MESSAGE TEXT
Ephesians 4:29-30; 5:1-4
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INTRODUCTION
“Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” “Every saint has a past” reminds us that even the most godly, holy, or admirable people weren’t always perfect. They’ve made mistakes, sinned, or struggled. Think of people like the Apostle Paul (once a persecutor of Christians). Living a set apart life doesn’t mean perfection from the start—it means transformation and redemption. “Every sinner has a future” means that no one is beyond hope or forgiveness. No matter how far someone has fallen, they can change, repent, and be redeemed. Grace means your story can be rewritten. Put simply: Your past doesn’t disqualify you, and your future isn’t fixed. No one is so good that he hasn’t failed at some point, and no one is so bad that he cannot be saved. All have sinned, and all is grace.
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PROPOSITION
Paul offered five examples of what living the new life means in the context of relationship with others. Putting on these behaviors will heal a fractionalized community. We focus on one of these today: Put off corrupt speech. Put on wholesome communication patterns. Your life has an aroma (just as Jesus' life did - Eph. 5:1-2). What do you smell like? This will be determined by what kingdom you belong to?
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MAIN POINTS
Exchange lying for speaking truth
Put off deception. Put on truth. (v.25) Reason? One Body
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Exchange unrestrained anger with timely reconciliation
Put off delay. Put on self-control. (v.26-27) Reason? Devil foothold
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Exchange stealing for sharing
Put off stealing. Put on work. (v.28) Reason? Share with others
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Exchange corrupt communication with edifying words
Put off corrupt speech. Put on wholesome communication patterns. (v.29-30) Reason? Spirit is not grieved
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Exchange natural vices for supernatural graces
Put off bitterness. Put on forgiveness. (v.31-32; 5:1-2) Reason? God is kind and gracious.
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APPLICATION
There are two kingdoms. Paul is setting up a contrast of two kingdoms. We’ll get into this language in an upcoming segment of Ephesians. Two kingdoms in conflict. Kingdom of light and kingdom of darkness. The Kingdom of God represents God’s rule, truth, and moral order — centered on Christ and eternal values. The kingdom of man represents human power, pride, and systems that often oppose God’s truth. We are advancing one of these two kingdoms. At the heart of the kingdom of light is self-sacrificial love. At the heart of the kingdom of darkness is self-indulgent sensuality. To enthrone sensuality it to dethrone God.
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When that has happened - Kingdom of God has a way of conversing (thanksgiving and truth-telling) as does the kingdom of darkness (consuming and deceiving). If I have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light, the kingdom of the dear Son, that should affect the reality of my life? Which means what comes out of my life and out of my lips should be that which declares the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of the world. Whichever kingdom you belong to will have a great impact on what it’s like to live with you.
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CONCLUSION
Two very different points of life emphasis.
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“Look at what the world is coming to.” Lying, stealing, fighting, murdering, cursing, sexting. And just go off on that – joking and cursing and making fun at someone’s expense. Hooking up and partying because it all looks so vain and hopeless. If we cave into this - Hard to live with!
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“Look at Who has come into the world.” “Look at who has come into my life – and how my life is being reoriented toward God and serving others.” Ephesians 5:2 suggests that Jesus has a smell. And when you’re easy to live with, you smell like Jesus. the pleasing aroma of Christ (2 Cor. 2) “Smelling like Jesus” means reflecting His presence.