'Eph 4:17-32

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The old and the new standards (Eph 4:17-32)

Although believers have entered a new life through Christ, they still live in a society that does not know God and whose moral outlook is darkened by its ungodliness. The less Christian influence there is in the society, the lower the moral standards are. Christians, however, should not behave according to the commonly accepted practices of society.

People without God, through repeatedly ignoring the warnings of conscience, can easily lose those feelings of guilt that conscience produces. They then live solely to please themselves, without thought for others (Eph 4:17-19).

Christians, by contrast, should act according to the teaching and example of Jesus (Eph 4:20-21).

They must put off attitudes that belong to their former way of life, just as they would put off dirty clothes. They must put on fresh clean clothes; that is, they must have a new way of life, where their thinking is changed and they examine all practices in the light of their new life from God (Eph 4:22-24).

These instructions are not merely negative. As old practices go they must be replaced by new ones. For example, lying and deception must be replaced by openness in speaking the truth always (Eph 4:25).

Christians may do well to be angry about sin, but when feelings of bad temper or revenge arise, they should put them out of the mind immediately. If not, Satan may use them to weaken their spiritual lives (Eph 4:26-27).

Instead of stealing, Christians should work honestly, both to help others and to look after themselves (Eph 4:28).

The uncontrolled tongue, as much as any of the other bad habits listed here, saddens God’s Holy Spirit. Therefore, bad habits of speech, especially in being angry with or talking about others, must be replaced by speech that is helpful to others. The lives of Christians should be characterized by love, kindness, compassion, understanding and forgiveness (Eph 4:29-32).