Ephesians 6:1-4
The best thing our kids can see from us:
1. Our love of Jesus
2. Our love of our spouse
Ephesians 6:4 We are called to:
1. Lovingly lead with controlled authority
2. Actively lead with humility
3. Purposely lead with training and instruction in the Lord. One way to correct our children is to correct the example we are setting for them.
Ephesians 4:25-32
If Jesus has changed our lives, we will not continue in our old sinful patterns. Here are some things that are not characteristic of our new self:
- Lying v25, Jn 8:44, we need to be truthful
- Sinful anger v26-27, we need to deal with our anger, do not hold on to it or it will give the devil a foothold in our lives.
- Stealing v28, do honest work and share with others.
- Unwholesome talk v29, we need to be in control of our tongues. Speak in a way that is helpful, beneficial, life giving, and appropriate. Jas 3:1-12.
- Do not grieve the Holy Spirit v30
v32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgive one another.
Ephesians 4:17-24 Do not live as someone who is far from God. Put off the old self and live as someone who has been made new in Christ.
v 17-19 People who are far from God are not thinking correctly, they are darkened in their understanding, ignorant of the truth, and separated from God. They become calloused and give themselves over to sin. What we do best apart from God is sin. All we need to do to see this in action is to watch the news. We must realize that we are all one step away from ending up on the news, and not one of us would want our life decisions shown on the big screen.
v 20-24 We need good Godly teaching to learn about Christ. Our old self is a liar, trying to deceive us and tempt us into sin. We need to put off the old self. Rom 7:21-25, Gal 5:16-17. Which one will win-the old self or new self? It's the one you feed the most. We should put on the new self, created to be like God. 2 Cor 5:17. This is not just a "better" version of ourselves, for there is nothing good in us. It's God's version of us, which is better by far. We are not bad people trying to be good. We are dead people made alive in Christ, who want to be more like Jesus.
Ephesians 4:1-12
v4-6 "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." These are the basics of our faith. Jn 14:6
v7-12 We were all given spiritual gifts to use for God. Descended - came to earth. Captives - those who had been captive to sin.
v12 Spiritual gifts, Rom 12:6-8. We all need to use our gifts - to serve the church.
Eph 4:1-6: Unity in the church
v1 "urge" to come alongside, a passionate plea. Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Your practical living should match your spiritual condition.
v2 be humble (attitude that says I'm not more important than you, how can I serve you? Phil 2:1-4), gentle (strength under the control of God, maturity), patient (with respect to each other, having a wide soul so you can deal with those around you, patience is hard), love (bear with each other in love 1 Pet 4:8).
v4 make every effort (do your best, a determined effort)
Rom 6:9-11 Christ defeated death and sin.
1 Cor 15:50-58
1 Cor 15:13-19 - if the resurrection is not true, what we do is in vain.
v50-58 We will be given immortal, imperishable bodies. 1 Thess 4:13-18
Christ is a first fruit - the first to have victory over death forever. We are the harvest. Rev 21:4
v57 Thanks be to God! We have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
v58 Labor for the Lord is never in vain.
