Ephesians 4:25-32

          Paul laid out God’s plan for spiritual growth: put off the old life, be renewed in your minds, and put on the new life of Christ.  These verses give a few illustrations.

What to put off	Renewal principles	What to put on
Lying	We are members of one another	Truth
Sinful anger	Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath; don’t give place to the devil	Anger without sin
Stealing	Work is good	Working, giving
Corrupt words	Do what edifies; don’t grieve the Spirit	Good words
Malice	Do what Christ did to/for you	Kindness

          To further understand how this pattern can be helpful to believers in their walk with Christ let us consider in more detail the first issue of lying.

What to put off: lying.

¨     To do this requires that we know what the Bible considers as lying.

·        Prov 7:21; 27:14; Rom. 16:17-18: flattery is lying.

·        Prov 6:19; 3:30; 24:28-29: false accusation is lying.

·        Prov. 10:18; Titus 1:16: hypocrisy is lying.

¨     Here are a few Biblical truths to encourage us to put off lying.

·        Prov 6:16-17; Psa 5:6: God hates lying.

·        Ex 20:16; Rom 1:29; 3:13: lying is sin.

Renewal principles.

¨     John 3:33; 14:6,17; 17:17; Prov 12:22: God is truth and delights in truth.

¨     Prov 10:9; 12:19; 3:3f: truth-speaking leads to security and a good reputation.

¨     Psa 119:163: hate lying by loving the Word.

¨     Matt 5:37: purpose to speak the simple truth.

¨     Concerning flattery: remember that it is a test (Prov. 27:21); reject flattery and get to the heart (Prov. 26:24-25); reprove and encourage instead (Prov 28:23).

¨     Concerning false accusation: don’t join in (Prov 11:12); support those who are falsely accused (Prov. 14:21; Ex. 23:1-2); don’t be quick to defend yourself but let God be the judge (1 Peter 2:23).

¨     Concerning hypocrisy: remember God knows the heart (Heb. 4:13); reprove hypocrites lest they deceive (Matt. 23; Prov 19:25).

¨     Note the hearts desire of these 2 men who spoke the truth …

·        Paul, 1 Thess 2:3-6, who did not please men but God who tests our hearts.

·        John, 3 John 1-4, who had no greater joy than to hear that his children were walking in the truth.

What to put on: truth.

          Change in our lives requires confession of and repentance from sin (1 John 1:9; Prov 28:13) and presenting ourselves to Christ (Rom 12:1).  Ask God for His help in applying the principles of renewal in Scripture.