Lesson 67 September 21, 2003

Our Relationship to One another!! 4:31-5:2

4:31 Put off- some more areas of sin; focus is on things that flow out of MA.

4:32 Put on

5:1-2 Objective of putting on: Become Imitators of God! [conformed to the image]

4:31 With this verse Paul once again addresses the dangers of anger; noting the destructive nature of these sins to one's spiritual life but especially in one's relationships with others.

- Point is that as we are putting on the new man, this new mindset with its attendant course of conduct these sins are not to be a part of our life as growing, advancing believer;

Let's examine the list of sins here; note there is a progression in the sequence.

#1 bitterness; pikri,a indicates the hard-heartedness that harbors resentment about the past; can't let it go, whatever it is!

- its a state of mind that keeps one in perpetual animosity; usually seen in their demeanor; most often sour, crabby, repulsive;

#2 wrath qumo,j rage; speaks of the quick explosion of rage; short fuse; explodes and its over; pathos!

#3 anger ovrgh,; speaks of the more subtle deep flowing, gnawing hostility that festers and then explodes; [Jas 1:19-20]

#4 clamor; kraugh, - shouting; it used of people in shouting matches; it indicates a lack of restraint which erupts in angry yelling;

#5 slander blasfhmi,a more specific as to the content of speech that results from the bitterness and anger; namely verbal abuse and vilifying of others; an attempt to destroy the integrity of another;

This last one is separated

#6 with all malice; sun pash kakiaÅ [this sums up the source of all of these sins] comes from kakosj what is morally evil; abstract term

** Do you see the progression in the 1st 5?

The progression begins from anger's inner core of bitterness.

- through its initial eruption [wrath]

- next to its steady festering [anger]

- to its external expression [angry shouting]

- and finally to the destructive and damaging of others by our slander and blasphemy

- Same kind of progression was covered in the early church fathers;

*** Why does Paul go back to these sins related to anger!

- Because they are sins that break fellowship and will destroy relationships if not handled quickly.

- To have impact, we must live out the virtues of the faith.

4:32 the Positive; the virtues that we are to put on!

What is it that is missing in vs:31 that allows the sin to intensify? Forgiveness!

And be kind to one another; "be" ginomai Pres Imp. often is translated "to be" or to exist but has a stronger nuance than that; it means to become something that you weren't before

- These are very important qualities that are to set the Believer apart;

- None of these virtues are innate, kindness, tender-hearted and forgiving; are not native to the nature of man.

become kind, crhsto,j; when used of people; it means good, serviceable, kind, benevolent; not abstract, but speaks of action

become tender-hearted; eu;splagcnoj, the idea here is compassion;

forgiving each other; cari,zomai pres ptc w/imperatival force

The deeper our appreciation of the grace received in our own forgiveness the greater our capacity to forgive or grace others.

B.L. is that the richness of God's grace applied is able to conquer our petty sensitivities on every front.

Does this through a strategic envelopment of our thinking, encircling our thinking with DVPT.

Therefore be Imitators of God as beloved children! 5:1 [logical next step]

5:1-2 Gives us the Objective of Putting on these virtues listed from 4:25-32;

"Become imitators of God"

"imitators" mimhthsj; to model or pattern ourselves here after God!

If we look at the use of the word mimhth,j in the NT; we find it used with reference to 4 categories that we are to imitate as believers.

1. We are to be imitators of Paul; 1 Cor 4:16-17

- Paul set an example for them and now exhorts them to be imitators of him. Paul is not being arrogant or self-righteous at all.

- The limitation on the imitation is that it must be as his conduct or pattern of life mirrors Christ's. 1 Cor 11:1

- In 2:2 when he arrived their in Corinth he said that, "he determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."

- This speaks of more than just the Gospel and telling some Jesus stories, this statement by Paul reminds us just how important it is to have our thinking in all areas to be consistent with that of Christ, to have a mindset or world view consistent with His.

2. Also we are to imitate stable fellow believers, Heb 6:11-12

3. In 1 Ths 2:13-14 Paul compares the churches in Thessalonica with those of Judea; they were faithful to the word communicated, and especially faithful as they endured the pressure of persecution because of their application of BD.

Paul relates our ability to do this, to become imitators of God, on the basis that we are beloved children;

Since we have the privilege and responsibility as sons then we should manifest the character of Christ in our lives.

The wider context defines some aspects as to how we are to imitate God; Paul does so by going back to our walk, our lifestyle as Believers.

#1. 1 Jn 4:8b "for God is love" therefore in Eph 5:2 we are commanded to "walk in love"

#2. 1 Jn 1:5 "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all."

Eph 5:8 the command to "walk as children of light"

#3. Eph 5:15-16 We are to walk in wisdom, making the most of our time," why because we are related to the source of wisdom, God loves wisdom, He rejoices in wisdom [Prov. 8];