“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.”
Ephesians 4:17 NIV
Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus and the surrounding churches. Ephesians was written to strengthen the believer in their Christian faith by explaining the purpose of the church. So, when we read Ephesians we are learning how to live in community as Christians. We are reading our instruction manual.
Apostle Paul tells us that when we come to Christ, it will change our thinking.
“You were taught, with regard to your former life, to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV
As we are being made new in Christ, there is a struggle to put away the desires of the flesh.
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
Ephesians 4:25 NIV
We have to be able to tell people the truth.
“Do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
We speak the truth in love. We speak the truth in a way that the other person can hear it and receive the message. The standard is that the message must benefit the person that is listening.
“An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.”
Proverbs 24:26 NIV
