How to be Different

In Ephesians 4:17-24, Paul tells Christians that they must not act like they used to, being guided by the dictates of the old, hard heart and unregenerate mind that unsaved people have because they have a new nature in them, a new heart that can be renewed in its mindset and follow after God in truth. Paul says that as we learn of Christ we should act in accordance with that. Paul describes this process as putting off the old man and putting on the new, and then in vs.25-31 he gives us five specific, practical ways that God tells Christians to be different.

•Truth (vs.25) – not just stop lying but also avoiding deceitfulness

•Temperament (vs.26-27) – righteous anger not rage – continuing in wrath gives a place to the devil

•Talent (vs.28) – ascending nature – from stealing from others to supporting others

•Talk (vs.29-30) – corrupting talk grieves God, not just stop that, but start edifying instead of lying (match with verse 25)

•Tenderness (vs.31-32) – forgiven people become forgiving people