Being a Channel of Truth and Holiness (Part III)

“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; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” – Ephesians 4:22-25 (NIV)

We bring you this week the concluding part on “Being a Channel of Truth and Holiness”, which we started two weeks ago and ended with Walking in Truth and Holiness. We began with lessons from chapter 4 of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

We are happy to reproduce that content so that we can seamlessly conclude the rest of the article. As you read and share it with others, may the Lord grant all of us the grace to be channels of truth and holiness.

Walking in Truth and Holiness

Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians speaks extensively about walking in truth and holiness. By focusing on his words, we can grasp the sheer privilege of being God’s channel for truth and holiness. This is particularly found in Ephesians 4:17-32, which we will explore verse by verse.

Introduction

1. In Ephesians 4:1, Paul begins to describe our duty to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.”
2. In doing so, he first called us to walk together in unity by admonishing us to:
   • Display the “attitude” crucial for maintaining unity (Ephesians 4:2-3).
   • Understand the “basis” of the unity we have in Christ (Ephesians 4:4-6).
   • Utilize the “gifts” given by Christ to His church to keep the body of Christ together and growing (Ephesians 4:7-16).
3. In the last half of chapter four (Ephesians 4:17-32), Paul continues to describe the sort of “walk” that is worthy of our calling, especially as “a holy temple in the Lord.”
   • Whereas the first half emphasized Walking Together in Unity,
   • This section emphasizes Walking in Truth and Holiness.

I. The Admonition – Ephesians 4:17-24

A. No longer walk like the rest of the Gentiles (Ephesians 4:17-19)

1. They walk “in the futility of their mind.” How so?
   • It starts with the hardening of their heart.
   • This leads to the ignorance that is in them.
   • Because of such ignorance, they are alienated from the life of God.
   • As a result, they have their understanding darkened.

Notice that Jesus describes this same process in Matthew 13:14-15.

2. Their walk is past feeling, as indicated by the fact that they:
   • “Have given themselves over to licentiousness” (i.e., unbridled lust and excess).
   • “Work all uncleanness with greediness.”

Desensitized, they seek ever-increasing forms of moral depravity.

• By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee,
  the author

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