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Often a statement from scripture has a "theme context" [its relationship to the continuation of the primary thought] and an "immediate context" [its relationship to the surrounding statements]. Lesson twelve focused on the theme context of Ephesian 4:30. This lesson focuses on the immediate context of Ephesians 4:30.
The last lesson focused on the place of Ephesians 4:30 in the continuing emphasis of chapters 1-4 with stress on its place in chapter 4. This lesson will focus on the place Ephesians 4:30 had in the paragraph emphasis of Ephesians 4:25-32. The last lesson focused at the broader context. This lesson focuses on the paragraph context.
For many reasons, Christians should be the most encouraging people anyone meets. (1) They live in the awareness of God's perfect forgiveness. Because of God's promise, they trust God's forgiveness of those sins committed before they became Christians (Acts 2:38; Ephesians 1:7, 8a). They understand that entering Christ began a cleansing [a forgiveness] that is a daily, ongoing process (1 John 1:9) No, they do not exploit God's grace. Yes, they trust God's assurance.
Focus the class on the joy and liberation of receiving God's forgiveness.
(2) As individuals, they are not weighed down by burdens of guilt. Their consciences are cleansed, not dead. They gave Jesus their burdens (Matthew 11:28-30). They trust Jesus' promise to bear their burdens. They know their sins are included in those Jesus took to the cross (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus frees them from their failures, and they live in the joy and appreciation of that freedom.
Focus the class on the joy and liberation of having guilt destroyed.
(3) Christians are a people who are at peace (Roman 5:1, 2). They are at peace with God, each other, and themselves. This prevailing sense of peace is not dependent on external circumstances--good jobs, abundant money, material well being, pleasurable lifestyles, excellent physical futures. Their peace rises from internal realities. They are at peace because their relationship with God through Christ is certain, not questionable. No matter what occurs in the world about them, they are secure. Their security is based on (1) God's love for them and (2) what Jesus did and does for them.
The joys of forgiveness and of the destruction of guilt result in an inner awareness of peace. That inner awareness of peace is not measured by external circumstances. Regardless of external circumstances, the Christian lives in an enduring sense of peace because (a) God's forgiveness has destroyed guilt and (b) he or she exists in continual relationship with God who loves him or her.
To encourage others, Christians must care about others. Christians care about people. This caring is not self-centered or self-seeking. Christian caring expresses itself in a variety of ways. Nowhere is this loving concern more evident than in what Christians say to and about others.
When a Christian lives in the joy of this internal awareness of peace, it is evident in his or her words. Those words come from a person whose attitudes and emotions are founded on the joys of forgiveness. There is a distinct contrast in the words and attitudes of a person who lives in the joys of peace and the words and attitudes of a person burdened with guilt.
Jesus stressed the power of words. He said, "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart" (Matthew 12:34b). In the same context he said, "I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36, 37). On another occasion he said, "The things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man" (Matthew 15:18). Our words express our thoughts. Our thoughts come from our hearts. Our words further God's purposes within us or oppose God's purposes within us.
Our words are a mirror of our internal state. They reflect our hearts and our attitudes. We allow people to "see" inside of us by what we say.
Paul's instruction not to grieve the Spirit came (1) immediately after his admonition concerning speech and (2) immediately before attitudes and actions that produce "unwholesome words."
These statements must be examined as interlinked concepts. They must not be examined as independent concepts.
Consider Paul's instruction to "let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth . . ." A genuine, indepth response to Christ changes one's heart. Changing one's heart changes one's attitudes and vocabulary. When God's influence is absent from one's heart, God's influence is absent from one's speech. Godless speech quickly becomes (1) crude, (2) vulgar, and (3) insensitive to others. A clear evidence of God's presence in a person is seen in the speech that person uses. His [her] words are sensitive--to God and to others.
Make the connection between our words and our hearts strong and clear.
The Christian is sensitive to another person's immediate need. He [she] wants the other person to be encouraged, built up by his [her] words. It is not an attempt to flatter. It is not an effort to exploit. It is not a desire to mislead a person by "telling him [her] what he [she] wants to hear." It is the commitment to encourage because "I care."
This sensitivity is a primary expression of loving one's neighbor as oneself. Closeness to God generates sensitive concern for others.
Consider Paul's prohibition. Certain attitudes cannot reside in a Christian's heart: bitterness [harshness], wrath [sudden, passionate outburst], anger [a continual state]. If such attitudes are given residence in a Christian's heart, that heart produces quarrelsome, contentious shouting that declares resentment. These resentful hearts look hatefully at other people.
Christians must increase their awareness that specific attitudes are incompatible with godliness [closeness to God].
The words and attitudes from a mean heart grieve the Spirit. The words and attitudes from a caring heart encourage the Spirit. Mean hearts produce mean speech. In contrast, caring hearts are kind, tender, and forgiving. Just as a loving God paid the full price for our forgiveness "while we were yet sinners" (Romans 5:8), the Christian seeks to extend forgiveness as God does.
A Christian devoted to closeness to God does not want words, thoughts, or attitudes to exist in them that grieve God's Spirit.
The contrast is astounding! A mean heart is unconcerned about the hurt it causes. It can shout in wrath and be destructively resentful. If the Spirit is grieved, so be it! The caring heart is kind, tender, and forgiving. Its words encourage people. Its attitudes encourage the Spirit. The Christian's heart reveals itself through that Christian's speech.
Focus the class on the contrast between a mean heart and a caring heart. The mean heart is selfish and self-centered. The caring heart serves others. God is characterized by a caring heart. Closeness to God produces a heart that cares.
Questions:
Concern for others expressed in the desire to encourage others should determine the words and attitudes of a Christian. The Christian wishes to extend grace through what he or she says. Grace extends kindness when kindness is not deserved.
The Christian does not want the Spirit to grieve because of what he or she says.
Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice have no place in the Christian. These attitudes and actions come from a heart that is inconsiderate, insensitive, uncaring, hostile, and/or mean. Such hearts do not love others as they love themselves. Such hearts are unconcerned with godly character and integrity.
Kindness, tender-heartedness, and forgiveness characterize the heart that encourages the Spirit. These qualities come from a heart that serves others because it loves others in the manner that it loves self.
God is adopted as the example of how to forgive. The Christian allows God to model forgiveness for him or her. He or she lives in the daily awareness of God's continuing forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
He or she will develop the heart that is kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving. He or she will do so because those are the heart qualities of the God who forgive him or her and gave him or her peace.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 13
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