We continue our discussion of Ephesians 5:6-14, noting that We must live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. The natural question is how can we do that? In vv. 6-7 we saw 1) WE MUST NOT BE DECEIVED IN THIS WORLD. Now, in v. 8 we see 2) WE MUST RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEN AND NOW; and in vv. 8b-12 3) WE MUST LIVE ACCORDING TO OUR REALITY IN CHRIST.

As we head into this new section of Ephesians 5:6-14, we see that We must live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. The natural question is how can we do that? In vv. 6-7 we see 1) WE MUST NOT BE DECEIVED IN THIS WORLD.

In Ephesians 5:1-5 we see that We must live a disciplined life as believers! In vv. 1-2 we saw that 1) WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE TO IMITATE. Then, in vv. 3-4, we see that 2) WE HAVE BEHAVIORS TO PUT AWAY. Finally, in v. 5 we see that 3) WE HAVE A WARNING TO HEED.

In this new section we see that We must live a disciplined life as believers! The first way we do that is in seeing that 1) We have an example to imitate in vv. 1-2.

In this section Paul is encouraging us as believers to conduct our lives in such a way as to foster unity in the Church! He answers the question of how? throughout these verses. We already saw in the previous episodes that 1) We must Speak the Truth v. 25; 2) We must control our anger vv. 26-27;  3) We must live with integrity; and 4) We must seek to build up the church through our speech. 

Today we look at 5) We must live with a continual awareness of the presence of God v. 30; 6) We must yield control of our sinful passions to the Holy Spirit v. 31; 7) We must be kind to other believers v. 32.

In this section Paul is encouraging us as believers to conduct our lives in such a way as to foster unity in the Church! He answers the question of how? throughout these verses. We already saw in the previous episode that 1) We must Speak the Truth v. 25. And 2) We must control our anger vv. 26-27. Today we look at 3) We must live with integrity, and 4) We must seek to build up the church through our speech.

In this new section Paul is encouraging us as believers to conduct our lives in such a way as to foster unity in the Church! He answers the question of how? throughout these verses. We see in this episode that 1) We must Speak the Truth v. 25. And 2) We must control our anger vv. 26-27.

The idea that is governing this entire passage (Eph. 4:17-24) is that We have a duty to live according to the Gospel! Today, we look at the third and final truth of this which is that The Gospel Changes a Person's Nature. It does this a) through knowledge, and b) the Gospel compels changes in a believer.

As we continue to look at this idea that We have a duty to live according to the Gospel, we see in this section that The unsaved have an unregenerate mind. This is is really a deeper dive into just what we have been saved from - seeing how the mind of the unsaved person is ignorant to the things of God, darkened to spiritual things and that they are hardened and calloused which leads to to an ever-degrading cycle of living their life. This is how we used to think before God saved us; it is how the unsaved around us think; and it is still a temptation for the believer which is why we need to be aware of it and fight it. Praise be to God that He has the power to break this cycle and regenerate the mind in salvation!

As we move on from the discussion on unity we are now faced with the call to Gospel living. The idea that governs this section of Scripture is that We have a duty to live according to the Gospel! We see the first aspect of this is that 1) There is a command to live differently.