Ephesians 4The morals and standards to live by for all believers

We are the Church, the unified body of Christ Ephesians 4Paul turns his attention to the implications of being the body of Christ, the church. Believers should have unity in their commitment to Christ, & live with the highest moral standards because God has chosen us to be Christ's representatives on earth.

In Ephesians 4 Paul challenges us to live lives worthy of the calling we have received- the awesome privilege of being called Christ's own. People are watching your life.

Can they see Christ in you? How well are you doing as His representative?

Here I have compiled key verses in Ephesians 4 that give clear instructions on how we should be conducting ourselves as individuals and within the church, the Unified body of Christ. Below each set of scriptures I have added, in italics, my own words and how you can take action to apply it to you life. If you have anything to add or maybe disagree, please leave me a comment, or contact me via facebook, I embrace corrections, constructive criticism and others opinions!

Ephesians 4:2, 3

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peaceEphesians 4:2 No one is ever going to be perfect, not you or your neighbor, so we must accept & love other Christians in spite of their faults. Is there someone whose actions or personality just really gets on your nerves? Rather than talking about those annoyances or looking for their faults, try praying for that person, or better yet find a way to spend time w/them to see if you can learn to like them.

Ephesians 4 :22-24

22 Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4 :22-24 Our old way of life before we received Christ is completely in the past. Like old clothes, it should be thrown away. Receiving Christ is not a one time action, but a daily commitment. We must make a decision daily to walk in the newness of our creation, putting off our old desires and ask the Holy Spirit each morning to be our guide, to teach us & show us the way! Remembering that this transformation is not sudden, it takes time. Yes God has the power to make it sudden, but what would we learn? Just as you teach your children lessons, so they understand the wrong & the effect, so God also will show us the inequities of our sin. You can read a short story of this transformation here

Ephesians 4:25-27

Ephesians 4 25-27 Lying to each other disrupts unity by creating conflicts and destroying trust. It tears down relationships and leads to open warfare in a church. The Bible doesn't tell us that we shouldn't feel angry, but it points out that it is important to handle our anger properly. If you hold it in, you can cause yourself to become bitter, destroying yourself from within. If you vent it thoughtlessly, when angered, you may really hurt the other person and destroy that relationship. Paul is telling us to deal with angry immediately in a way that builds relationships not destroy them. Nursing anger gives the devil an opportunity to divide us.

Are you angry with someone right now? What can you do to resolve your differences? Don't let the day end before you begin to work on mending your relationship!

25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Ephesians 4:28, 29

Ephesians 4:28,29 Here Paul warns us against unwholesome talk, bitterness, improper use of anger, harsh words, slander, and bad attitudes towards others. Instead of acting that way, we should be forgiving, just as God has forgiven us. Remember the old saying “if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"! At my home it is a house rule that we do not use words to tear others down but to lift them up.

When someone has wronged you, or done something that you feel is in need of correcting? Do you correct them in a way that encourages them to do better, or apologize? Or do you accuse them with words that put them on the defense? Like "Why would you do that"? Or make them feel inadequate by asking, "What did you think would happen"?

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you

Ephesians 4 :30-31 We can bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit by the way we live, causing us to miss out on His fullness and power . The Holy Spirit within us is a guarantee that we belong to God, and Jesus said he will be our teacher & counselor, we can ask the Holy Spirit to teach us self control, or how to love others they way God loves us, in spite of our misbehavior.

Are you bringing sorrow or pleasing God w/your attitudes & actions?

Ephesians 4:30 -32

Ephesians 4 :32 This is Christ's law of forgiveness as taught in the Gospels (Matt 6:14-15;18:35; Mark 11:25) God forgives us not because we forgive others but because of his great mercy. As we come to understand his mercy, we will want to pass it on to other. Those unwilling to forgive have not become one with Christ, who was willing to forgive even those who crucified him.

What are you holding onto? Is there someone or something that you just can’t let go of & forgive, that you feel was far too bad to let them off the hook?

Maybe you're over the hurt, but you just refuse to be around that person or even acknowledge their existence. If so, think how your life would be if Jesus said, "No, not her/him, He isn't worthy, what she did was far to bad"

Remember Unforgiveness hurts you more than the other person.

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