is not just about unfaithfulness in marriage, but any kind of sexual desire or practice which lies outside of the covenant of marriage.

We might throw into this category such things as pornography, sexualised banter, double-entendre, homosexual acts, prostitution, and much more.

The church is meant to be pure and holy, and a representation of the original pre-Fall state of Adam and Eve.

Our aim should be to pursue Christ, and when we pursue these other things, we miss the mark of our holy calling.

The word covetousness implies a ruthless kind of greed that tramples over the rights of other people in order to gain what is wanted. The classic cases of this in scripture King David’s desire for Bathsheba (2 Samuel chapters 11-12) and Ahab’s desire for Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings chapter 21). In both cases, covetousness leads to unforeseen consequences, escalating quickly to murder.

The original sin in Genesis was to covet something that God had forbidden. “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.” (Genesis 3:6, NRSV)

These things (sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness) are not fitting the God’s holy people. They relate to the fleshly nature, the old nature which is supposed to be crucified when we come to Christ.

We should not approach these things from a legalistic point of view, laying down laws in a new form of Pharisaism. The solution is not to “mortify the flesh”, but to look to Christ. As we gain a more perfect and exalted vision of Jesus, and make pursuing Him our prime objective then all of these desires will just fade away.

 

Key points in this verse:

• There are some things which Christians should be careful in talking about in their gatherings
• Sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness should become removed from our thoughts
• We need to monitor our own speech, our entertainment, and our desires to ensure that we are not pursuing the desires of the flesh
• The solution does not lie in legalism, but in putting Jesus Christ at the centre of our thoughts and desires

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:2. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:2

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

We are to walk in love as Christ loved us. The Christian life is not a series of negatives which constrain our behaviour with boundaries of what we are not permitted to do.

The overarching command is to love God, to love our neighbours, even to love our enemies.

Paul encourages us here to make love such a part of our ethical system that it becomes the focus of our walk along the road of life. We are to walk in love footstep by footstep, day by day, loving those whom we meet.

When we practise love, what is a difficult concept at first becomes a part of our lives. This is not to suggest that love ever becomes mechanical, but the habit of concentrating on others becomes automatic.

This love again is God’s love, the love of Christ or agape love. Christ’s love is unfailing, eternal, and unchanging just as God is unfailing, eternal and unchanging.

In Christ we see how love is acted out at the human level. Christ gave Himself up for us .

Firstly Christ gave Himself up when He left the glorious throne in heaven and became a human being. He took on weakness and the various limitations of being in a body. He was subject to all the appetites of the flesh and also its demands.

Christ gave Himself up by subjecting Himself to the Jewish law, the law of Moses. He who was without sin still had to offer the various sacrifices that were ordained to reconcile sinful people to a holy God.

Christ gave Himself up by humbling Himself under the authority of religious and civil leaders. He was so much greater than they were, yet he obeyed them .

Finally, Christ gave Himself up at the cross. He was beaten, mocked, tortured, and nailed to a cross. Crucifixion was not only an intensely painful way to die, it was a shameful punishment. It was so shameful, in fact, that Roman citizens were not permitted to be crucified.

Christ gave up His divine right to be above such suffering. He gave up any human right to be vindicated and set free, despite the obviously fabricated charges brought against Him.

On the cross, Jesus bore the brunt of the Father’s wrath against sin. This was infinitely greater than the common suffering of all who were punished by crucifixion. The divine Son of God who had known an eternity of intimacy with the Father now found Himself forsaken by God.

Christ carried the burden of every sin committed, every offence against God’s righteousness, since the time of Adam, stretching to our own time and beyond. He suffered the eternity of Hell in six hours on the cross.

Christ gave Himself up to suffer on our behalf. He suffered physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

In His suffering He became a fragrant offering and a sacrifice.

In the Temple, and before that the Tabernacle, there was an altar where fragrant incense was offered continually to the Lord. The smoke from this incense was considered to be pleasing to the Lord.

So Paul tells us that Christ’s death on the cross was a fragrant offering, similar to the smell of incense wafting up to heaven.

Incense is not of itself pleasing to God. A stick of incense is just a stick. It is only when it is burnt that the incense is released. In a sense, the incense must die to release the fragrant offering that pleases the Lord.

In a similar way, the death of Christ released a fragrant offering to the Father. This offering was the reconciliation sinful humanity to the holy God. The achievement of that purpose, which stretched back even before creation, pleased God.

Christ’s death was more than a pleasant smell. It was a sacrifice. Sacrifices achieve various things in the Old Covenant, but the most important of them is atonement.

Atonement means that the death of an animal is accepted on my behalf as payment for my sin. I deserve to die for dishonouring God, but he chooses to accept an animal’s death instead.

The Old Testament describes very detailed procedures for the type of sacrifices required for various sins, as well as the method of slaughter for the animal.

The principle is simple- one sin equals one sacrifice.

Then on the Day of Atonement the sins of the whole nation were laid on the head of a goat which was driven into the wilderness.

Over and over, and in many different ways, the Lord impressed on his people the gravity of sin and their need to be made right with Him.

Now Jesus who is over and above any created being, has been offered as an atonement, the sacrifice, for our sin. He is the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

Every sin of every person who ever lived, and who will ever live, has been put to death with Christ on the cross.

He died so that we can live. Because of Christ’s sacrifice my sins are forgiven. I am justified and made holy so that I can enter the presence of God for ever.

We were headed for hell with no hope of rescue, but Christ died and set us on the pathway to Heaven, where we will live with God forever.

This is how much God loves us. He sent his one and only Son to be our sacrifice and our fragrant offering. Because God loves us so much, we two must walk in the love of Christ.

Key points in this verse:

• Walking in Christ’s love prevents us from viewing the Christian life as just a set of rules
• Love can become a way of life when we practise Christ’s love
• Christ gave Himself up for us in His birth, in His life, and above all in His death
• Christ’s death is a fragrant offering pleasing to the father
• Christ’s death is a sacrifice which atones or pays for our sins for eternity

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:1. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:1

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.”

All of the instructions that went before and after this verse have to be understood in the context that we are beloved children of God. The commandments are not given dispassionately or in a vacuum. The reason is that Paul wants us to be imitators of God.

To imitate God is to imitate him in a particular, narrow range. We cannot imitate His power or strength, His unlimited knowledge and wisdom, nor in His transcendence over creation. We are not to receive worship or prayer. We are not to pretend to be God.

To understand what it means to be imitators of God, we need to go back to the creation story. In Genesis 1:26 God says, “ Let us make men in our image, in our likeness.”

God’s initial plan was that people were to carry his likeness in their being. Our way of life was, in every way, meant to reflect the glory, the personality, and the character of God.

Of course, sin marred that somewhat. We no longer bear that image in a pure form. The likeness has become tarnished and corrupted.

In Christ, we are new creations. The old sinful nature has been put to death, and in its place the new nature, the image of Christ, has been raised to life in us.

When Paul says we are to imitate God, he is really saying that we need to make a conscious decision to let the Holy Spirit, the God in us, rise to the fore, and direct the way we live.

We imitate God, then, in areas of morality, integrity, and in relationships.

In the area of morality, the demand that we be holy as God himself is holy, overcomes our tendencies to greed, lust, and selfishness.

In the area of integrity, the law of God as summarised in the Ten Commandments, is activated in us by the Holy Spirit. We no longer need an external law to regulate our behaviour as we have the law- giver in our hearts regulating our desires.

In the area of relationships, the love of God constrains us. Where we were once dominated by sin to such an extent that selfishness, self protectiveness, and arrogance undermined all relationships, we are now filled with the love of Christ. In Christ we have learnt to give and not just take, to serve rather than to be served .

We imitate God because his image and his spirit are now in us. In discovering that God is our Father, we have become beloved children.

God loves us with a perfect love called agape love. This is love that is poured out solely for the sake of the beloved. There is no self interest in agape. Agape love does not depend on a response from its object, as it is given regardless.

God is love, and in love He is perfect. God’s love is eternal and unchanging because God is eternal and unchanging.

When we say that we are beloved children, this status is not something we earned or deserved. God loves us because He is good, not because we are worthy of being loved. We cannot earn God’s love .

We are children who are beloved, but we do not know how to return love. It is only as we experience what it means to be loved that we can become capable of loving God and loving other people.

In ancient cultures attitudes to children varied. Often there was a belief that they were not independent people or individuals in the way that we in the West would understand. The child was an empty vessel into which the parents poured their own skills, knowledge, and wisdom so that the child would become like the father .

It was expected that the son would grow up in the family business and would one day become so like the father that he would be worthy of running the business as the father had done before him. The son became like a reproduction of the father, so to speak.

The duty of the child, then, was to imitate the father. They were to learn the values of the father, about the skills of the father, and above all they were to honour the father and mother who gave them life.

As children of God who know that we are loved by God, we can therefore be imitators of God. We received the love of God. We hear about God’s character and incorporate that into our lives. We seek fellowship with the Father in order to be more like Him.

In doing these things, we show the world what God is like. We exalt His name in the world so that others will see Him, love Him, and become His beloved children also.

Key points in this verse:

• We are to imitate God by carrying His likeness in our lives
• We are to let the Holy Spirit direct our lives
• We imitate God in areas of morality, integrity, and relationships
• God loves us with perfect agape love
• As his children, we are to grow up to show His character

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 4:32. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 4:32

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Having written about the deeds of malice, anger, and slander, exhorting us to take these things off, Paul now tells us what put on in their place.

We are to be kind to one another.

Kindness could be described as love in action. Love is not a romantic feeling or a favourable disposition to another person. It is practical.

To be kind is to see what a person needs and to help them to gain it, whether in the form of a gift, through encouraging words, or by practical help.

To be kind means to be giving. We are concerned about the needs of others just as much as we are concerned about our own needs.

Of the early church, it was said, “there were no needy people amongst them for from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet, and it was distributed to anyone in need.” (Acts 4:34-35). This is kindness on a big scale, people working to ensure that nobody is left out.

We are to be compassionate to one another . Some translations render this word as tenderhearted.

To be compassionate or tenderhearted to others is to empathise with their emotions and to react appropriately.

Kindness can be performed in a mechanical way, out of duty or habit. Tenderheartedness or compassion, demands an emotional involvement. We need to feel the heart of another person, to enter into their head space.

There are many so-called caring services these days. However the caring cuts out at 5 pm or whenever the service closes. People working in these fields are coached in not getting too close, establishing boundaries, and so on.

While there is a place for professional detachment, Paul is encouraging us to go deeper with one another. He wants us to be attached not detached, to be emotive in our caring and not leave it all behind at an office, taking weekends off.

When I see a Christian brother or sister in distress, I must be kind and tenderhearted, reacting out of compassion and love.

We are to forgive each other just as Christ has forgiven us.

Forgiveness is the antidote to bitterness.

Forgiveness is letting go of offences that others have committed against us in the past.

When we come to Christ seeking forgiveness, He wipes the slate clean. There is no longer any outstanding debt. There is not even a record kept of the sin. He no longer holds anything against us.

Forgiveness means that we no longer hold a sin against the person who has offended us. We let go of the hurt, the anger, and the sense that we are owed something .

Our forgiveness of others must be unconditional, just as his forgiveness of us Is unconditional. He does not wait for us to apologise to forgive, and neither should we.

Some might ask, “What about the need to confess and repent in order to be forgiven?” The truth is that confession is for our benefit not for God’s. It brings us to reconciliation rather than forgiveness, fellowship rather than exoneration.

When we forgive someone we are not saying that the offence was not significant. We are rather conforming our own attitude to that of the Father who chooses to forgive for the sake of fellowship.

Some sins are too severe to just “ forgive and forget” because the hurt to our soul is too great. Over time, we receive healing for our pain, and one key step in that healing is to forgive.

To forgive those who sin against us is to acknowledge that we too have been forgiven much. To forgive is to recognise that we have no right to keep a record of the wrongs of others.

Key points in this verse

• We are to be kind and compassionate to others. Love has to be practical and exercised from the heart, not merely as a duty
• To forgive others is to imitate Christ who forgives us
• Forgiveness means to let go of the right to be offended
• We must forgive regardless of whether the person expresses remorse
• Forgiveness means that we do not keep score

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 4:31. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 4:31

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”

Paul returns to listing sins that we need to put away in order to be faithful to Christ. In particular these sins are things that undermine unity in the Body of Christ. They not only put individuals down, but they destroy the Church and run counter to the teachings of Christ.

Bitterness is the cultivation of anger long after the event that has sparked the anger. A brother offends me, and I continue to be angry and refuse to forgive him. This is called bitterness .

In November 1975, the Australian prime minister, Gough Whitlam, was removed from office by the Governor- General under unique circumstances. Whitlam called upon his followers to “ maintain the rage.” Some of them remained bitter many years and decades after the event.

Followers of Christ have been forgiven their sins. We have a duty, therefore, to forgive those who trespass against us. It is there in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 4:12) and in parables such as The Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35).

Refusal to forgive our Christian brothers and sisters is bitterness, and may bring down upon us the judgement of God.

Rage is the uncontrolled passion that seeks to destroy out of vengeance. It can be irrational in its expression, and is always destructive. It may be expressed as violence or as a verbal spray of hatred and insults.

This kind of anger is never acceptable to God. One of the works of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is to bring healing of the wounds that produce rage and to replace it with peace and self-control.

The Greek word for anger is orge which is also used of the anger of God against sin, and of the righteous anger of people against sin. It can also apply to unrighteous anger in which we are not so much perturbed by the sins of others as by threats to ourselves.

At its best, this kind of anger can motivate and drive a person to seek justice and righteousness on behalf of others. It can sustain a campaign for change over months and years.

At its worst, though, anger is directed against individuals or groups of people. The supposed misdeeds of others become forgotten, and the people themselves become the objects of anger.

This kind of anger is bad because it keeps us separated from others. The love of God draws people together, but anger keeps us apart.

Anger can be focused on differences over worship styles or doctrine. It can be expressed through discipline processes such as “shunning” in which the righteous people refuse to have fellowship with sinners.

The word translated as “brawling” in the NIV may be better translated as clamour. Brawling suggests an all- in physical fight which is rare in churches. Not so rare is the noisy, pushy form of speech which refuses to be quiet and to listen to differing points of view.

Clamour can be a defensive reaction in which we try to shout down those we disagree with. In an argument it could be name-calling, or accusations such as ”you said this.” When it is in full flight, this clamour is much like the reaction of small children when called to account for their actions.

Clamour refuses to listen to other points of view. It makes a noisy appeal for its own opinion. It uses sound and fury to keep others at a distance, and to demand its own way .

Clamour is the language of the street demonstration which demands action and demeans opponents. Clamour is the noise of the Twitter mob which closes down all opposition by demanding that people be silenced .

As Christians we must always remember that our brother whom we oppose is also someone whom God loves and for whom Christ died.

Slander is speech which undermines a person’s reputation. It takes many forms from name calling to false accusations .

Gossip is a form of slander. Humans love to hear and pass on to others details of the weaknesses of other people. We hear a claim about someone, add in our own Insights, and pretty quickly a person’s reputation is shredded.

Slander can be true or it can be false. Lies about people can be readily believed because they may not be easily controverted. Even when true, people can make all kinds of statements about others without a context that might offer explanation.

Whether true or false, deliberate or not, slander is not based in love. We believe the worst about a person, makes suppositions about their motives, and then spread our conclusions far and wide.

We are to love our brothers and sisters. We should seek to build up their dignity and worth, and not pull it down.

Finally, we are to get rid of every form of malice. Every action or speech that is directed against another person must be removed from our operating system.

If I want to act badly or speak ill of another person, then I am not loving them. The great commandments, Jesus tells us, are to love God and love our neighbour.

Malice is the opposite of love. While love values another person, malice devalues the other. While love acts to advance the interests of another, malice seeks to harm them.

Key points in this verse:

• We are to actively remove from our lives all actions, words, and attitudes that seek to harm other people
• Forgiveness of others is an essential part of living for Christ
• Rage is never acceptable to God
• We must ensure that righteous anger against Injustice does not turn into anger against people
• Love draws us together, but anger separates us
• Slander and gossip can destroy the reputations of other people
• Malice is the opposite of love. We must build others up, not pull them down.

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 4:30. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 4:30

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

We are not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

The word “ to grieve” has a similar meaning in Greek as in Hebrew. It means to cause sorrow or grief or to distress. Paul is telling us we must not distress the Holy Spirit.

This follows immediately after the instruction to not let any unwholesome to come out of our mouths. Some commentators suggest that this is important because the Holy Spirit is especially concerned about our communication within the fellowship and to unbelievers. The words that we use and the ways we talk to one another are important to the Holy Spirit and can cause Him grief or distress.

It is also true that our habitual or repeated sins of any character can distress the Holy Spirit. We are told repeatedly in the scriptures that we are to be holy just as the lord is holy. To be constantly in sin is to desecrate the holy vessels that God has called us to be and which Christ died to purchase.

The fact that we can grieve the Holy Spirit is a reminder of the personhood of the Spirit. We can sometimes think of the Spirit as being an impersonal force, perhaps because we fail to adequately grasp who the Holy Spirit is.

We must affirm that the Holy Spirit is God, and therefore a person, in the same way that the Father and the Son are also God and persons .

We use the word “spirit” very loosely at times – the spirit of Christmas, team spirit, the spirit of Australia. In this context the word means a vaguely conceived connection, a bond, or a shared purpose. This is not the character of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is God active in the world- whether the context is seen in individual believers, in non-believers, in a culture, or in the church.

When we grieve the Holy Spirit, we grieve God. This occurs through our sin and rebellion, and it opposes the whole concept of our salvation.

Paul here describes the Holy Spirit as” the Holy Spirit of God.” He could have referred to him as the Spirit, or the Spirit of God, or the Holy Spirit. In this way, Paul is emphasising that the Spirit of God is Holy. This is not a name or a title, but a description of the nature of the Spirit of God.

God is Holy. When we use the word “holy” about God, we don’t mean the same thing that we mean when we describe a created thing or a person as holy.

To say an object is holy means that it has been set apart for God’s purposes. The object then cannot be used for ordinary or profane purposes. Similarly when the scriptures say that we are to be holy, they mean that we are now devoted to God’s purposes and we cannot do just whatever we want to do.

To say God is holy is to say that God is untouched in anyway by sin. We can’t say this of any created thing because, just by being in the world, they are touched by the general state of corruption which sin has brought into the creation.

God is holy because He cannot do anything that is opposed to His own character. The Spirit of God is likewise holy. Jesus, the Son of God, was tempted in every way that we are, but He remained without sin. He is holy.

Because God is by His nature untouched by sin, He does not change in His holiness. We are assailed in every direction by temptation, and often we give in. We can be righteous one minute, and commit some grievous in the next minute, but God’s holiness is constant and unchanging .

The Spirit of God is holy because He is God, and He does not change .

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit of God for the day of redemption.

A seal was often placed on a document to serve two functions.

Firstly, it served as a guarantee of the source of the document. It was a sign of ownership. The document could be trusted as a genuine letter from a king, because it contained the king’s seal. The Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of the believer is a sign that we belong to God.

The second purpose of a seal was to guarantee the document’s authenticity. A letter that was sealed could be trusted to be free from alterations as long as the seal remained intact.

The Holy Spirit is a sign or a seal that we are the real thing as far as Christ is concerned. We carry the mark of God in our spirits to show that we are not a forgery. Our salvation is real because the Holy Spirit is really in us.

The presence of the Holy Spirit seals us for the day of redemption.

The day of judgement, when the sheep are separated from the goats, and the wheat from the weeds, can make us feel anxious. Judgement sounds like it is about condemnation or punishment.

The day of judgement is, for christians, the day of redemption. We will be declared free and righteous on that day. The Holy Spirit in us will be seen as the true sign of our salvation .

Christians have nothing to fear from God’s judgement. We know, or we should know, that Jesus’ death on the cross has bought our salvation. We look forward to eternal joy spent in the presence of God.

Those who do not know Christ will be judged and condemned to the lake of fire.

Our culture does not deal well with binary, or black and white, decisions. We like to have grey zones where the edges are blurred, where laws have loopholes. God has stated clearly that those who die in Christ will be raised to eternal life, while those who die away from Christ are doomed to hell.

To choose for Christ is the most important decision any person can make.

Key points in this verse:

• To grieve the Holy Spirit means to cause him pain or distress
• Our words and our sins can distress the Holy spirit
• The Holy Spirit is God and is a person not a force
• God is totally untouched by sin and cannot sin
• We are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a sign and guarantee that we belong to God
• For Christians the day of judgement is the day of freedom