Different is GoodEph. 4 17-32

The Christian life is very different from the non-Christian life

I. Different is Good because it is not futile

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them

due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

Darkened, separated, ignorant, hardened, insensitive and sensual, impure, lustful—this describes “thinking” that is truly futile resulting in futile living. This bad thinking starts with a hardened heart.

What is the opposite? Enlightened, joined in fellowship with Christ, knowing, softened, sensitive, spiritual, pure, contained—this describes a life that has true purpose due to “right thinking” because of a “right heart”.

All earthly desires and gains will be laid down in death. Will the things you have given your life to be FUTILE then?

Is it possible for a Christian to still live like those who are not Christians? Well, evidently, otherwise why would Paul “insist” on them no longer living as others, in the futility of their thinking.

A hardened heart seems to be at the root of all of this. I have seen Christians get a “hard heart”. This is why, later in this passage, Paul tells them to be “tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God has forgiven you for Christ’s sake”.

If we keep a tender heart, we will not lose sensitivity to God, and therefore will not establish ourselves in sensuality or maliciousness, living a futile life like those who are lost.

II. Different is Good because it is a Mind-Set that is New and Godlike. 20 You, however, did not come to know

Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Evidently, the means to newness in Christ has something to do with the mind: “know, heard, taught, truth, taught, deceitful, minds”. These words indicate a learning process that involves filling the mind with God’s truth.

Our personal relationship with Christ leads us to learn more about Him. (Again, it starts with the heart). In this learning, we are taught to understand that the old life must be put off and the new life must be put on, like taking off the toga of childhood and putting on the toga of adulthood. (get rid=airo, passive)

The New life is like God and therefore has true righteousness and holiness.

III. Different is Good because it is Honest, Forthright, Hardworking, and Helpful. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood

and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

A big problem at that time was stealing (purloining) with the falsehoods of lying and deceitfulness that go with it.

Titus 1: 12 Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”

Titus 2:9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

A culture of stealing and lying is also a culture of conniving and malice. Instead of this, Christians should be FORTHRIGHT:

We see something wrong, we NAVIGATE between “HOT-HEADEDNESS” and “SLOW-BURN”. Somewhere between those two: yes, we get angry, but, no, we do not sin. We should therefore deal with the problem today in a forthright manner.

This is not to say that some problems are not worth the fight. Life is too short to engage every battle, so pick your battles wisely.

A culture of very rich and very poor has this stealing, lying, conniving and maliciousness abounding.

In the midst of that very kind of culture, Christians are given the grace and the power to speak truth, be forthright, and hardworking so that we can be helpful to others in need.

A poor slave, being taken advantage of, is still expected to receive God’s grace to be truthful, forthright, hardworking and helpful to others because he has honestly, with a clear conscience, labored with his own hands in order to give to others.

IV. Different is Good because it Blesses Others, God, and Ourselves. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of

your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid (airo=take up, passive aorist) of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Others: Our new life builds others up, meets their needs, and benefits them in ways we don’t even know.

God: Our new life (if we put it on and live in it) blesses God in ways we don’t even know. But if we fail to live the new life, we grieve God the Holy Spirit in ways we do not know.

Ourselves: Our new life helps us by ridding us of bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and malice. Also, by being kind to others, forgiving others and being tenderhearted, we receive blessings that we cannot even know at present. “It is more blessed to give....”

Questions about being Different Do you feel purposeful in your life? or do you feel your life is futile? Has your “thinking” been right?

Have you “put off” the old life and “put on” the new life in Christ? Or, have you been “deceived” and slipped back into those old ways?

Do you have a hard time being honest, forthright, hardworking, and helpful? Isn’t this caused by slipping back into the old life?

Have you been a blessing to others, God, and yourself lately? Or, would you say that you are tearing down others, grieving God, and hurting yourself through being unkind and unforgiving?

Closing Hymn 317 (f) Cleanse MeSearch me, O God, and know my heart today

try me, O Savior, know my thoughts I pray

See if there be some wicked way in me

Cleanse me from every sin and set me free.

I praise thee Lord, for cleansing me from sin

Fulfill thy word and make me pure within

fill me with fire where once I burned with shame

Grant my desire to magnify Thy Name

If you need to ask God to save you from the futility of the old life, I invite you to pray this:

Dear Father, I have seen a lot of futile living and thinking in myself today. I ask you to forgive me for not being different from others who are lost. Please help me right now as I take off the old life and put on the new. Help me to be a blessing to others and to You, and to myself as I learn to be honest, forthright, hardworking and helpful. Give me grace to always be tenderhearted and forgiving toward all who may offend me. I pray in Jesus Name, Amen.

Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine

Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine

Take all my will, my passion, self and pride

I now surrender Lord, in me abide

O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee

Send a revival, start the work in me

thy word declares Thou will supply our need

For blessings, now, O Lord, I humbly plead