"Living the Christian Life"

“Living the Christian Life”

 

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.       Ephesians 4:29-32

 

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the TRUE BELIEVERS in Ephesus, gives them instructions on LIVING the CHRISTIAN LIFE.  He gives them some advice as to what NOT to do, and then what they SHOULD do as TRUE BELIEVERS.

 

First, he tells them to NOT let ANY UNWHOLESOME talk come out of their mouths, but ONLY what is HELPFUL for building others UP according to their needs, that it may BENEFIT those who listen.  A TRUE Christian should NOT allow ANY UNWHOLESOME, or UNHEALTHY talk come out of their mouths.  They SHOULD be WILLING to use words that will EDIFY other TRUE BELIEVERS, in order to HELP them GROW in their FAITH.  The TRUE Christian, needs to watch closely what they say, so they will NOT cause anyone to STUMBLE, but that their words would BENEFIT those who are listening.

 

Then the Apostle Paul gives a WARNING:  “DO NOT GRIEVE the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD!”  with whom you were sealed for the Day of Redemption.   The Holy Spirit of God is a HELPER to the TRUE Christian, and He helps guard their words.  To GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God, they would be IGNORING His help and they would NOT be SUBMISSIVE to His LEADERSHIP.  God SEALED the TRUE BELIEVER with the Holy Spirit for the Day of REDEMPTION, or the day when they will receive their NEW bodies. 

 

The Apostle tells them of five vices that they SHOULD get RID of:  BITTERNESS, RAGE, ANGER, BRAWLING, and SLANDER, along with every form of MALICE.   These are ALL attributes of an UNBELIEVER, and has NO PLACE in the TRUE BELIEVER’S LIFE.  So they NEED to GET RID of ALL these vices, and WORK at being COMPLETELY FREE from their HOLD.

 

He then gives them some POSITIVE THINGS that they should incorporate into their lives.  He tells them to BE KIND and COMPASSIONATE to one another, FORGIVING each other, just as in Christ God FORGAVE them.  If we carry the title of CHRISTIAN, which indicates that we are CHRISTLIKE in our WAY of LIVING, then we NEED to exemplify KINDNESS, COMPASSION and FORGIVENESS, ALL of which are attributes of CHRIST.  THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE.  ARE YOU?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you do NOT possess the POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES of Christ, nor do you possess His Holy Spirit and you are NOT SEALED for the Day of REDEMPTION, but you are headed for the Day of Judgment, where you will be CONDEMNED and SENTENCED to an ETERNITY in HELL, with NO WAY of ESCAPE, unless you come to God NOW, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become a TRUE CHRISTIAN living a TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE, who is SEALED with the HOLY SPIRIT of God for the Day of REDEMPTION.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!