Gospel of John [Joh 16:12-15]. The Doctrine of the HS, part 45. Eph 4:30; Mar 3:1-6.

Title: Gospel of John [JOH 16:12-15]. The Doctrine of the HS, part 45. EPH 4:30; MAR 3:1-6.

 

EPH 4:17 This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,

 

EPH 4:18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;

 

EPH 4:19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

 

EPH 4:20 But you did not learn Christ in this way,

 

EPH 4:21 if indeed you have heard Him [as is the case that you have heard Him] and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,

 

EPH 4:22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside [or, have laid aside] the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit [inordinate pursuit of something that promises true blessing],

 

EPH 4:23 and that you be renewed [keep on being renewed] in the spirit of your mind,

 

EPH 4:24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

 

"Put on," an aorist infinitive brings us to the same issue that we had with "lay aside" is verse 22.

 

"You have been taught in Him… that you have put on the new self or to put on the new self…" [both certainly go together.]

 

The same inconclusiveness occurs but we can find peace in the fact that both interpretations work and they certainly go together.

 

Every believer is a new creature in Christ forever and every believer is entreated to walk in a manner worthy of that calling.

 

The new creature has been created according to the manner in which God is Himself, or in other words, a divine nature.

 

It has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth, which is the power of the gospel to separate us from sin and death and the power of the word of God through the Spirit's ministry to enable us to live in separation from the world system and the rulership of the sin nature. Holiness of the truth means that God's truth is separate from all other systems.

 

God's argument through Paul is simple. If I have been given a divine nature then why shouldn't I be walking in it? It's not works but a submission to the word of God and the ministry of God the Holy Spirit in filling my soul. Over time, in accordance with them, I can intelligently walk in the will of God, that which is good, acceptable, and perfect.

 

Again, this is not a command but a reality that should make every believer come to the conclusion that there is a God given life that is brand new, of Christ, and it is only right that we live that life in time, in grace, through the word and the Spirit, as opposed to the dead life that we have all been resurrected from.

 

At this point we will take a little time out to look at the construction of this large section. In chapters 1-3 Paul presents positional doctrine. He shows the exalted position to which the believing sinner was raised in Christ Jesus. In chapters 4-6 he presents exhortation which is based upon the positional doctrine, which demonstrated the reasonableness of the exhortation and the ability of the saint to obey it.

 

In 4:1-3, the apostle starts his exhortation section with general exhortations. In 4:4-16, he speaks of the unity of the body, the gifted men given the Church by God to teach the realities of the spiritual life, and the exhortation to grow to maturity in the full knowledge of the person and work of Jesus Christ, which brings a unity through maturity and virtue.

 

In 4:17-25, Paul shows the tremendous change wrought in the believing sinner. Now, upon this latter basis consisting of three points, first, they put off the old man, second, they are being renewed in the inner man, and third, they have put on the new man, he presents the detailed exhortations beginning in verse 17.

 

Therefore, since all this is true of you, "putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor." This is application of the truths presented.

 

EPH 4:25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

 

"Putting away lying" is in the Greek text an aorist participle, and an article and noun in the accusative case.

 

The translation reads, "having put off once for all the lie."

 

The habit of lying and living in the lie that is the darkness of the cosmos is a part of the old man. Since he has been crucified and so put off once and for all, the habit of lying and the habit of accepting what is false is put off once and for all.

 

Most people accept the conventional wisdom that is popular at the time that is told to them by the world system without ever checking it out.

 

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It is not wise to do this in any subject, but we must not do this when it comes to God's truth. Lay aside the old man and lay aside the lie.

 

Since we can all still possess a habit of lying we conclude that is from the old man and not the brand new creature in Christ. Viewed in that way, why live in the lie, the promises of the cosmos system, and why lie to others or ourselves?

 

Why do people lie and why do they live in the lie? They desire to get out of a sticky situation, build a false image of themselves, fear being disciplined or being viewed as a lesser person for mistakes, maintain a reputation, to get something from another person and so greed or covetousness. I'm sure we could come up with several more reasons but they are all from an insecure mind. The fallen old man is insecure but the new creature is in Christ. There is no higher position, which is Paul's message in chapters 1-3. So why try to be someone that we are not in order to impress others? They are not your judge and their opinions don't mean anything at all. What God has called you to be, you are through Christ, and that is the end of it. That is who you are and who you are going to be for all eternity. Why not walk in it now?

 

1CO 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

 

How do you think it was for Paul to preach in the synagogues of Damascus directly after his conversion? He was ordered to be arrested and they watched the gates for him day and night. Was it any different in Jerusalem or upon his return to Tarsus after his conversion in Damascus and begin to preach the gospel in those synagogues? It isn't hard to imagine the amount of ridicule and personal attacks against him and his well known family, who it appears disinherited him. So why did he do it with such vigor, both there and all over Palestine, Asia Minor, Greece and Rome? He knew that he was Christ's and that his true Father was the Father of the heavens and his true family was that body of those who called Jesus their Lord.

 

1CO 9:13

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.

 

EPH 4:25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

 

The aorist participle says to put this off once and for all from you which can be confidently done when it is understood that Christ through His sacrifice both exposed the lie and put it off from us once and for all.

 

HEB 10:10

By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 

Sanctified is set apart from the world and unto God and so it is being set apart unto the truth that is Christ, and this our Lord prayed for His Church the night before His death.

 

JOH 17:15-17

"I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.

 

In view of the fact that they have done that, they are exhorted to speak truth [present imperative], each one to his neighbor.

 

EPH 4:25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

 

In verse 15: "but speaking the truth [aletheuo = truthing it, no word for speak] in love," but here there is a common word for speak. Speak or say the truth, each one, with the one who is near.

 

The reason we are to speak truth with our neighbor (one who is near) is that we are members of one another in the body of Christ. The members belong to one another and serve one another.