Ephesians 4:28 The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need. NET
The Jewish community has a high regard for labor. Everyone had a trade since work is something God created for good before the fall (Genesis 2:15). Although Paul tells the Thessalonians that they weren’t going to eat if they didn’t work, the concept goes beyond this. We need to pay for our needs but there is also a responsibility toward those who cannot take care of themselves. While governments today do far more for those in need than the Romans did, this is still a task assigned to us as it is personal and not political. In Leviticus, God instructs the people not to reap all the way to the edge of their property nor pick up the gleanings but to leave them for the poor and the stranger (Leviticus 23:22) so this isn’t a new idea being put forth by Paul.
Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith. ASB
There is a spiritual principal that is related to the change in our behavior when we become Christians. Paul has started this section on moral instruction with lying and now follows with theft. In both cases, he contrasts the old way of life to the new. This is important as Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 6:9, that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. He follows that with a list providing some examples of the type of wicked behavior that he is talking about. Paul does this same thing in other letters but usually contrasts the behavior connected with the old life to the change in behavior of the new life. (He seems to have an uncanny ability with these lists to be able cast a broad enough circle to catch all of us with at least one of the listed sins). After giving the list, Paul concludes:
1Corinthians 6:11 Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. NET
Some take this verse to argue for immediate sanctification rather than progressive sanctification but that overlooks Paul’s audience for this letter. In the previous chapter of 1Corinthians, he has discussed a case of incest in the church in Corinth and later in this chapter will discuss sex with temple prostitutes that has remained popular among the Corinthians. (It is not an understatement to say that the Corinthians are not living fully sanctified lives). But similar to Paul referring to the Corinthians as “saints” earlier in 1Corinthians, “sanctified” is used here to indicate that they have been set apart for God (as have we). We also know from Romans 7 that our new earthly lifestyle will not be one of sinless perfection. Certainly our own lives confirm that there is still work to do because we are still falling short. We also know that this process of sanctification is something that is going to happen. Sooner for some than others but ultimately it will happen for all of us.
1John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. NHEB
King David is a classic example of someone who falls short. He is a man after God’s own heart yet even on his deathbed he has a hitlist that he wants his son to carry out. (Not to mention the Bathsheba episode). David never achieves perfection but he perpetually returns to God.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome words ever pass your lips, but let all your words be good for benefiting others according to the need of the moment, so that they may be a means of blessing to the hearers. WEY
How we speak is indicative of who we are. Although translated as “unwholesome” here, the word is also defined as “corrupt”, “bad” and “rotten”. We need to remember that our words can influence others both for good and for bad.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. NET
As one of the persons of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit has a personality and as such can feel grief. Among the ways we can grieve the Holy Spirit is by tempting, quenching, resisting, insulting, blaspheming and/or lying to the Holy Spirit. Only one of these sins is unforgivable (blaspheming).
Being sealed by the Holy Spirit points back to Ephesians chapter 1:13. The Holy Spirit is the down payment (pledge or guarantee in other translations) of our complete redemption by God which is why referring to sanctification (sealed) in the past tense works. We aren’t fully sanctified yet but it is guaranteed to happen.
Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. BSB
How do people know if you are bitter or angry? You open your mouth. Tenderhearted means having compassion.
Ephesians 5:1 Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children NET
Some see this as a works-based righteousness or at least as an attempt to bring works back into play so they are cautious (or even adverse) when it comes to applying this verse from chapter 5 to their lives. Others may try to imitate God simply by helping the marginalized or by just trying to think about what Jesus would do but both approaches fail (as do most of us) to completely embrace the doctrinal and Biblical fullness (and opportunities) of this instruction from Paul.
We get a glimpse of Jesus’ life in the last verse of chapter 4 and as saved people, our lives are going to look more and more similar to that life. It is like a sandwich with the two slices of bread being love and forgiveness and the meat of the sandwich being our imitation of these two characteristics.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? 11 Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation. NET
The cross shows how much God loves us because He gave Himself up for us. The barrier between man and God caused by Adam and Eve’s sin are now removed!