Ephesians: In the Heavenly Realms


The Power of Speaking the Truth

Ephesians 4:25

– The Bible Teacher's Commentary –

Paul J. Bucknell

Ephesians 4:25 ~ "The Power of Speaking the Truth" is the first of five sections for The Bible Teacher's Commentary in which Paul in Ephesians 4:25 shows us how to eliminate falsehood's grasp on our lives, to find the power to speak truth and the gives us one reason to speak the truth. Bible study questions are included at the end.


The Power of Speaking the Truth

An Introduction to Ephesians 4:25

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH, EACH ONE of you, WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another (Ephesians 4:25).

Introduction

Lies, Lies, LiesDid you ever tell a lie? If not, you probably are lying to yourself.

Why not lie? Everyone does it, don’t they? Do they? Should they?

If we have been living in the circle of lies, you probably have a very hard time understanding why anyone wouldn’t lie, especially when it doesn’t ‘hurt’ anyone. Many people even think lying helps people. I find it interesting that one of the small accountability groups that formed part of the revival group back in England would each week ask each other whether they have done this or that. They would have to answer yes or no to see how faithful they were through the week. The last question asked, "Did you just lie in answering the above questions!"

Salvation is best described in three stages. Justification describes the first stage when we are forgiven through our faith in Christ, become God’s children and receive a new nature. Justification, Sanctification, GlorificationSanctification describes the process by which we step by step put off sin’s hold on our thoughts, decisions, attitudes and behavior. This is what is happening now to Christians who are still on earth. Glorification describes the final purification of our bodies and hearts by living in God’s full presence when we go to be with Him.

These categories are important to know because they largely describe what should and can be happening in your lives right now.

Let me give you a couple of examples of what I hear Christians say. "I can’t help it (sin in a certain way). "That is the way I am." "I don’t think I can stop doing that." For an unbeliever this might be true but for a Christian it is never true. God wants us to grow. So how is it hat you insist that you cannot overcome this or that sin? Basically, one of two things are true. Either you are not a genuine Christian and do not want to overcome sin or you are convinced by a set of lies about yourselves. If you really want to please God, then you should not question whether you are a Christian. Instead you should confront your true problem. You believe some lie about yourself. Satan is clever. He gets you thinking a certain way early in your Christian life, and you begin to live that way. What will happen if you don’t believe you can overcome sin? You won’t! This is the reason early discipleship is so crucial.

We get so used to lies in our lives that we no longer think what is true or not. I want you to repeat this statement, "Those who say lies, believe lies."

Those who say lies, believe lies.

When we look at Ephesians, we find Paul strongly countering the many lies that the evil one has planted in believers lives. In chapters 1-3 the apostle first points out what God has positionally done for us in Christ Jesus but then in chapters 4-6 of Ephesians shows us how to practically live out our position. Think of it like this. He first shows the president his great air force. But then shows what an air strike can do. Seeing these things would help the president know how to handle things if someone was to invade his land.
Ephesians Outline - Ephesians 4:24

The church is weak today because many unbelievers feel comfortable in the church because it is so much like the world and because. Believers, on the other hand, have been duped by the evil one that their condition is acceptable.

Paul has just given to us in the former section an understanding of how the new nature of man works against the old nature. The new nature of man, the new man, is as Paul says in 4:24, "which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." (Ephesians 4:24). We all can reach that goal. Paul is going to tell us how step by step. If you join Paul in following the steps he prescribes here, you will live a strong Christian life. The first has to do with replacing lies with the truth. All sins are born in the pit of lies and darkness. Learn to hate lies, and you only can grow stronger.

As we go through this passage, we want to look at three aspects of telling the truth. The first describes the difficulty in telling the truth. Telling the truth does not come easy. We must lay aside falsehood. Unless we have done this, there is no moving forward. Secondly, we must actually speak the truth–the necessity of speaking the truth. This is hard. If we naturally did it, then there would be no need for him to tell us to do it. Putting aside falsehood first is crucial, then he instructs us to speak the truth. Lastly, Paul provides for us the reason for speaking the truth. This is important especially when evaluating our own conversation or when we are battling between saying the truth or not.

Memorize this short verse with me. "Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another" (Ephesians 4:25). Not so hard is it?!

A) The Difficulty of Speaking the Truth (Ephesians 4:25a) Next =>
B) The Necessity of Speaking the Truth (Ephesians 4:25b)
C) The Reason for Speaking the Truth (Ephesians 4:25c)


Most of BFF articles such as this one is nicely formatted for printing. This article also has a Powerpoint. Check out the great number of articles on the BFF Biblical Training Library all at one low cost.

One whole section of The Godly Man series is on Truth not Deception.

All about the truth
Christ's mission statement includes truth ... Psalm 45:4
The Source of Truth ... John 14:6
The Effect of Truth on a Person - Ephesians
The Necessity of Truth in Personal Relationships
Is God's Word truth? ... Psalm 119
An OT and NT Word study of Truth
Discerning God's Truth: Is all truth God's truth?
Testimonies: How has God's truth kept you from deceiving others?


Read more exciting and practical articles on the Book of Ephesians.

Introduction to the Book of Ephesians

Paul's Second Missonary Journey to Ephesus - Map
Chronology Chart of Pauline Letters
Ephesians 1:1-3 Introduction in text.

Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:1-3 Every Spiritual Blessing

Ephesians 1:1-3 Every Spiritual Blessing
Ephesians 1:1 Only by the Will of God
Ephesians 1:2 Only in Christ Jesus
Ephesians 1:3 Every Spiritual Blessing
Ephesians 1:1-3 Bible Study Questions

Ephesians 1:4-6 Bible Study Questions
Ephesians 1:1-14 Redemption & Sovereignty
Ephesians 1:15-17 Bible Study Questions

Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:1-3 Our Need, His Grace

Ephesians 2:1-3, an Introduction
Ephesians 2:1 A) Man's Nature
Ephesians 2:2 B) Man's World
Ephesians 2:3 C) Man's Heart
Questions (Ephesians 2:1-3)


Ephesians 2:8-10 Extraordinary Purpose
Ephesians 2:8-10, an Introduction
Ephesians 2:8-9 A) Purpose of Salvation
Ephesians 2:10 B) Purpose of our Lives
Questions (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Ephesians 2:19-22 Bible Study Questions

Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:1-10 Growing in Our Commitment
Ephesians 3:1-10, Introduction
Ephesians 3:1 The Value of the Gospel
Ephesians 3:2-5 The Reliability of the Gospel
Ephesians 3:6-7 The Glory of the Gospel
Ephesians 3:8-10 The Calling of the Gospel
Questions (Ephesians 3:1-10)

Ephesians 3:14-21 The Fullness of God's Love

Ephesians 3:20-21 God's Unlimited Power
Ephesians 3:20-21 Unlimited Power
Ephesians 3:20 God's Amazing Power
Ephesians 3:21 God's Amazing Glory
Ephesians 3:20-21 Bible Study Questions

Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1-3 Preserving the Spirit's Unity

Intro: Problems of Disunity
Ephesians 4:1 Calling to Unity
Ephesians 4:2-3 Our Oneness of the Body
Ephesians 4:3 Preservation of Unity
Ephesians 4:1-3 Bible Study Questions
Ephesians 4:4-5 Reason for Oneness
Ephesians 4:6 One God & Father
Ephesians 4:4-6 Bible Study Questions

Ephesians 4:11-16 The Purpose of Training

Ephesians 4:11-13: A) God's Word in the Church
Ephesians 4:11 Gifts in the church
Ephesians 4:12 Purpose of equipping
Ephesians 4:13 The final goal
Ephesians 4:11-13 Bible Study Questions

Ephesians 4:14 B) Responsibility 1. Deceit
Ephesians 4:15a 2. Speaking the truth in love
Ephesians 4:15b 3. Grow up into Christ
Ephesians 4:16 Summary: Function of the Church
Ephesians 4:14-16 Bible Study Questions

Ephesians 4:11-14 Chart: Equipping of the Saints
Ephesians 4:25 Power of Speaking the Truth
Ephesians 4:26-27 The Urgency of Resolving Anger
Ephesians 4:31 The Tree of Bitterness

Ephesians 5-6

Ephesians 5:22,24 Wives be Subject to your Husband
Ephesians 5:25 Marital Love
Ephesians 5:31-32 Redemptive Analogy & Marriage
Ephesians 5:31-33 Building a Great Marriage

Ephesians 6:1-3 Obedience to Parents
Ephesians 6:17 Sword of Spirit



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Biblical Foundations for Freedom


Paul J. Bucknell


NASB Bible used