Gleanings From Grace

THIS CHAPTER DEALS WITH THE WALK OF THE BELIEVER..5:1-7
The Believer is to Walk.
1 By becoming a follower of God (v.1)
2 By loving as Christ loved (v.2)
3 By being clean-bodied, that is, morally pure (v.3)
4 By being clean-mouthed (v.4) Believer, Duty-Tongue-Speech-Conversation:
a. He made an offering to God-sacrificed Himself (v.2a)
b. He became a sweet fragrance to God (v.2b)
Must keep in mind that We are saints (vv. 3-4).
That is, we are “set-apart ones” and no longer belong to the world of darkness around us. We have been “called out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
” It is beneath the dignity of a saint to indulge in the sins that belong to the world of darkness, some of which Paul names here.
” He warns us against the sexual sins (fornication, uncleanness) which were so prevalent in that day-and are prevalent today. Sad to say, these sins have invaded the homes of Christians and brought grief to local churches too. “Covetousness” may seem out of place next to fornication, but the two sins are but different expressions of the same basic weakness of fallen nature-uncontrolled appetite. The fornicator and the covetous person each desire to satisfy the appetite by taking what does not belong to them. “The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes” (1 John 2:16) would describe these two sins. “Let there not be even a hint of these sins!” said Paul.
We must keep verse three and four together the believer follows God, fourth, by being clean-mouthed. If a believer is to follow and imitate God, he has to be pure in speech and conversation; he has to keep his mouth or tongue clean. He cannot let his mouth become foul and polluted, filthy and vile.
” In Ephesians 5:4 he warned against sins of the tongue, which, of course, are really sins of the heart. It is not difficult to see the relationship between the sins named in Ephesians 5:3 and those in Ephesians 5:4. People who have base appetites usually cultivate a base kind of speech and humor, and often people who want to commit sexual sins, or have committed them, enjoy jesting about them. Two indications of a person’s character are what makes him laugh and what makes him weep.

1.He Is Not To Be Engaged In “Filthiness”
using the mouth in obscene, shameful, foul, polluted, base, immoral conduct and conversation. What an indictment of our day-a day of sodomy and perversion. And note: the word refers to both conduct and speech. How polluted and foul-mouthed so many have become-so much so that society could easily be known as a second Sodom and Gomorrah.
Romans 6:19). “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members [body parts] servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness”
(James 1:21). “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity (abundance) of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls”

2. The Believer Is NOT TO BE ENGAGED In “Foolish Talking”.
“Foolish talking” does not mean innocent humor but rather senseless conversation that cheapens the man and does not edify or minister grace to the hearers (Eph 4:29 KJV) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Paul is not condemning small talk because much conversation falls into that classification. He is condemning foolish talk that accomplishes no good purpose. empty, unthoughtful, senseless, wasted, idle, aimless, or purposeless talk; talk that just fritters away and wastes time, that has absolutely no purpose to it. It also means sinful, foolish, silly and corrupt talk.
(Job 15:2-3). “Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?”
(Proverbs 10:19). “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise”
(Proverbs 29:11). “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterward”
(Eccles. 5:3). “For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words”
(Eccles. 10:13). “The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness”
(Mat 12:34 KJV) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

3.The Believer Is Not To Be Engaged In Fickle Talking.
Humorous wit, to tear down
” Jesting is a translation of a word that means “able to turn easily.” This suggests a certain kind of conversationalist who can turn any statement into a coarse joke. The gift of wit is a blessing, but when it is attached to a filthy mind or a base motive, it becomes a curse. There are quick-witted people who can pollute any conversation with jests that are always inconvenient (out of place). How much better it is for us to be quick to give thanks! This is certainly the best way to give glory to God and keep the conversation pure.
ILL. A Christian woman attended an anniversary dinner in honor of a friend, not knowing that there would be a program of low comedy following the meal. The so-called comedian tried to entertain the crowd with coarse humor that degraded everything that the Christian guest held to be sacred and honorable. At one point in the program, the comedian’s throat became dry. “Please bring me a glass of water,” he called to a waiter.
At that point the Christian woman added, “And bring a toothbrush and a bar of soap with it!” To be sure, soap in the mouth will never cleanse the conversation, but she made her point.Jesting is often used in off-colored jokes or conversation, at parties or breaks in order to be suggestive.
(Proverbs 26:18-19). “As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, Am not I in sport I was just [joking]?”
(1 Peter 3:10). “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile [deception]”
Note that such talk is not fitting or becoming to believers. Believers are to be engaged in conversation that builds people up and offers thanks and praise to God.
(Ephes. 5:18-19). “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”
(Col. 3:17). “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him”
(Col. 4:6). “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”
(1 Thes. 5:18). “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”
(2 Tim. 1:13). “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus
(Titus 2:8).”Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you”
(Eccles. 10:12).”The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself”.

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