The Truth-Telling Community
June 2, 2024 Preacher: Gareth Franks Series: Ephesians - Gospel Truths Lead to Gospel Living
Topic: The Church, Christian Living Scripture: Ephesians 4:25
Over the last few studies in Ephesians we have seen how the apostle Paul has been drawing a sharp line between the believers’ former manner of living and the new life found in Christ. Since God has changed us through the gospel, we need to continue changing and becoming more like Christ each day. As followers of Jesus we are to live in light of the truth by putting off the old life, being renewed in the spirit of our minds, and putting on the new life (4:22-24).
In verse 25, Paul starts to develop the distinction between the “old self” and the “new self”. From Ephesians 4:25 all the way through to v.32, he gets specific and gives us practical ways to be renewed in the spirit of our mind. He starts by highlighting the importance of trust that is generated by a Truth-Telling Community. Our study will follow the outline below:
- The New Birth (v.25a)
- The Command (v.25b)
- The Motive (v.25c)
Starting in verse 25, Paul hughlights one practical imperative that should distinguish a believer’s new manner of life from the old. Paul says, we who have experienced the new birth must lay aside falsehood and speak the truth, because we are members of one another.
Lying is a huge problem. It's pervasive in our culture and it has permeated the church. The Apostle Paul is saying to us ‘Don't live like the world in the way that you tell the truth. No, instead of speaking falsely, speak truthfully.’ Secondly he's saying to us that we are to speak the truth to our neighbors, recognizing especially that in the body when we speak the truth we are literally speaking the truth to ourselves, because we are all in one body.
Paul is calling us to live like Christians, to live out grace, to enhance the unity of the body of Christ and to promote the glory of God, through our truth-telling
Getting Started
- Can you remember the first time you told a lie? What was the context and what were the consequences? Share your story.
- Read Ephesians 4:17-25
- What insight, principle, or observation from Sunday’s sermon did you find to be the most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling?
Digging Deeper
- Why is being born again, the starting point for a life of truthfulness?
- Paul already used the analogy of the body of Christ in connection with speaking the truth in love (4:14-16). Here, he brings it up again, citing Zechariah 8:16, but Paul adds this reason, ‘that we are members of one another’. Why?
- What does the phrase “members of one another” suggest about the motives behind the falsehood that controls the Gentiles’ lifestyle?
The Heart of the Matter
- Many people think of deception in their personal and business transactions as acceptable as long as they are not caught. Is it ever morally right to lie? What about to protect your job? What about to protect someone’s reputation?
- Later in chapter 5 & 6, Paul will talk about how gospel truths effect gospel centred marriages and families. How do you think lying affects the family?
- How will lying affect your testimony before unbelievers?
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