Studies In Ephesians: The Old And New Life Series

B) Stealing

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. {to give: or, to distribute}

What is stealing? Tring to get something for nothing. I have seen this still happen in peoples transactions.

Paul carries stealing a step further. Stealing is also not giving. When we don't have anything to give because we may have stolen from God. We must be careful not to steal from.

Wherefore (now that you are a new man in Christ you should) not lie.

Notice in the greek language there is what is called the aorist tense which denotes action that is once and for all. So the one and for all action is to put away falsehood or deception. It is more than what comes out of the mouth but what is done before others. You may be able to lie to other people and deceive them but it is true that you cannot lie to God.

We must becareful of what we want others to perceieve that is not true.

So the ture way is to speak the truth. It holds unity. It shows trust.

IV. Put away useless anger

26 (2)Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Jesus was angry and sin not.

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. {hardness: or, blindness} (Mark 3:5 AV)

He was angry at the sin and the deceptiveness. But he knew how to control it. It was as James says in.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20 AV)

Why be slow to anger? Listen to Jesus words in Mt 5:21-22

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: {by: or, to} But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. {Raca: that is, Vain fellow} (Matthew 5:21-22 AV)

Maybe it deals with getting angry more at the sin and not the person. And being able to justify our anger as not being our cause or excuse.

But with all anger there is a time limit. If it last more than a short period of time then it becomes sin.

If anything it seems to be the wrathful anger. The one that is looking for vengence.

V. Put away impure speech

29 Let no corrupt communication (impure speech) proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. {to...: or, to edify profitably}

This could be anything from curse words to offensive words. It could be a joke or an inuendo. Anything that maybe considered offensive and not edifying. How do we overcome it try to find words that minsiter grace and blessings to others.