Audio Messages:
Pastor Wade Burleson

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Ephesians 4:25-29 (English-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.

1. These words of Paul are written for Christians only.
   A lost man does not have "a new man" created in him after the image of God.
2. A Christian is not called to crucify, but to put off the old man.
   This is the work of God, and it has already been accomplished. Someone has said, "True Christianity is apprehending by faith what God has done on our behalf!"
3. Christianity is not only "putting off" certain behaviors, but also "putting on" the opposite behavior.
   The difference between the world and Christians is that the world can stop certain practices because of convenience, but Christians act due to convictions.

1. A Christian is to "put off" lying, and is to "speak the truth." (v.25)
   Lying includes the following three areas:
   (1). Deceit (2). Distortions of the truth (3). Denials of the truth
   "For we are members one of another" tells us that lying hurts the entire body of Christ.
   Speaking the truth is radically opposite to the behavior of the world, the devil, and our own fallen natures. Yet the Christian has the power to "put on" this Christ-like behavior.
2. A Christian is to "put off" sinful anger, and is to "be angry" the right way. (vs. 26-27)
   Notice, the text says "be ye angry." Anger is not a sin. Jesus was angry; "He looked on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness in their hearts" (Mark 3:5)
   Two words translated anger in this text . . .
   1. "Be ye angry"
   2. " Do not let the sun go down on your wrath . ."
      Sinful anger is that anger that is nursed and turns to bitterness, resentment, and rage.
      "Giving the devil a foothold" is tied to the inability to be angry with sin, but loving to the sinner. The devil takes advantage of that person nursing a resentment with sinful anger.
3. A Christian is to "put off" stealing, and is to work and give generously. (v. 28)
   This world sees nothing wrong with obtaining wealth by means other than labor.
   A Christian is to "put off" even the thought of obtaining income apart from labor.
   This should cause us all to evaluate:
   (1). Gambling (2). Inheritances (3). Fantasies about being wealthy
   When income is earned, the Christian is then to look for ways to give to the needy.
4. A Christian is to "put off" corrupt conversation, and is to use words that edify.. (v. 29)
   Corrupt conversation includes vulgar, obscene, ugly, rotten, and unholy language.
   1. A Christian's language is to be "good" and "edifying."
   2. A Christian is to use his words wisely "as fits the occasion."
   3. The object of a Christian's conversation is "to minister grace"