Going Green

Eph 4:25-32

“If we want to reduce the amount of waste that the

church generates, we have to look at what’s in the waste.

There’s really only one way to do that—get our hands

dirty! Once you know what types of waste you’re

generating and where, you can develop effective

programs to reduce that waste or implement recycling

programs. In addition you can begin purchasing

products that are more recyclable or made with

recycled content.”

We do have a responsibility to be environmentally

responsible.


responsible.

• “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden

of Eden to work it and keep it” (Gen 2:15, ESV).


responsible.

• “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden

of Eden to work it and keep it” (Gen 2:15, ESV).

• But, we must understand that the earth was created for

man, not vice versa.

Not recycling cans or plastics.

Not recycling cans or plastics.

Recycling our lives!

Paul has told the Ephesians to get rid of their former

lives.


lives.

• “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no

longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their

minds” (4:17, ESV).


lives.

• 4:17.

• “Put off your old self, which belongs to your former

manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

and . . . be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and . . . put

on the new self, created after the likeness of God in truth

righteousness and holiness” (4:22-24, ESV).


lives.

• 4:17.

• 4:22-24.

Paul is telling these Christians to put their old selves in

the recycle bin & to get out their new selves.

In this morning’s text, Paul tells the

Ephesians what a “recycled life” looks

like.

vv 25, 29

“Having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak

the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of

another” (v 25, ESV).

Falsehood belongs to the old life.


• It is through “deceitful schemes” that individuals are

carried away from the truth of Christ (Eph 4:14).


• It is through “deceitful schemes” that individuals are

carried away from the truth of Christ (Eph 4:14).

• The desires of the old life are themselves deceitful (Eph

4:22).


The recycled mouth, however, speaks truth.



• The verb for “speak” indicates a continual action, a way of

life.




life.

• Our recycled mouths must make truth a way of life.




life.


God himself “never lies” (Tit 1:2, ESV).




life.



Jesus is “the truth” (Jn 14:6, ESV).




life.



Jesus is “the truth” (Jn 14:6, ESV).

The word of God is truth (Jn 17:17).

The recycled mouth not only speaks truth, but it is

careful what it says.

The recycled mouth not only speaks truth, but it is

careful what it says.

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but

only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion,

that it may give grace to those who hear” (v 29, ESV).

The Greek word for “corrupting” refers to something

that is rotten.


that is rotten.

• “Every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree

bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor

can a diseased tree bear good fruit” (Mt 7:17-18, ESV).


that is rotten.




• “Corrupting talk” is “diseased talk.”


that is rotten.




• “Corrupting talk” is “diseased talk.”

• In context, this talk tears down, does not fit the occasion, &

does not impart grace to the hearer.

Recycled speech builds up, fits the occasion, & imparts

grace.


grace.

• The Lord expects us to encourage others with our words.


grace.

• The Lord expects us to encourage others with our words:

“Encourage one another with these words” (1 Thess 4:18,

ESV).


grace.



ESV).

• The Lord also expects us to speak as “fits the occasion.”


grace.



ESV).


Literally=“according to the need.”


grace.



ESV).


Literally=“according to the need.”

Thus, we encourage as the need arises.


grace.



ESV).


• Such speech will impart grace to the hearer.


grace.



ESV).



The word “grace” often refers to a gift.


grace.



ESV).



The word “grace” often refers to a gift.

The idea is that by encouraging our hearers we are giving

them a gift.

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give

account for every careless word they speak, for by your

words you will be justified, and by your words you will

be condemned” (Mt 12:36-37, ESV).





• What will your words say about your on the day of

judgment?





• What will your words say about your on the day of

judgment?

• Do you need to recycle your mouth?

“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor,

doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may

have something to share with anyone in need” (v 28,

ESV).

The Greek doesn’t use the word “thief.”


• The Greek=“The one who is stealing.”


• The Greek=“The one who is stealing.”

• The participle is in the present tense.

Paul envisions that some of the Ephesians are still

struggling with stealing.



There is certainly a “recycling” of our lives that

transpires at baptism.





• “We were buried . . . with him by baptism into death, in

order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the

glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life”

(Rom 6:4, ESV).





• “We were buried . . . with him by baptism into death, in

order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the

glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life”

(Rom 6:4, ESV).

• But, this transformation is neither easy nor instantaneous.

Paul sees stealing as a habit.

Paul sees stealing as a habit.

Habits are easy to fall into, but they are difficult to get

out of.

“Let the one who is stealing steal no more.”


• Paul says, “Stop!”


• Paul says, “Stop!”

• “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no

more” (Jn 8:11, ESV).

“Now, wait just a minute, Justin! I’ve never stolen anything & I don’t plan to

start.”

Are we greedy?

Are we greedy?

Greed has no place in the recycled life.

Are we greedy?

Greed has no place in the recycled life: “The love of

money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this

craving that some have wandered away from the faith

and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Tm 6:10,

ESV).

The thief is to work honestly with his hands in order to

have something to give to the one in need.



• The recycled life is concerned with doing “honest work.”




Literally=“Let the one who is stealing no longer steal, rather

let him labor working with his own hands the good [thing].”




Literally=“Let the one who is stealing no longer steal, rather

let him labor working with his own hands the good [thing].”

The idea is that our profession is to be a proper one for a

Christian.

We are to work honestly to share with the one in need.


• According to this passage, the purpose of our work is to

share with others.



share with others.

• God expects us to share with the needy.



share with others.


“When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know

what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in

secret” (Mt 6:3-4, ESV).



share with others.


“When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know

what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in

secret” (Mt 6:3-4, ESV).

Cornelius was a man who “gave alms generously to all the

people” (Acts 10:2, ESV).

“With anyone in need.”


• The Greek=“with the one having a need.”



• Paul doesn’t tell the Ephesians just to give to some

people.



• Paul doesn’t tell the Ephesians just to give to some

people.

The only criterion is that those we help have a need.

What kind of life are you making?

vv 26-27, 31-32

The Ephesians were to recycle their hearts by getting

rid of anger.

The Ephesians were to recycle their hearts by getting

rid of anger: “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun

go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the

devil” (vv 26-27, ESV).

There is nothing inherently wrong with anger.


• Paul cautions the Ephesians not to sin in their anger.



• Jesus became angry & threw the moneychangers out of

the temple.




the temple.

• God himself becomes angry.




the temple.

• God himself becomes angry: “The wrath of God is

revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and

unrighteousness of men” (Rom 1:18, ESV).

But, anger can quickly turn into sin.


• “A man of quick temper acts foolishly” (Prov 14:17, ESV).


• “A man of quick temper acts foolishly” (Prov 14:17, ESV).

• “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of

God” (Js 1:20, ESV).

In the recycled life, we do not let the sun go down on

our wrath.


our wrath.

• I go quickly to the one I have wronged.


our wrath.

• I go quickly to the one I have wronged: “If you are offering

your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother

has something against you, leave your gift there before

the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and

then come and offer your gift” (Mt 5:23-24, ESV).


our wrath.

• I go quickly to the one I have wronged: (Mt 5:23-24).

• I go quickly to the one who has wronged me.


our wrath.

• I go quickly to the one I have wronged: (Mt 5:23-24).

• I go quickly to the one who has wronged me: “If your

brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between

you and him alone” (Mt 18:15, ESV).

If we do not deal appropriately with anger, we give the

devil an opportunity.



• We allow the sin in our lives to grow & grow.



• We allow the sin in our lives to grow & grow.

• “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in

which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”

The recycled life is also a forgiving life.

The recycled life is also a forgiving life: “Let all

bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander

be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to

one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as

God in Christ forgave you” (vv 31-32, ESV).

We Christians must be a forgiving people.


• “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly

Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive

others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive

your trespasses” (Mt 6:14-15, ESV).


• “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly

Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive

others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive

your trespasses” (Mt 6:14-15, ESV).

• We are to bear “with one another and, if one has a

complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the

Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Col 3:13,

ESV).

Therefore, I have an obligation to forgive

others.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new

creation. The old has passed away;

behold, the new has come” (2 Cor 5:17,

ESV).

Going Green

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