Ephesians Chapter 4 part 2


Our Call to Unity and Holiness

“Christians are people who are drawn together because they owe a common debt to the goodness and grace of God” William Barclay

In a Nutshell
Paul encourages the Ephesian Christians to live the way God’s people should live. Two particularly important things should characterize your lives: live in unity since you are spiritually united in Christ with all other Christians, and live holy lives.

The Calling to Holiness (vv. 17-24)
You must no longer do the evil things you did before you were a Christian.

Verse 17 – Our history shared in the introduction to Ephesians explained that the Gentiles in Ephesus were living particularly evil lives. Paul made an appeal for them not to live like that any longer for it is futile and leads to nothing.

Verse 18 – Then he says that their former way of living reflects darkened understanding, a result of previously rejecting God. When you hearts are hardened to God, your mind is dark. Living separate from God’s holiness is living ignorantly. This was not easy for the educated people of Ephesus to hear. Paul believed that the knowledge they had was worthless in pleasing God.

Verse 19 – Through their hard hearts they had given themselves over to sensuality. This does not satisfy because no matter what they did they still desired more. Lust, not love dominated their lives. They were not mature and did not bring unity to the church. This is a sin that invades many lives in our churches today.

Verses 20-21 – Because they have learned the truth and had Jesus as an example, Paul instructs them to live righteously.

Verse 22 – Living a proper Christian life involved 2 concepts: put off their old self and be made new in the attitude of our minds.

Read: Psalm 51:5 and Ephesians 2:1-3.

Eastern religions teach the concept of the Yin and the Yang, good and bad. According to their belief, everyone naturally has a little good and a little bad in them. Therefore, each person is capable of doing good or bad and must strive for balance so that your bad never outweighs your good.

According to the bible, is it possible for a non-Christian to do good?

A non-Christian may be able to do good in the eyes of other people, what we think as good acts, but they are incapable of doing anything but evil in the eyes of God. We were born that way, with a sinful bent.

What must we do to put off our old selves?

Verse 23 – You are what you think. You move in the direction of what you put into your mind and what you dwell on. If you are not what you are meant to be, then you must think differently by putting into your mind that which you want to become.

What is your main focus?

Exercise: Put the following things into order based on which you spend more time doing each week.

  • Eating
  • Driving
  • Spending time with family
  • Sleeping
  • Working
  • Watching TV (not family time)
  • Playing/Watching Sports (not family time unless you play together)
  • Spending time with God (Prayer, Bible study, Worship, etc.)

Now rate what percentage of these things honor God. Example: Working hard honors God, but if you are lazy at work or get angry often at work then you do not honor God with your work.

Verse 24 – Put on our new self. Allow the new self to govern our thoughts, actions, emotions, etc. The new self will be more concerned about others and less concerned about self. This in turn brings about unity.

What can you do to change the way you think so you can become more like Christ?

The Cultivation of Holiness (vv. 25-32)

Verse 25 – We must stop lying and make truth telling a habit. We cannot create unity if we do not teach the truth and the truth is found in Christ.

Verses 26-27 – Being angry is not sin. Jesus was angry. But it is extremely difficult to be angry and not sin in our response to our anger.

What are some things that make anger sin?

When we allow our anger to overcome us to the point that we sin in our responses, then we allow Satan a foothold and control over our attitudes, actions and relationships.

Verse 28 – It is sad that Paul had to instruct a church about not stealing. For whatever reason, they lived in a culture where people would not work and steal so that they could survive. In reality we live in a culture that is very similar.

In 1992, Hollywood came out with the movie Aladdin in which they included the song, “Street Rat” which had the following lyrics:  “I steal only what I can’t afford, that’s everything” and “Gotta eat to live gotta steal to eat.” They probably would have gotten no flak at all from the public if a lowlife, unlikable thief had sung this song, but it was sung by the main character that was portrayed as a poor, downtrodden character that was liked by everyone except the law/government. Aladdin was a young adult who did not work, yet believed that it was OK to steal so he could eat.

We see the same attitude in America from those who can work, but choose not to work. Instead they collect welfare or steal from others. We have people who steal from the government through lying on their taxes or steal from their companies by not working very hard. We also have many Christians who steal from God because they do not tithe.

Working has many good benefits: it allows individuals to meet their own needs and those of their family, it allows them to give to others who have needs, and it allows them to support the kingdom of God through their tithes.

Verse 29 – This verse is probably where our mother’s got the phrase: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” We are only to say things that will build up and encourage others. This one verse would solve many problems if we all obeyed it.

Verse 30 – Speaking in a negative manner grieves God. But that does not mean we are never to say anything negative. When trying to solve a problem you may find that you must say some negative things. Ministers, lawyers, coaches, bosses, police, etc., often must tell the truth about someone even if it is unpleasant. However, our intent should be to build up others and if our negative comments do not do that they are wrong.

Verses 31-32 – Paul mentions 5 sins that we are to put away (bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander)

In their place we are to put on 3 virtues. (kindness, tender-heartedness, and forgiveness)

This is how God acts toward others and when we act that way toward others it helps to build up the kingdom of God and creates unity.


This is part five in a series on Ephesians. Please read the other parts of this series:

1. Ephesians Chapter 1 - Our Spiritual Blessings in Christ
2. Ephesians Chapter 2 - Our Spiritual Union with God
3. Ephesians Chapter 3 - Paul's Prayer for Power
4. Ephesians Chapter 4, part 1 - Our Call to Unity and Holiness
6. Ephesians Chapter 5 - Our Life of Love
7. Ephesians Chapter 6 - Our Obedience Leads to Victory

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