Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 43

Paul Describes what Putting on the New Man looks like Part 2

Ephesians 4:28-29 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. KJV

Paul’s instructions to these Ephesian converts of “Let him that stole steal no more” (Ephesians 4:28) may seem elementary to us today or that which needed not to be said, but instead this should be clear to these new believers in Jesus Christ in Ephesus, but Paul had become aware of the culture in that part of the world that bandits frequented the mountains in Ephesus making robbing and thieving their occupation. Knowing this reality and fearing that some of these Ephesian converts may have at some point in their lives been a part of some of these band of thieves, Paul now wants to make it clear to them what Christ will is for them going forward as they walk with Him as he instructed and warned the Thessalonian converts with these words, “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.” (2 Thessalonians 3:7-12).

The great result of being diligent in working and earning wages from work was that every believer able to do so would then be able to help the weak believers who were unable to work due to injury or illness and this would then be the execution of Christ will for every member in His Mystical Body just as Paul declared to the Galatian believers with these words, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2). The English word bear Paul used in Galatians 6:2 is translated by the Greek word bastazo meaning (through the idea of removal); to lift, literally or figuratively (endure, declare, sustain, receive, etc.): - bear, carry, take up. This is not the hardworking, good stewarding, believer in Christ taking care of the slothful, indolent, or lazy believer in Christ, but it is those of us who are blessed with this worlds goods giving joyfully (2 Corinthians 9:7) to our brothers and sisters that are persecuted out of a way to earn a living or incapacitated because of a crippling disease or injury as the Apostle John put it with these words, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” (1 John 3:16-18) and again as the Apostle Paul told these very same Ephesian believers when he lived among them for over three (3) years teaching them the Word of God and then departed from them for the last time, never to see them again until they all were in the arms of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ in Heaven, he said, “‘I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’’ When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were accompanying him to the ship.” (Acts 20:33-38).

Next Paul exhorts them in an area that so easily besets (Hebrews 12:1) many of us who love our Lord Jesus and I must confess that this controlling the tongue to speak only that which  builds men and women up is a strong sinful weakness in myself, but Paul instructs these Ephesian believers, myself and every other true believer “in Christ” of every generation to “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29). Paul declares this in the negative tone and the English word corrupt is translated by the Greek word sapros which means that which is rotten, that is, worthless (literally or morally). The saying that goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is utterly and completely false. This is exactly what the Apostle wants to relay here to these Ephesian believers and to us today that our words carry with them the sharpness of a knife used to gut and skin a deer, but our rotten and worthless words cut deep into the heart and soul of the person on the receiving end as I heard someone say using these words before, “Your words are like a shotgun blast that cannot be retrieved once released”, therefore, Paul warns us against allowing our tongue not to be tamed by God the Holy Spirit as so did our Lord Jesus Himself when He said, “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37) and also as King Solomon learned after many years of living in rebellion to God’s Word and Will when he wrote these words, “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2). In contrast, Paul exhorts them and us today to use words spoken to and about our fellow brothers and sisters “in Christ” that will build them up spiritually and cause them to walk in the Spirit and give them spiritual strength to resist the devil and to grow in grace, likewise, that our speech should also be gracious even to the unbeliever outside of Christ as Paul declared with these words to the Colossian believers, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” (Colossians 4:5-6).

My own Personal Note: Luke 19:8 (AMP): “So then Zacchaeus stood up and solemnly declared to the Lord, See, Lord, the half of my goods I now give [by way of restoration] to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I now restore four times as much.” Giving half of his goods to the poor and restoring fourfold to the people he had cheated shows that Zacchaeus recognized his guilt as a sinner. Standing up openly and publicly confessing his sin provides full and complete evidence of the sincerity of his repentance and the confession he made with his mouth unto salvation. The evidence of a changed life proves true repentance. Zacchaeus did not expect to be justified by his works as do self-righteous persons who boast of what they have done or who they are. By his good works (morally excellent and virtuous actions and deeds) Zacchaeus evidenced the sincerity of his repentance and faith through the grace of God. His encounter with the living Christ wrought a change—a radical transformation—in his life. He was not who he had been. He was a new creation! Excerpt from my Book entitled, “Silent Assassins of the Soul: Finding Freedom from Sexual Impurity through the Lord Jesus Christ, A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs”

“To talk of a ‘lazy Christian,’ is about the same as to talk of burning water or freezing fire. Christians should have some ‘useful’ and ‘honest’ employment. They should work ‘that which is good.’ They should not pursue an employment which will necessarily injure others. No man has a right to place a nuisance under the window of his neighbor; nor has he any ‘more’ right to pursue an employment that shall lead his neighbor into sin or ruin him. An honest employment benefits everybody. A good farmer is a benefit to his neighborhood and country; and a good shoemaker, blacksmith, weaver, cabinetmaker, watchmaker, machinist, is a blessing to the community. He injures no one; he benefits all.” Albert Barnes

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…