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25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.\\xa0
26 \\u201cIn your anger do not sin\\u201d [Psalm 4:4]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,\\xa0
27 and do not give the devil a foothold.\\xa0
28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 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.\\xa0
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.\\xa0
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.\\xa0
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
(Ephesians 4:25-32)

Now comes a long run of dos and don\\u2019ts. \\xa0In many ways, they are practical illustrations of the texts we covered in the two previous devotions. \\xa0The \\u201cdo nots\\u201d of this list are examples of \\u201cputting off\\u201d the old self, and the \\u201cdos\\u201d are examples of \\u201cputting on\\u201d the new. \\xa0

It is important to read this list in light of the first three chapters of this Ephesians letter, remembering that our work on the dos and don\\u2019ts comes second to God\\u2019s primary work in Christ that saves us. \\xa0For three chapters, we have heard how God, in Christ, through the Spirit saves us. \\xa0Now we hear about how we are to receive, respond, and get in on this good work of God. \\xa0

There\\u2019s a balance here. \\xa0Ultimately, our salvation rests in Christ\\u2014so even if we completely fail at these commands before us, God is still able to save us. \\xa0He may indeed be grieved, as any parent is grieved when their child leaves the good path. \\xa0But our failure does not mean God ceases to be our Father\\u2014in the Spirit we \\u201cwere sealed for the day of redemption.\\u201d \\xa0Our adoption papers have been signed and sealed, it\\u2019s done. \\xa0

Yet at the same time, we must respond, as Paul repeatedly states in this section. \\xa0The \\u201cnew self\\u201d in Christ is who we are now. \\xa0Everything in our lives now leans and longs in this direction. \\xa0

To the extent that we live out this new identity in Christ, we bear witness to his resurrection message of reconciliation, life, love, and peace. \\xa0Because to the extent we live these commands out, we bear witness to the fact that we have all been \\u201cforgivingly reconciled\\u201d (v. 32) by Christ into \\u201cone body\\u201d (v. 25). \\xa0In this way, the first and last verse of this section connect together. \\xa0

In fact, all the eight verses of this section are paired in just this way. \\xa0Verses 25 and 32 are both about our way with one another in light of Christ\\u2019s already completed work by which \\u201cGod [already] forgave you\\u201d and by which \\u201cwe are all [already] members of one body. \\xa0

Verses 26 and 31 are both about getting rid of anger and its attendant sins (brawling, slander, etc.). \\xa0Verses 27 and 30 pit the devil against the Holy Spirit of God\\u2014how can the devil get a foothold if we have already been \\u201csealed for the day of redemption\\u201d by the Spirit of God? \\xa0

Lastly, verses 28 and 29 pair together warning us away from taking away (stealing) or tearing down (through unwholesome talk) by our hands or mouths, inviting us instead to use those hands and mouths\\u2014our words and actions\\u2014to share and build up according to the needs of others.
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So you see, the work of God in Christ brackets on both sides everything of our obedience that comes in between. \\xa0Not only that\\u2014God\\u2019s work flows through this list as the Holy Spirit\\u2019s sealant guards the surface of our lives against unwanted footholds for foreign objects, like the devil. \\xa0Our internal life is addressed (anger), as is our external life (hands, mouths). \\xa0All of it, a witness to the work of the Triune God in, through, and among us. \\xa0

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:17-21).

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