Christian Identity Impacts Christian Community

Evening Worship
Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2

Christian, your identity in Christ dictates how you live and how you treat others. 

1.  Our Christian Identity demands we put away vices and pick up virtues.    vv.4: 25-32
      a.  Put away lying. 
      b.  Pick up truthfulness.
      c.   Put away uncontrolled anger.
           Psalm 4:4; James 1:19-20
      d.  Pick up controlled anger
      e.  Put away stealing.
       f.  Pick up hard work.
      g.  Put away corrupt speech.
      h.  Pick up edifying speech.
      i.  Put away a bitter heart.

Bitterness:  harshness, animosity, anger
Wrath:  a state of intense displeasure; indignation
Anger: a state of relatively strong displeasure
Clamor:  shouting back on forth in a quarrel
Slander:  defamatory or abusive speech
Malice:  a mean-spirited or vicious attitude of disposition; ill-will
           -A bitter heart leads to abusive speech.
      j.  Pick up kindness.
      k.  Pick up a tender heart.
           -A tender heart leads to forgiveness

2.  Our Christian Identity demands we walk after God.    vv.5:1-2
      a.  Love as God loved.