● Eph 4:30 . . Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

The Greek word translated "grieve" is lupeo (loo-peh'-o) which means: to distress; to make sad; for example:

"The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the Earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the Earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (Gen 6:5-6)

So then, we can safely conclude that the Holy Spirit of God is grieved by wickedness; especially when every intent of the thoughts of one's heart are only evil continually.

Seals aren't always a mark or a tattoo or an impression made in wax with a signet ring. Sometimes a seal is merely a vocal validation. For example:

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matt 3:16-17)

In other words: God vouched for Jesus' credibility by sending His spirit to mark him out, and also by a solemn pronouncement. By that method; God himself personally sealed Jesus' mission; viz: signed off on it; so to speak.

"On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." (John 6:27)

Christ's followers are singled out by the Spirit too; but not with a visible bird or an audible voice, but rather; by the Spirit's occupation inside their very bodies. (John 7:37-39, 1Cor 3:16), in other words; if He's there, you're sealed, if He's not there, you're not sealed.

Christ's followers can't see the Spirit for themselves of course; but God can see it and that's really all that matters anyway in the long run.
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● Eph 4:31 . . Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior.

It wasn't The Lord's wish that Ephesian Christians avoid all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice; no; on the contrary, he wanted the Ephesians to get rid of them.

"bitterness" is from the Greek word pikria (pik-ree'-ah) which means: acrid, poisonous, and/or toxic (literally or figuratively). Christians like that are nothing in the world but deadly reptiles.

"the poison of asps is under their lips" (Rom 3:13b)

"rage" is from thumos (thoo-mos') which means: passion (as if breathing hard). Passion is just the opposite of reason; and as everyone knows, emotions are incoherent; so it's to be expected an emotional person is not acting rationally. This is a kind of conduct that Paul says brings sorrow to God's Spirit.

"anger" is from orge (or-gay') which means: desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. (by analogy,) violent passion, ire, (by implication: punishment)

People overcome by orge typically want some satisfaction; even to the point of at least your ruin; if not your death.

"harsh words" is from krauge (krow-gay') which means: outcry.

Out-crying is what protestors do; in other words: assertive, in-your-face confrontational complaints and/or demands.

"slander" is from blasphemia (blas-fay-me'-ah) which means: to vilify. Webster's defines "vilify" as: (1) to lower in estimation or importance, and (2) to utter slanderous and abusive statements against; viz: defame, discredit, and/or denigrate.

A statement need not be false in order to qualify as slander; it need only to be unnecessary; viz: you'll often hear people say: Well, I was only telling the truth. Were they? No, that's a ruse. In reality, they're insensitive; and they don't care who gets hurt by their thoughtless remarks.

The Lord notices the words people say, and he also takes note of the spirit in which they say them.

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken." (Matt 12:36)

"malicious behavior" is from kakia (kak-ee'-ah) which means: badness, i.e. (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or (passively) trouble:

Malice sometimes includes the element of "spite" which Webster's defines as: petty ill will, or hatred, with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart. Compare that to the Greek word for "persecute" in the eighth Beatitude which means, literally: to pursue; viz: to stalk, to hound, to harass.

Webster's defines "thwart" as: (1) to run counter to so as to effectively oppose or baffle; viz: contravene, and (2) to oppose successfully; viz: to defeat the hopes or aspirations of; in other words: to deliberately get in someone's way; block, discourage.

Boy I'll tell you, that Ephesian church was as rough-hewn and crude as the old logging community of Stump Town (now Portland) out here in the Oregon of the 1800's. They cussed, they brawled, they bad-mouthed, they held grudges, they were thieves, they were arrogant, they somehow had the idea that Jews were below them, they were immodest, conceited, vain, and impatient, they walked unworthy of their calling, and they were splintered into cliques.

» I've heard more than one expositor praise the Ephesians as "the church at its spiritual peak" but I thoroughly disagree. Yes, there were some outstanding individuals, but by and large that congregation's spiritual condition was decadent, deplorable, despicable, and unbecoming.

Paul began his letter to the Ephesians by saying that he made mention of them in his prayers; asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, might give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation; and also that the eyes of their heart might be enlightened. (Eph 1:17-19)

Well, it seems to me that kind of prayer isn't for advanced Christians, rather, for Christians just starting out. From thence, Paul went on to explain some of Christianity's most treasured doctrines, which I assume the Ephesians had no knowledge of till Paul wrote to them.

I'll grant that the letter to the Ephesians is lofty, but I will not grant that the Ephesians themselves were lofty: not from how Paul lectured them.
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● Eph 4:32 . . Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Within the context of the letter Paul wrote and sent to the Christians residing in the ancient city of Ephesus; the objects "one another" and "each other" are exclusive; viz: the comments refer only to one's fellow Bible-believing Christians rather than the world at large. So if you're unwilling to be kind and compassionate to outsiders; at least be so with people at church so as to help prevent church from becoming a hostile worship environment.

The Greek word for "kind" is chrestos (khrase-tos') which means: employed; viz: useful.

Chrestos is found in only seven places in the New Testament, and without exception implies being beneficial to others for their own good rather than using people to benefit your own self.

The word for "compassionate" is eusplagchnos (yoo'-splangkh-nos) which means: sympathetic.

Webster's defines sympathy as: 1) an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other, 2) inclination to think or feel alike: emotional or intellectual accord, 3) feeling of loyalty: tendency to favor or support, 4) the act, or capacity, of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another, 5) sensitivity, and 6) heart; as in "have a heart".

Eusplagchnos would make a good substitute for a word found in one of The Lord's beatitudes.

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." (Matt 5:7)

"merciful" is from the word eleemon (el-eh-ay'-mone) which means pretty much the same thing as eusplagchnos: compassionate and sympathetic.

It used to be that Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts were trained to be useful to others as just simply a matter of good deeds and good citizenship. I don't know, maybe they still are; but I've known lots of churchians who were totally useless to others because they're infected with an ugly spirit of conceit, rivalry, and indifference. Far from being kind and compassionate; those Christians are actually sociopathic and don't even know it.

The word "forgiving" is charizomai (khar-id'-zom-ahee) which essentially means: to grant as a favor; viz: gratuitously, i.e. courtesy.

Webster's defines gratuitous as: 1) given unearned or without recompense, 2) not involving a return benefit or compensation or consideration, 3) costing nothing: free, 4) not called for by the circumstances: unwarranted, 5) complimentary, 6) gratis, and 7) voluntary. In other words; charizomai seeks no reciprocation; it never says "you owe me one"

Sailors are oft heard to say that the sea is very unforgiving: meaning it allows no room for error or weakness. Christians ought not be like the sea. We ought to be the most forgiving people on the planet; and not because we expect others to reciprocate; but just because we enjoy being gratuitous. For some Christians though, courtesy is an effort.

Eph 4:31-32 isn't easy. What we're looking at there is not just good citizenship; no, what we're looking at is something divine in both its nature and its behavior.
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● Eph 5:1 . . Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

Webster's defines "imitate" as to follow as a pattern, model, or example; i.e. reproduce.

One's dad is probably the most important role model a kid can have, that is, if he's a good man; otherwise, he'll just be another bad influence. It's pretty kool when a kid can look at its dad and honestly say, from the bottom of its heart: "Dad; when I grow up, I want to be just like you".

In this case, the imitator isn't a pretender; no, he's not a stand-up comic mimicking a famous celebrity. What we're talking about here is duplication; in other words: God's children shouldn't just act like Him, they should resemble Him; so that when the angels observe God's child at work or at play, they can say: "Yep; that kid sure takes after his old man; he's a chip off the olde block"
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● Eph 5:2 . . Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Christ's love went way beyond just being friendly and helpful. His was a sacrificial kind of love; in other words: it was protective and supportive at the cost of deep expense to himself-- but not just as a humanitarian. Christ's life counted for more than just being neighborly, his life of love was an act of worship.

"I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me." (John 6:38)

"I do always those things that please Him." (John 8:29)

In point of fact, God prefers to be worshipped by concern for others than by church attendance.

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hos 6:6)
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● Eph 5:3a . . Among you; there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality

I've lost count of the number of celebrities I've seen on television talk shows shacking up with people and boasting about their babies while in reality those children are illegitimate and nothing to be proud of at all.

When my sister got knocked up by a sailor boyfriend back in the late 1950's at the age of seventeen, our parents whisked her off to an aunt out of state to avoid the disgrace. My sister gave up her baby to adoption right out of the womb and nobody back home was any the wiser; but today, who really cares anymore?

» The illegitimacy rate in the USA during 2013 was almost 41% of total births and it's no longer illegitimacy; now it's labeled Non-marital Childbearing. (chuckle) a rose by any name is still the same flower.

My wife once belonged to a woman's group in a mega-church we attended back in 1980. One of the ladies was married to an assistant pastor whose duties included counseling married couples. She told my wife you wouldn't believe the amount of adultery that goes on among married church members, and she wasn't talking about your average rank and file pew warmers either; no, her husband counseled church members a whole lot higher up than that.

That church was very impressive and had something like 4,000 members on the books. It's budget was over $16,000 per week. (The buying power of $16,000 in 1980 was comparable to the buying power of roughly $49,700 in 2020).

To look at that church with its buildings, its property, it's programs, its membership numbers, its music, its missionary outreach, and its whopping budget; you would think it housed the holiest collection of saints on earth. But no; behind the scenes, behind the façade, behind the curtain, behind the pulpit; there was moral decadence. (cf. Matt 23:27-28)

"And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there." (Ecc 3:16)
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My wife and I avoid churches that permit or advocate divorce and remarriage. That's one of the first questions we ask.

Dave L said:

My wife and I avoid churches that permit or advocate divorce and remarriage. That's one of the first questions we ask.

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There are two reason divorce is allowed in the Bible, and at least one reason remarriage is allowed in the Bible.

● Eph 5:3b . . Among you; there must not be any kind of impurity, or of greed

Impurities can be defined as contamination and/or pollutants. For example water is impure when it contains fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides, parasites, heavy metals like lead and cadmium, untreated sewage, and/or radioactive fall-out from a nuclear accident.

It's tempting to zoom in on naughty fantasies and porn-like behavior as the impurities that Paul is talking about; but any behavior associated with sin is an impurity. So then, maybe you're an usher in church; but are you dishonest? And maybe you sing in the choir, but are you a malicious gossip? And maybe you attend mid-week prayer meetings; but do you deny your children even common courtesy and their fundamental human rights? And maybe you teach Sunday school, but do you go over the speed limit, feed parking meters, J-walk, and drift through stop signs? And maybe you even stand in the pulpit; but do you have a drinking problem?

Webster's defines "greed" as avarice; which is an excessive, or insatiable, desire for wealth or gain. Wanting money per se isn't sin. It's wanting money simply for the sake of accumulating it that's bad.

Ben Franklin once said a penny saved, is a penny earned; but to greedy people a penny saved is a penny stockpiled. Were you to ask a greedy person to name the dollar figure and/or the amount of real estate that would satisfy them, they would likely respond: "More"
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● Eph 5:4 . . Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

"out of place" is a pretty good way to put it; sort of like a fish out of water, viz: heavenly people are mature up there, and really ought to be down here.

The Greek word translated "foolish talk" is morologia (mo-rol-og-ee'-ah) which means silliness; viz: buffoonery.

Webster's defines a buffoon as: 1) a ludicrous figure; viz: a clown, and 2) a gross, and usually ill-educated stupid person; viz: an ignoramus. I think I would put "gross" high on the list of undesirable buffoon-type behaviors. It's okay for kids to be gross, but thoroughly unbecoming for a mature adult.

The word for "coarse joking" is eutrapelia (yoo-trap-el-ee'-ah) which means witticism in a vulgar sense; viz: ribaldry. Double entendres would probably fall into that category along with suggestive remarks.

The word for "thanksgiving" is eucharistia (yoo-khar-is-tee'-ah) which means: gratitude; viz: grateful language.

You know "thank you" is not a dirty word, nor is gratitude a bad habit. Christ's people should never take the attitude that just because somebody is doing their job that they don't deserve recognition.

One of my favorite romantic comedies is No Reservations starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart. Prior to filming, Catherine took a job waiting tables to get a feel for working in a restaurant.

On several occasions, patrons didn't even look up at her nor speak in a cordial, courteous tone when they ordered. It struck her as remarkable that some of the people whom she was serving totally took her for granted and displayed not the slightest inclination to even so much as acknowledge her as a fellow human being, let alone express any gratitude for her taking care of them.
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● Eph 5:5-7 . . For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-- such a man is an idolater --has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with futile words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be numbered among them.

Christ's followers are not idolaters in any sense of the word. Jesus Christ is not, nor has he ever been, a tin god. The term "such a man" identifies non Christian people who not only lack an inheritance in the kingdom of God, but they're on a road to ruin and the sum of all fears.

In contrast to "such a man" Christ's followers are joint heirs with him in his Father's estate. (Eph 1:11, Rom 8:16-17)

A joint-heir is different than a regular heir. Regular heirs are apportioned an individual percentage of their benefactor's estate. But joint-heirs inherit, not a percentage, but the entire estate, as community property. According to Peter, this is already set up and beneficiaries are safe to feel confident they won't lose it. (1Pet 1:3-5)

Christ's believing followers are in no danger of the sum of all fears.

"I assure you; those who listen to my message, and believe in God who sent me, have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life." (John 5:24) cf. Heb 8:6-12

"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ; who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him." (1Thess 5:9-10)

"He has rescued us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of His dear son." (Col 1:13)

In addition, none of the sins committed by Christ's believing followers go on an indictment against them.

"God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them" (2Cor 5:19) cf. Jer 31:31-34

The Greek word in that passage for "imputing" is logizomai (log-id'-zom-ahee) which means to keep an inventory; in other words: an indictment.

At the great white throne event depicted at Rev 20:11-15, the dead's personnel files will be opened. Well, were one of Christ's believing followers to appear before God at that event, their file would contain not one single sin: zero; viz: nothing with which to charge them.

"Blessed is the man whose sin The Lord will never count against him." (Rom 4:8)

So then, in light of the facts that Jesus Christ's followers are joint heirs with him in his Father's estate, already citizens of the kingdom, and in absolutely no danger of the sum of all fears; then we may safely interpret Eph 5:5-7 to simply mean that things like immorality, impurity, and greed are 110% inappropriate for them, i.e. those unchristian behaviors are unbecoming for a people whose status is so far above any on Earth. (cf. Post #224)
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● Eph 5:8-9 . . You were once darkness, but now you are light in The Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

Some Christians just can't seem to get it through their thick skulls that when somebody pins the Christian label on themselves, they're expected to act like one.

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matt 5:16

"Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? God forbid! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (Rom 6:1-2)

"Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2Tim 2:19)

"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth." (1John 1:6)

» An example of the dreadful opposite of Matt 5:16 is David's tryst with Bathsheba that resulted in the death of both her husband and her baby boy. Nathan the prophet informed David that his conduct reflected on The Lord so that instead of cultivating respect for God, his conduct caused people then, and now, to lower their opinion of Him. (2Sam 12:14)
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There's gentleman at a church I go to -- he and his wife recently joined -- he said that he has decided to identify as a Christ-follower rather than being a Christian because the term "Christian" has lost so much value. He's on Face Book a fair amount trying to be a Christian influence -- That's where he's being a Christ-follower. And, in reality, that Is what we are supposed to be doing.

Sue D. said:

he said that he has decided to identify as a Christ-follower rather than being a Christian because the term "Christian" has lost so much value. He's on Face Book a fair amount trying to be a Christian influence -- That's where he's being a Christ-follower. And, in reality, that Is what we are supposed to be doing.

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Amen! If only!

There are churches teaching we don't have to be like Jesus. There are churches teaching that the things Jesus taught don't apply to us and we don't need to follow them.
Ever play "follow the leader"? When the leader jumps, you jump, When the leader runs, you run. When the leader sits, you sit. We say we want to follow Jesus.... but many of us don't
want to do anything He did, or be like Him in any way.

Luke 6:46; "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

Jesus said His sheep "follow" Him.
John 10:4; "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
John 10:27; "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

If you're following your hopes, dreams, desires, and worldly passions... you're not following Jesus, even if you say you're a Christian.

Sue D. said:

There's gentleman at a church I go to -- he and his wife recently joined -- he said that he has decided to identify as a Christ-follower rather than being a Christian because the term "Christian" has lost so much value.

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We seem to be living in an era of re-branding. For example, semi-black people used to be called mulatto, now they're called mixed race. Riots used to be called mob rule, now they're called social justice. Militant protests and destruction of private property used to be called vandalism; now they're called civil disobedience.

Well; like it's said: A rose by any other name is the same flower; viz: the Greek word for "Christian" means a follower of Christ; so that gentleman's' label as a Christ-follower isn't fooling anyone.

● 1Pet 4:15-17 . . If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
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As a believer -- God will give a person the inner desire to do His will. It will be the Holy Spirit giving us the desire of God which will be Our desire as a result. And as we continue to do Bible study with a group and there is interaction between pastor and the group, we'll be able to encourage each other in His Word. Our pastor reads through the passage we're going to talk about and he then takes each verse / phrase and we talk about it. Interaction is encouraged. A great way to learn God's Word and it does become our guidepost for living.

@Beetow -- the gentleman and wife I was talking about wasn't trying to 'fool' anyone. And I agree with him. The term "Christian" -looking it up in Webster Dictionary can mean anything from a person who goes to church on Christmas and Easter to a person who is truly devoted to God -- lives a life that glorifies God. And being a Christian Does mean being a Christ-follower. Being a Christ-follower and a follower of Christ is the same thing.

Sue D. said:

As a believer -- God will give a person the inner desire to do His will.

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Just curious... do you have any scripture to support this?

How about the fact that as a born again believer, I've experienced this. Why wouldn't that be true -- Or are you simply saying that it's the Holy Spirit rather that God giving us that inner desire.

Sue D. said:

As a believer -- God will give a person the inner desire to do His will.

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B-A-C said:

Just curious... do you have any scripture to support this?

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● Phil 2:13 . . It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.

That passage was relatively simple; while this next is a bit more difficult. It means pretty much the same thing as the first; though the words are different.

● Rom 8:11 . . If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His spirit, who lives in you.

At first glance, that passage appears to be speaking of the last trump when everyone belonging to Christ's sheepfold are restored to life and taken up to be with him all at the same time.

But the scope of the "life to your mortal bodies" is also for the now. Note the timing of the resurrections in the passage below.

● John 5:24-25 . . I tell you the truth: Whoever hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming, and has now come, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

I think it fair to say that those in the now who have crossed over from death to life per that passage are the ones within whom God works to will and to act according to His good purpose; hence the admonition:

● 1Thess 5:19 . . Do not quench the Spirit
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● Eph 5:10 . . Find out what pleases The Lord.

"What would Jesus do?" is a popular modus operandi, but it depends too much upon one's intuition; and doomed to failure because the information we need isn't available like that, no, it's something that has to be found out, i.e. researched; which involves learning by means of books, sermons, lectures, seminars, radio Bible teachers, Sunday school classes, and personal Bible reading.

This particular process of discovery has to include the Old Testament too in order to avoid the possibility of missing something important.

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning" (Rom 15:4)

"Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (1Cor 10:11)
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