Paul's Blueprint
I'd like for us to take a look at Ephesians chapter 4, verses 17-32, where the Apostle Paul lays out a blueprint for our transformation from darkness into light. He also explains the distinct differences between the mental states of a person before and after they are exposed to the love of Jesus. We'll begin with verse 17, and read a few verses, then try to expound upon their meaning...
Ephesians 4:17-19...This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Paul is here outlining the idea for our transformation, laying the groundwork for the changes that are to come. Keep in mind, although this epistle was written to Gentiles in the first century A.D., it applies to us just as directly in the 21st century, because as we are told in Ecclesiastes 1:9, there is no new thing under the sun. Evil is just as prevalent now as it was then, and the same devil that plagued the people of the first century is still working today to keep us apart from God. This is what Paul means by being alienated from the life of God. The ignorance that Paul speaks of is original sin. It seeks to darken our understanding, and to blind our hearts to the love of God. As our understanding becomes darkened, the light of God's love is pushed further away and our hearts are blinded, the inevitable conclusion being that we become, as Paul says, past feeling, and we give ourselves over to darkness, to uncleanness. Note here that it is a voluntary action on our part, however. We are the ones giving ourselves over, we are not being taken over by Satan, and we are not being relinquished by God. It is only after this voluntary turning over of ourselves, this pushing away of the light in order to embrace the darkness, that God turns us over to a reprobate mind, as we see in Romans 1:28. Paul warns us that we are to retain the knowledge of God, and to walk in His light. We'll pick back up with verse 20-24...
Ephesians 4:20-24...But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
We see here that we have a definitive role to play in this change. Once we see the light, we must begin to step out into the light, no longer walking in darkness. Renewing the spirit of our minds, we put away our old ways, the deceit and corruption giving way to a new way of thinking, a new way of looking at ourself and others, no longer looking through worldly eyes, but rather truly seeing for the first time through the eyes of Jesus.
Ephesians 4:25-27...Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.
Here at the beginning of Paul's blueprint, we see that truth is first and foremost. In order for us to be like Christ, we must esteem others better than ourselves, and, just as Jesus taught, we must love our neighbour as ourself. We are all members of the same body. Notice here that Paul does not tell us that anger has no place in our life. There are times when anger is appropriate, and even necessary, but anger becomes sin when it is allowed to fester. This is the reason that Paul tells us not to let the sun go down upon our wrath. Jesus dealt harshly at times with the Scribes and Pharisees, and certainly with the moneychangers in the temple, but He used anger effectively, and then let it go, always ready to forgive. There are times that anger is a powerfully effective tool, and righteous indignation is something that we all need to have, especially in this politically correct society. We should never have to fear speaking the truth. The final thought of verse 27 is really the pivotal statement of Paul's blueprint...do not give place to the devil.
Regardless of how much power and influence that Satan may have, it is ultimately up to us whether or not he has control over us. Our free will is at the same time both a blessing and a curse. While we are free to choose whether or not we will follow the commandments of God, we are also free to decide whether or not we will be influenced by the devil. Satan does not have the power to force his will upon us. God wants our obedience to be based on love, and this is the reason that He endowed us with free will from the beginning. Let's look at the final five verses of the chapter, where we see the implementation of Paul's blueprint...
Ephesians 4:28-32...Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
In allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our path, we are transformed, and we become what we were meant to be. This is the central theme of Paul's blueprint. The evil that has darkened our hearts can be washed clean by the blood of Christ, to make us whiter than the snow. We must simply be willing to be changed, to turn from the darkness, and to embrace the light. This is what repentance is all about. As we shift our focus from our own desires, and begin to look on the needs of others, the hardness of our hearts will melt away, revealing the kind and gentle nature of Jesus, living in and through us. May the Holy Spirit lead us into this state of peace with God, with others, and with ourselves.
Ephesians 4:17-19...This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Paul is here outlining the idea for our transformation, laying the groundwork for the changes that are to come. Keep in mind, although this epistle was written to Gentiles in the first century A.D., it applies to us just as directly in the 21st century, because as we are told in Ecclesiastes 1:9, there is no new thing under the sun. Evil is just as prevalent now as it was then, and the same devil that plagued the people of the first century is still working today to keep us apart from God. This is what Paul means by being alienated from the life of God. The ignorance that Paul speaks of is original sin. It seeks to darken our understanding, and to blind our hearts to the love of God. As our understanding becomes darkened, the light of God's love is pushed further away and our hearts are blinded, the inevitable conclusion being that we become, as Paul says, past feeling, and we give ourselves over to darkness, to uncleanness. Note here that it is a voluntary action on our part, however. We are the ones giving ourselves over, we are not being taken over by Satan, and we are not being relinquished by God. It is only after this voluntary turning over of ourselves, this pushing away of the light in order to embrace the darkness, that God turns us over to a reprobate mind, as we see in Romans 1:28. Paul warns us that we are to retain the knowledge of God, and to walk in His light. We'll pick back up with verse 20-24...
Ephesians 4:20-24...But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
We see here that we have a definitive role to play in this change. Once we see the light, we must begin to step out into the light, no longer walking in darkness. Renewing the spirit of our minds, we put away our old ways, the deceit and corruption giving way to a new way of thinking, a new way of looking at ourself and others, no longer looking through worldly eyes, but rather truly seeing for the first time through the eyes of Jesus.
Ephesians 4:25-27...Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.
Here at the beginning of Paul's blueprint, we see that truth is first and foremost. In order for us to be like Christ, we must esteem others better than ourselves, and, just as Jesus taught, we must love our neighbour as ourself. We are all members of the same body. Notice here that Paul does not tell us that anger has no place in our life. There are times when anger is appropriate, and even necessary, but anger becomes sin when it is allowed to fester. This is the reason that Paul tells us not to let the sun go down upon our wrath. Jesus dealt harshly at times with the Scribes and Pharisees, and certainly with the moneychangers in the temple, but He used anger effectively, and then let it go, always ready to forgive. There are times that anger is a powerfully effective tool, and righteous indignation is something that we all need to have, especially in this politically correct society. We should never have to fear speaking the truth. The final thought of verse 27 is really the pivotal statement of Paul's blueprint...do not give place to the devil.
Ephesians 4:28-32...Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
In allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our path, we are transformed, and we become what we were meant to be. This is the central theme of Paul's blueprint. The evil that has darkened our hearts can be washed clean by the blood of Christ, to make us whiter than the snow. We must simply be willing to be changed, to turn from the darkness, and to embrace the light. This is what repentance is all about. As we shift our focus from our own desires, and begin to look on the needs of others, the hardness of our hearts will melt away, revealing the kind and gentle nature of Jesus, living in and through us. May the Holy Spirit lead us into this state of peace with God, with others, and with ourselves.
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