Context of Eph 4:22-24 is other-centered Body Building that glorifies God as we Learn the Truth, Live it, and Love others with it.

4:1...walk worthy... 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 15  but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into the head----Christ 16...according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the Body for the edifying of itself in love.

22-24 Put off...be Renewed (identity change)...Put on...

25  Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.

26...do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28...steal no longer...have something to give

29  Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God...31  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2  And walk in love... 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness...

A. Truth-speaking (4:15) must start with Truth.

1. Honesty is required in relationships and Body building; Truth speaking is essential to honesty; humility is key to honesty. The proud doesn’t want to admit need or change. Hiding results in hypocrisy, bitterness and deceit.

2. If we were honest, misperceptions would be brought into accord with reality; misdeeds and pagan values would be reproved, confessed, and repented of; Christlikeness would be reproduced. God uses others in the Body to help us become like Christ.

3. We fear transparency because we fear rejection; we care more about what others think than what God thinks. When warned or confronted, we respond with stages of grief over loss of our façade or sense of false worth. (Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, resolution)

4. Repentance is not “I’m sorry” for the situation, or even that I’ve hurt you (that’s social repentance), but a change of mind about the thing which caused pain in the first place. Spirit-led repentance is a truth-based conviction that the behavior/values are eternally wrong from God’s perspective and result in pain and death. Pride keeps us from repenting, because we think we know better, or don’t want to appear wrong.

B. Truth-speaking must be done in Love.

1. Love = sacrifice ourselves to do what is in another’s best interest. Love must be grace-empowered, because true love is frequently rejected, abused, and sometimes even crucified. If love is feeling-based, it will fail, because there will be times when we don’t feel like loving.

2. Love is enhanced by humble commitment and diminished by prideful independence. It’s easier to help someone who is committed to Christ and His Body but having difficulties, than someone who lacks commitment and pretends things are ok. 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

3. Love is perceived differently by different personalities and people. Liking and lusting are not love; serving another’s need is. Mt 7: 12  Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

4. Love must discriminate/judge both needs and approach.

1Thess 5: 11 Therefore comfort/exhort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

a. Comfort/Exhort/Encourage = not come alongside, but call along side as we climb up the mountain

b. Warn (put in right mind) the unruly (those who are out of ranks, shirking responsibilities and duty) {warn, reprove, rebuke, reject}

c. Comfort (speak alongside) the fainthearted (little soul/mind)

d. Uphold (support against) the weak (without strength) {Gal 6:2,5}

e. Prayerful patience (longsuffering) {Js 5:8-10}

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. What is God’s response to people who don’t want to grow or change, or who reject the Truth? What should our response be?

2. Is honesty always the best policy? How or why do people change? What’s the difference between social and spiritual change?

3. If we’re “not supposed to judge” how do you decide whether you approach someone as unruly, fainthearted or weak?

4. Is it better to warn when you may be wrong or thought of as unloving, or wait until you’re certain of another’s response?

5. Why do people pay coaches to correct their game, but run the other way when someone corrects their spiritual life?