Rooted In His WordSample

The new way of life we have in Christ Jesus stands in contrast to the old way of life we had in our sinful spiritual state. It was the Apostle Paul’s practice in his letters to give his readers some idea of what the new life in Christ looks like. Our verse for today gives us some idea of what the new life looks like with respect to our speech. Our speech should not be “corrupting.” The Greek word translated as “corrupting” literally refers to the rottenness of fruit. Our speech should not be corrupting like fruit that has turned rotten. Rotten fruit can spread its rottenness to any good fruit it comes in contact with and corrupting speech can do the same. The corruption that dwells in the mind and heart of the speaker can corrupt the mind and heart of anyone who hears it. Paul is saying that the new way of life we have in Christ should not be like that. Instead of corrupting those who hear us, our speech should do the opposite. It should build people up. It should build people up, however, not in some vague general sense, but in very specific ways that are determined by the occasion. Speech always occurs in a context and Paul is saying that our speech should build people up in whatever context it occurs in. Thus, instead of corrupting every situation with corrupting speech, we should purify every situation with wholesome speech. Speech that builds people up is speech that is born of the Holy Spirit and that, as a result, ministers grace to anyone who hears it. The new way of life we have in Christ should minister grace across the board and our speech is an important part of that process. Speech that reflects the new way of life in Christ, then, is a radical departure from the speech that reflects the sinful spiritual state. As such, it can be one of the most powerful witnesses that we have at our disposal. In a world dominated by corrupt speech, let the words of our mouths attract people to the new life we have in Christ Jesus.