Bible Text: Ephesians 4:25-32 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: A New Wardrobe. Forgiveness: Freedom from the Past, Ephesians

1.  The essence of the transformation which Paul says must come in the life of the Christian is expressed well by Oswald Chambers in the following:  “The expression of Christian character is not good doing, but Godlikeness.  If the Spirit of God had transformed you within, you will exhibit Divine characteristics in you life, not good human characteristics.  God’s life in us expresses itself as God’s life, not as a human life trying to be godly.  The secret of a Christian is that the supernatural is made natural in him by the grace of God, and the experience of this works out in the practical details of life, not in times of communion with God.”

2.  In Ephesians 4:25-32, Paul concretely applies the principles of verses 17-24 highlighting five sins which must be dealt with in the Christian life.  They are:  lying, giving way to unrighteous anger, stealing, improper speech, and bitterness.

3.  Since Christians are one with others in the body of Christ, trust is essential.  Trust can only be maintained in an atmosphere of honesty.  The first sin of the Church age was the sin of lying (Acts. 5).

4.  Christians are warned about anger which is not righteous and can become a settled sinful mood in a Christian’s life.  Righteous anger is exemplified by Jesus in Mark 3:5 and John 2:13-17, and in the Old Testament in the repeated phrase: “The anger of the LORD burned against them.”