Paul Describes what Putting on the New Man looks
like Part 1
Ephesians
4:25-27 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor:
for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go
down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. KJVPaul begins his discourse on the attributes of the “new man” or “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17) by telling these Ephesian converts to Christ and us today who have trusted our Lord Jesus Christ solely and only for our salvation that our lives should reflect “putting away lying” (Ephesians 4:25). This English phrase “putting away lying” is translated by one Greek word apotithemi which happens to be the exact same word Paul just used in verse 22 and it means to put away (literally or figuratively): - cast off, lay aside, or lay down. Lying is something that comes natural to our “old man” or “old nature” and it is not to now characterize our new life “in Christ” because every time we lie to our fellow brothers and sisters “in Christ” we injure them by concealing from them reality and actuality and that could stunt their spiritual growth by making them believe falsehood and more importantly we injure ourselves spiritually by weakening the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit working in our inner man or inner woman. The Apostle no doubt being very knowledgeable of the Old Testament Scripture had these words in his mind spoken by the Prophet Zechariah when exhorting these Ephesians and us today to honesty with one another and Zechariah said, “‘These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates. Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,’ declares the LORD.” (Zechariah 8:16-17).
Paul declares this to be the “will of God” because “we are members one of another” (Ephesians 4:25). The little seemingly insignificant English phrase “we are” is translated by one Greek word esmen a first person plural indicative meaning to have our being. The English word members is translated by the Greek word melos meaning a limb or part of the body. In other words, just like the human body is fit together with many different members united and joined to make it up, so is the eternal spiritual Body of Jesus Christ joined by differing limbs or souls knit together as the Apostle Paul declared with these words to the Colossian believers, “Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire {and} declaring you unworthy {and} disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions {and} inflated by his unspiritual thoughts {and} fleshly conceit, And not holding fast to the Head, from Whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by means of its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.” (Colossians 2:18-19). Because we have been now “knit together” into one Spiritual Body we injure the entire Body of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ when we lie to one another because we are one in Him also as Paul declared with these words to the Roman believers, “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:4-5).
Paul knew that these Ephesian converts were brought up in a culture that saw lying as (in many cases) a necessary practice for example, “A lie is better than a hurtful truth.” – Menander and “Good is better than truth.” – Proclus and “When telling a lie will be profitable, let it be told.” - Darius in Herodotus, and “He may lie who knows how to do it in a suitable time.” - Plato and “There is nothing decorous in truth but when it is profitable; yea, sometimes truth is hurtful, and lying is profitable to men.” - Maximus Tyrius. These attitudes and beliefs are no different than what all of us have grown up with in our local, State, and Federal politicians who lie with impunity in order to gain a political office with no intention of fulfilling the things they have promised to the people. Lawyers lie without regard to win a case and they see this as their duty and obligation. Therefore, what a disaster it would be if the eyes in our human body deceived the other members of the body and led the entire body into a burning building that would most certainly destroy the entire body, likewise, when we deceive (by willfully lying) to one of the other members of Christ Body we bring potential destruction to the entire Body of Jesus Christ. Paul declares that we must be diligent to put away our former conduct in this area of our now new life in Jesus Christ because now we are part of something eternal and much greater than just ourselves. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say concerning truth, “Nothing is more important in a community than simple ‘truth’ - and yet, it is to be feared that nothing is more habitually disregarded. No professing Christian can do any good who has not an unimpeachable character for integrity and truth - and yet who can lay his hand on his breast and say before God that he is in all cases a man that speaks the simple and unvarnished truth?”
Paul appeals to them that they “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” (Ephesians 4:26). These words are no doubt the Apostle having in his mind what King David wrote in a song in Psalm 4:4 and the little English phrase “be ye angry” is translated by one Greek word orgizo meaning to provoke or enrage, that is, (passively) become exasperated: - be angry (wroth). Paul was wholly given over to the “will of God” in his life, yet, he was a man of extreme passion and knew the dangers (as he saw within himself first) of not allowing God the Holy Spirit to take our anger and move it from unrighteous anger (capable of emotionally and physically hurting others) as we see in this encounter with the Jews Paul had as documented for us by Dr. Luke, “Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, ‘Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.’ The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, ‘God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?’ But the bystanders said, ‘Do you revile God’s high priest?’ And Paul said, ‘I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” (Acts 23:1-5).
Paul knew that we must allow God the Holy Spirit to take our anger and turn it into righteous anger being angered and grieved over sin (in ourselves) and sin loose in the world of men and women as our Lord Jesus was when these words were documented of Him by Mark, “And He said to them, ‘Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?’ But they kept silent. After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.” (Mark 3:4-5). Paul exhorts them and us today to be mindful and careful to take our anger with or directed at others to the thrown of grace in order that we keep it from simmering over into a boil causing us to “give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27) in our hearts which will only cause us and others grief and injury. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about anger, “‘Anger’ is a passion too common to need any description. It is an excitement or agitation of mind, of more or less violence, produced by the reception of a real or supposed injury, and attended commonly with a desire or purpose of revenge. The desire of revenge, however, is not essential to the existence of the passion, though it is probably always attended with a disposition to express displeasure, to chide, rebuke, or punish; compare Mark 3:5. To a great extent the sudden excitement on the reception of an injury is involuntary, and consequently innocent. Anger is excited when a horse kicks us; when a serpent hisses; when we dash our foot against a stone - and so when a man raises his hand to strike us. The ‘object or final cause’ of implanting this passion in the mind of man is, to rouse him to an immediate defense of himself when suddenly attacked, and before his reason would, have time to suggest the proper means of defense. It prompts at once to self-protection; and when that is done its proper office ceases.”
Paul wants these Ephesian believers and we true believers today to understand that our yielding to sinful anger will be injurious to others and even more injurious to ourselves because we allow the devil to gain an entrance, to have room into our hearts to setup a campground where he can lead us into all manner of sin that will lead to destruction and keep us from intimacy with our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, we are to stop this from occurring and keep ourselves in the love of God not forming a habit of getting easily provoked but instead Paul wants us to do as he declared to the Roman believers with these words, “Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest {and} proper {and} noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21).
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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