Walking in Holiness Ephesians 4:17-32
Having exhorted the believers to walk in unity (Ephesians 4:1-16), Paul now exhorted the believers to walk in holiness (Ephesians 4:17-32). First, Paul presented negatively how a believer should not walk; followed by the ways believers should behave themselves. Ephesians 4:17-32 may be outlined as follows: I. A Description of the Old Man – Ephesians 4:17-19; II. A Description of the New Man – Ephesians 4:20-32.
- A Description of the Old Man – Ephesians 4:17-19
In verses 17-18, Paul exhorted the Ephesian believers who were Gentiles (2:1-2, 11-12) to not walk as they did formerly. Formerly, these Gentiles walked in the futility (vanity) of their thinking (v. 17). Since they were futile in their thinking, their minds could not receive God’s revelation; and since they could not receive God’s revelation, their understanding was darkened, and they were separated from the life of God. Their alienation is because of their ignorance of God; and this is because of the hardening of their hearts. They were insensitive to God and His ways (v. 18).
In verse 19, because of their lack of sensitivity these Gentiles gave themselves over to sensuality (licentiousness, Gal. 5:19, I Peter 4:3), a life with no concern for personal standards or social sanctions. They were living a horrible lifestyle of indulging in every practice of impurity. This is a horrendous picture of sinful people’s selfish and perverted ways.
- A Description of the New Man – Ephesians 4:20-32
In contrast with the old man (vv. 17-19) believers did not learn (come to know) Christ that way (v. 20). Christ is now the subject and sphere of a believer’s learning. This teaching and learning is in accordance with the truth because He is truth (John 14:6). The content of this learning is twofold. First, A believer has put off the old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires (Ephesians 4:17-19). These self-centered lusts are deceitful because they promise joy but fail to provide it. Second, he has put on the new self which has been created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, which is based on truth (v. 24).
Believers have been made new in the attitude of their minds; they are no longer futile in their thinking, darkened in their understanding, and ignorant (vv. 18-19). Having put away falsehood, believers are exhorted to tell the truth (v. 25). The reason for this exhortation is that believers are all members of one another in Christ’s body, the church. While believers may be legitimately angry (John 2:13-16), they are not to sin (v. 26). We should deal with our anger before the sun goes down. The reason is that the devil would like to intensify a Christian’s righteous anger against sin, causing it to become sin itself (v. 27). We should not allow the devil to gain a foothold that would lead us to future sin. Then anger begins to control us, rather than we control the anger.
In verse 28, Christians are not to steal, but are to work in order to give to the needy. In verses 29-30, believers are not to speak unwholesome words, but helpful words for the purpose of edification. Good words benefit the hearers (v. 29). In verse 30, believers are not to grieve the Holy Spirit. We grieve the Holy Spirit by sinning. The Holy Spirit seals us until the day of redemption, the time that a believer receives his new body (Ephesians 1:14, Phil. 3:20-21).
In verses 31-32, believers are to get rid of the six vices: bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander and malice. However, the positive commands are – be kind, be compassionate, be forgiving. The reason for these positive commands is that in Christ, God is kind (Ephesians 2:7), compassionate (Mark 1:41), and gracious (Romans 8:32) to believers.
May God Bless!
