Another helping of 'tators
Ephesians 5:8-20
In my last post, I spoke of the need for holiness instead of political or correctness. The reality is that nothing we could ever do will make us perfect except living completely surrendered to our Lord Jesus Christ. In reading this, it seems clear to me that we are in a constant state of war internally with our own nature.
The third key to Holiness is living in the light. Paul lays this out for us in Ephesians 4:17-30
There is a laundry list of things we should do and can do to live in the light.
* Put off falsehood (be honest and full of integrity)
* Put off the old self (continually make choices that honor God, not yourself)
* Do not sin because of Anger (it's ok to be angry, but not ok to allow that anger to cause you to sin. Most common is to make rash, negative choices, or to cuss, fight, or get cause dissension or discord in the body)
I want to speak to these specifically because I cannot say that I have been 100% innocent in these.
1. Put off falsehood... For this one, I don't think that it simply don't lie, but also tell the truth all of it. Did you ever hear in movies, or in real life, people talk about "little white lies?" In my experience, lies are never little, or white, there is nothing good about lying. Even if it causes hurt to someone. Lies lead to more lies. You have to cover up the truth with more and more and more lies until there is a swiss cheese like wall of lies trying to hide the truth.
Not telling the whole truth is just as bad. When is the last time someone asked you something and you only told part of the truth because you were concerned of what that person would think if they knew the whole truth?
To be imitators of Christ, we must put this off. We have to speak the truth. In the movie "The Kingdom of Heaven" there is an invocation that Liam Neeson's character says over his "son" Balian. Part of the invocation says, "Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death." If we could ever do that, what kind of world would we have? Instead, our nature tells us that we have to cover up the truth because people will hate us, jeer us, or hurt us if we are 100% truthful. However, what our nature doesn't know is that we are actually more free if we tell the truth. People won't hate us, especially those who we count as friends.
2. DO not sin in your anger... Anger is an interesting thing to talk about. Hulk is the best analogy i can use to describe it. When the incredible hulk gets angry, the man, Bruce Banner, turns into a giant. Green, muscle-bound, rage filled, and explosive in every area. He is able to deflect missiles, toss tanks and Humvees around like matchbox cars. But to be imitators, we have to not sin in Anger. What does that mean? A lot of people think it means just don't get angry. But Jesus himself, the one we should imitate, got angry. The bible tells us that God gets angry ABOUT sin. Some people interpret this as God being an angry, wrathful God, but in so doing, attribute the anger we experience to God. We can't fathom anger that doesn't cause sin, so we see God as not being a GOOD GOD. First thing we need to realize is that GOD doesn't sin, ever. Anger is NOT a sin, but how we choose to act during that anger could be and most often is. The other thing we need to realize is that ANGER is infectious and spreads QUICKLY. Paul says here "Don't let the sun set while you are angry" which is a quote from the old testament. He is saying to everyone that we need to deal with the root cause of anger; the pride, the selfishness, the bitterness, all of it every day. We should not allow it to stay there because it will infect us and we very quickly become the green, rage-filled hulk. Imitators of Christ need to be humble, as Christ was, but also have the ability to control their actions. Self control is a CRUCIAL piece.
So this was a bit longer than the normal posts, but this is part two of what will end up being a study on Ephesians 5. Stay tuned for another helping of Tators (thanks Sherry for the title idea.)
8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In my last post, I spoke of the need for holiness instead of political or correctness. The reality is that nothing we could ever do will make us perfect except living completely surrendered to our Lord Jesus Christ. In reading this, it seems clear to me that we are in a constant state of war internally with our own nature.
The third key to Holiness is living in the light. Paul lays this out for us in Ephesians 4:17-30
17So 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. 18They 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. 19Having 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.
20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25Therefore 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"[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He 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.
29Do 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. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
There is a laundry list of things we should do and can do to live in the light.
* Put off falsehood (be honest and full of integrity)
* Put off the old self (continually make choices that honor God, not yourself)
* Do not sin because of Anger (it's ok to be angry, but not ok to allow that anger to cause you to sin. Most common is to make rash, negative choices, or to cuss, fight, or get cause dissension or discord in the body)
I want to speak to these specifically because I cannot say that I have been 100% innocent in these.
1. Put off falsehood... For this one, I don't think that it simply don't lie, but also tell the truth all of it. Did you ever hear in movies, or in real life, people talk about "little white lies?" In my experience, lies are never little, or white, there is nothing good about lying. Even if it causes hurt to someone. Lies lead to more lies. You have to cover up the truth with more and more and more lies until there is a swiss cheese like wall of lies trying to hide the truth.
Not telling the whole truth is just as bad. When is the last time someone asked you something and you only told part of the truth because you were concerned of what that person would think if they knew the whole truth?
To be imitators of Christ, we must put this off. We have to speak the truth. In the movie "The Kingdom of Heaven" there is an invocation that Liam Neeson's character says over his "son" Balian. Part of the invocation says, "Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death." If we could ever do that, what kind of world would we have? Instead, our nature tells us that we have to cover up the truth because people will hate us, jeer us, or hurt us if we are 100% truthful. However, what our nature doesn't know is that we are actually more free if we tell the truth. People won't hate us, especially those who we count as friends.
2. DO not sin in your anger... Anger is an interesting thing to talk about. Hulk is the best analogy i can use to describe it. When the incredible hulk gets angry, the man, Bruce Banner, turns into a giant. Green, muscle-bound, rage filled, and explosive in every area. He is able to deflect missiles, toss tanks and Humvees around like matchbox cars. But to be imitators, we have to not sin in Anger. What does that mean? A lot of people think it means just don't get angry. But Jesus himself, the one we should imitate, got angry. The bible tells us that God gets angry ABOUT sin. Some people interpret this as God being an angry, wrathful God, but in so doing, attribute the anger we experience to God. We can't fathom anger that doesn't cause sin, so we see God as not being a GOOD GOD. First thing we need to realize is that GOD doesn't sin, ever. Anger is NOT a sin, but how we choose to act during that anger could be and most often is. The other thing we need to realize is that ANGER is infectious and spreads QUICKLY. Paul says here "Don't let the sun set while you are angry" which is a quote from the old testament. He is saying to everyone that we need to deal with the root cause of anger; the pride, the selfishness, the bitterness, all of it every day. We should not allow it to stay there because it will infect us and we very quickly become the green, rage-filled hulk. Imitators of Christ need to be humble, as Christ was, but also have the ability to control their actions. Self control is a CRUCIAL piece.
So this was a bit longer than the normal posts, but this is part two of what will end up being a study on Ephesians 5. Stay tuned for another helping of Tators (thanks Sherry for the title idea.)
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